Your adult cat climbs everything: what they are looking for up there, and how to give it to them
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If you are wondering why your cat climbs everything, the answer comes down to one word: safety. Up high, a cat can watch over their territory without being caught off guard, and a home with no high spot of their own sends them looking for one on the curtains, the wardrobe or the shelves. It is not mischief to correct, it is a need to make room for.
Why does your cat climb everything, even as an adult?
An adult cat climbs because height meets three needs at once: seeing what is coming, resting undisturbed and getting away from whatever bothers them. According to International Cat Care, cats are natural climbers who need to rest and watch over their surroundings from high places.
Outdoors, a wall, a branch or a shed roof gives them those vantage points. Indoors, they make do with the top of a bookcase, the top of the fridge or the curtain rail. The code of practice for the welfare of cats published by the Scottish Government lists among their basic needs the chance to climb and jump, for example safe access to shelves and the tops of cupboards. To give them that vantage point without cluttering the floor, the solid wood wall walkway screws into a solid wall; test each platform before letting them up.
The need matters even more for an indoor cat. According to International Cat Care's page on feline idiopathic cystitis, cats kept solely indoors or living with other cats are typical examples of where stress can occur, even without obvious signs, and they need hiding places, ideally up high. If yours already spends time on top of the wardrobes, a tall 160 cm rattan cat tree gives them that raised refuge in the room where you spend your time.
Curtains, wardrobe, shelves: what are they after in each spot?
Where your cat climbs tells you what they are missing. Watch where they go and what they do up there before you buy anything.
| Where they climb | What they are after | What to offer instead |
|---|---|---|
| The curtains | A vertical surface to sink their claws into and burn off energy, often in a burst of excitement | A sisal post running the full height, and a proper play session every day |
| The top of the wardrobe | The highest point in the room, to sleep unseen and undisturbed | An enclosed bed, perched higher than your eye level |
| Shelves and bookcases | A route: moving from one level to the next, exploring | Several platforms at different heights |
| The windowsill | A lookout over the street or the courtyard | An open basket placed near the window |
| The kitchen worktop | Height, but also warmth and the smell of food | A method of its own: see your cat jumps on the kitchen counter |
Many cats tick several rows: they then need an enclosed spot right at the top and an open one lower down.
A den up high, all their own
The tall rattan cat tree stands 160 cm tall, above human eye level, with an enclosed ball nest at the top so your cat can be hidden and on top of everything at once, and 23 kg on a 78 × 58 cm oval base to absorb the jumps. Discover the tall rattan cat tree →
My cat climbs everything: what can I do without banning anything?
For a cat that climbs everything, the answer is to give them one more summit, designed for them, not to shut them out of theirs. International Cat Care lists cat trees as good high resting places, along with wardrobes and bookcases with a small area cleared.
- Keep their summits. If they sleep on the wardrobe, clear it rather than barricading it.
- Add a halfway step. International Cat Care suggests placing nearby furniture as an intermediate platform, and making sure your cat can get down easily.
- Make surfaces non-slip. According to the same source, many wooden shelves are extremely slippery: lay down a folded throw or a non-slip mat.
- Set up a commanding spot in the room you live in. Against a wall, and near a window so they can look outside from a safe position, as International Cat Care advises.
- Measure before choosing the height. Allow 30 to 40 cm between the top platform and the ceiling, and check carefully under a sloping ceiling; the full guidance is in how tall should a cat tree be.
Not every climber needs the tallest: the 132 cm cat tree with hammock and house amply covers an indoor cat's need for a lookout. The 160 cm model is for the cat who already lives on top of the wardrobes. The whole range is in our cat trees.
Kittens, older cats, several cats: is the answer the same?
A cat that climbs everything does not always call for the tallest tree. For a kitten or an older cat, it is not the right first step; between cats that avoid each other, it helps but is not enough on its own.
- The kitten scaling the curtains is mostly going through a play phase. According to International Cat Care, play is an essential part of a kitten's development. They need a tree their size: see which cat tree for a kitten.
- The older, arthritic or overweight cat: 160 cm can be a problem. If they climb less than before, talk to your vet, and see which cat tree for an older cat.
- The cat escaping another cat by going up high: height helps, but a single perch is not always enough. Two cats who do not get along, or three cats or more, need a second high spot elsewhere, as explained in which cat tree for two or more cats.
And for a simple high spot that doubles as a scratcher in a small space, the 100 cm wooden cat tree with woven baskets is enough, on 60 × 40 cm of floor space.
Frequently asked questions
Should I let my cat sleep on top of the wardrobe?
Yes, if the wardrobe is stable and they get down without difficulty. International Cat Care counts freestanding wardrobes among good places to rest or hide up high, and asks that a cat is never disturbed in a private spot unless they seem unwell. A throw on top makes it less slippery.
Does a cat with no high spot of their own sleep less well?
Possibly. According to the Scottish code of practice mentioned above, if a cat cannot find somewhere they feel safe to rest, their sleep may be disrupted, and that can affect their health. And according to International Cat Care, many cats feel vulnerable sleeping on the floor: a raised bed of their own is one of the basics.
Why does my cat climb mostly in the evening?
According to International Cat Care, cats are naturally more active at certain times of day, often dawn and dusk, and prefer to play where there are obstacles and different levels. Time a play session for those hours, with a feather wand, for example.
Will a tall cat tree get my cat off the furniture?
Not necessarily, and that is not the point: International Cat Care counts wardrobes among good high places, so they can keep theirs. Depending on how tall your furniture is, the 160 cm tree will not always be higher. If they do not take to it, the 30-day money-back guarantee applies: keep the box, as sending it back means taking it apart.
Key takeaways
- An adult cat climbs everything to keep watch, rest in safety and get away from what bothers them: it is a need, not defiance.
- Where they climb shows what they are missing: a vertical scratcher for the curtains, a raised bed for the wardrobe, platforms for the shelves.
- The right answer adds a summit of their own without closing off theirs: against a wall, near a window, in the room you live in.
- For a kitten, an older cat or an overweight cat, a 160 cm cat tree is not the first answer.