Why Do Cats Like High Places?

Many cat parents have encountered the hilarious scene of their feline perching on an elevated space, like the refrigerator or the top of a bookshelf. This can be frustrating, especially if your cat has soft beds and other spots closer to the ground for them to rest.  

Why do cats like high places? The answer lies in cats’ natural instincts and in household dynamics.  

Why Do Cats Like To Be Up High?

There are a few reasons why cats might prefer high spaces. 

It’s Instinctual

As predator-prey animals, cats have instincts to:  

• Hunt smaller animals, such as mice  

• Avoid being hunted and captured by larger animals, such as foxes, coyotes, and bears  

As such, surveying the area from an elevated location allows cats to both observe their surroundings for food and protect themselves from attack by a larger predator.  

Many of these predators might not be able to climb as high as a light, agile cat, meaning that the higher a cat can get while still maintaining balance and security, the better for both hunting and protection. From this secure location, cats can engage in a variety of activities, such as exploring, watching wildlife through windows, eating, and even sleeping.  

To Avoid Household Commotion

Another reason why cats like high places is to avoid noise and commotion from other members of the household, whether from small children, dogs, or other cats.  

When cats are experiencing stress or even illness, they might seek out high spots more often in order to feel safe and secure. This is one reason why providing ample and accessible elevated spaces is so important for cats. 

To Claim Territory

Especially in multi-cat households, high places might serve to expand the available territory for cats so they can avoid conflict with each other. For example, one cat might have dominion over the floor spaces, while another might claim the elevated spaces. 

For Warmth

Another basic function of high places, especially in climate-controlled homes, is to provide a warm location for cats to rest.  

Because warmer air rises, cats might prefer the tops of appliances, cat trees, and bookshelves over cold floors. This can be especially true during the winter, when it’s colder in many places. 

Creating Vertical Space for Cats

Creating vertical spaces for your cat can be as easy as clearing off the top of your refrigerator, bookshelves, and cabinets. This offers your cat a larger surface area to perch on and removes any potential dangers. (They can’t knock something over if nothing is stored in these spaces!)  

If you prefer that your cat have their own elevated spaces, install dedicated cat shelves along the walls using a step pattern so your kitty can easily get from the floor to a high-up spot.  

There are many types of cat shelves to choose from, including the On2Pets Cat Canopy Wall Shelves, which feature fake plants. This offers your cat elevated space to conceal themselves—and it looks good on your walls, too.  

Tall cat trees are another great investment for vertical cat space. If you have multiple cats who like to climb, providing one cat tree per cat can help prevent tension between the cats for access to resources. 

If your cat likes looking out the window from an elevated location, you can even attach cat hammocks or window perches to the window for them to rest in.  

When purchasing and installing these items, it’s important to ensure that they can support the weight of your cat and, where applicable, are securely fastened or anchored to the wall to prevent the perches from falling and risking injury to your cat.  

For elderly cats or cats with mobility issues who like to climb, it’s best to install pet stairs near these vertical areas to help them reach their favorite places easily and safely.