Cats are natural climbers and feel comfortable and safe in high spots. You can easily use the furniture you have to provide vertical space in your home, but cat trees, window seats and shelves are great ways to provide spots high off the ground.
Vertical Space provides so many benefits for your cat:
Safety
Cats feel safe up high and provides a great view of their territory. If you have small children or or dogs, vertical spots can be places where your cat can escape to and still be in the same space as the family.
Increased Territory
This is particularly important for multi-cat or small homes. The more vertical space you add, the more real estate you are creating for your cat(s).
Exercise
Climbing is a great way to use muscles and keep your cat active. When my cats have the zoomies, they are often running around on the floor and then running up and around the vertical shelving in our living room, then back down again.
Thinking of adding vertical space? There are a lot of ways to go about it.
Window Seat
These are inexpensive options that can easily add vertical space to your home. If you have one window that multiple cats want to use, you can add a seat or two, depending on your window size at different levels. These can be particularly great in small homes to add options for your cat.
Cat Tree
What is a cat tree? I sometimes see manufactures describing a scratching post as a "cat tree." No, it isn't. I'm defining a cat tree as a tall piece of cat furniture with multiple shelves that provides your cat with spots high off the ground. It might even have scratching posts as part of the tree, which is a bonus. Some have a cubby which are great for shy cats.
If you're in the market for a cat tree, be mindful of the shelves. I find cats prefer scooped, baskets, or at least edges around the shelf so they can nestle in (see first pic in this blog). The tall modern tree in the picture below on the right is a nice looking tree, but the cats use it as a ladder. They don't really hang out on it much.
Shelves
You can add shelves to a wall. I use shelves to link other vertical space so that the cats have a "superhighway" as Jackson Galaxy describes it.
Sometimes I see clients with this cool setup on the wall with all these small flat shelves and they tell me the cats don't use it. What I see are steps, not hang out spots. If you want your cat to hang out on the shelves, get at least a few big options that are either curved or have a railing so your cat won't fall off if they nap. Tiny shelves are steps, but the steps need to lead to an appealing destination.
How much vertical space does your cat need?
Cats should have access to spaces up high to survey their territory, feel safe and rest. How much you need depends on the cat and the size of your space. The more active the cat and the smaller the space, the more vertical space you need.
If you live in a small one bedroom apartment with 2 cats, then vertical spaces are going to be prime real estate and there should be lots of options.
If you live in a large multi-story home, where there are lots of spaces for your cats to spread out and share the space, then you may not need to add that much. Having at least a few spots for climbing and hanging out up high is important.
Where are the best places to add vertical space?
Cats often love to be in front of the window, soaking up the sun, catching the breeze, and watching what's going on outside. Cat trees, shelves or other comfortable furniture in front of windows is my #1 recommended spot.
I would also add vertical space to areas where the cats naturally like to hang out such as main living areas and sometimes bedrooms.
Other considerations are places where you don't want your cat climbing. Some guardians do not want their cat on their kitchen counters or dining table. Offering alternative vertical spaces in those areas helps meet your cats needs and gives you a place to train your cat to go as an alternative. I personally do not mind my cats on my kitchen counters. I always clean my counters before preparing a meal, so it's not a big deal.
When adding vertical space, consider an entry and exit point, in multi-cat homes.
If one cat is up high and another cat comes along and corners that cat, you don't want the cornered cat to jump down and possibly hurt themselves. Having an entry and an exit is important when considering how to set up the cat's vertical space.
Check out my Favorite Products for more recommendations and links many the above products including cat trees, scratching posts and the window seat.
About the author: Jennifer Van de Kieft, CAFTP, FFCP, PNCC is located in Brooklyn, NY. She is certified in feline behavior and pet nutrition. She owns Cat Advocate, a feline behavior consulting company. She provides cat guardians with the strategies, tools and knowledge needed to address their cat's behavior issues. Jennifer provides virtual consultations throughout the United States.