Cats, Heights, and Cat Climbers
If your cat has developed a disturbing habit of climbing your bookcases and shelves, frequently causing things to fall on the floor, then you must have realized by now that getting a cat climber is probably in order. Why do cats climb? Why do they seem to enjoy settling on heights?
Cats are known to be fond of perching. But their preference for high places is not just a silly habit. According to animal behaviorists, cats like heights because from there, they can get a better view of their surroundings. Being territorial animals, they like to survey their territory once in a while and note the movements of people and other animals in the place. Furthermore, being natural predators, heights give cats a good vantage point where they can quietly watch and wait for an opportune time to pounce on their prey. This behavior is similar to that of wilder cats, such as a leopard. Perching gives cats a feeling of security.
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Generally, cats are not afraid of heights. A cat’s body is naturally designed to allow it to fall safely from a particular height. Cats exhibit righting reflex, an ability to twist their bodies into proper position before landing from a fall. Their bodies are so flexible and their sense of balance so sharp that they are able to fall from heights safely. They can successfully avoid injuries when falling from a height of up to 3 feet.
The problem comes when they become too confident and fall from greater heights. This can cause severe injuries and even death. The occurrence of cats falling from great heights has become frequent enough to earn it a name: high-rise syndrome. The term “high-rise syndrome” was first coined to refer to cats that live in high-rise apartments and accidentally fall down, but now it generally refers to cats falling from high places of more than two stories.
However, because climbing is an innate behavior for cats and gives them a feeling of security, it is important not to discourage them of this. To nurture your cat’s instinctive preference for heights, you can set up a cat climber in your home. This way, you can also give your cat its own space for perching while avoiding accidents like the high-rise syndrome.
Different designs of cat climbers are available out there. Basically, there are a few things that you should look for in a cat climber. The first is that it should be sturdy and should have no problem supporting your cat’s weight. Second, it should have a carpeted lounging surface where your cat can comfortably lie down, and it should have a sisal-covered scratching surface where your cat can dig its claws into. Remember, cats also love to scratch. Third, its levels should be well spaced so that your cat can climb up and down with ease. Fourth, it should have cat houses or cat condos included. Make sure, however, that the entrances to the cat houses or cat condos are large enough for your cat.
Climbing is a natural cat behavior and should be nurtured in your cat, so make your home as comfortable enough to accommodate your cat’s perching habits.