# Vertical Space And Towers For Cats

- Link: https://lifeandwork.blog/vertical-space-and-towers-for-cats/
- Published: 2026-10-23T19:35:49-05:00
- Author: Bert Swope

Think like your cat when considering vertical space unused by your home; from cat
trees and shelves that function as walkways to creating tall cat trees that provide
cat perches! There’s so much potential here!

Vertical spaces are essential to cat health and well-being. They provide places 
for play and relaxation; walking along raised pathways provides mental and sensory
enrichment and reduces tension between cats living together in one home.

## Cat Trees

Cat trees are tall pieces of furniture with platforms and perches designed for cats
to climb on and lounge upon, sometimes offering toys dangling from them. Cat trees
are especially useful in homes with multiple cats as they give each one their own
space to survey, feel safe, escape when necessary and sharpen claws as part of the
grooming process that helps them remain healthy.

Some of the best cat trees feature multiple components, such as toys, hideaways 
and scratching posts. Most are made from sturdy materials designed to withstand 
feline usage, with either natural wood or faux sheepskin fabric that won’t snag 
claws providing anchor points for stability.

Cat trees come in all shapes and sizes; from simple poles with perches at their 
ends to elaborate models featuring small condos in the center with platforms on 
either side that hold toys for cat playtime. Although kittens and energetic adult
cats tend to prefer more challenging structures for climbing on, older cats or those
with medical concerns might prefer simpler structures or trees offering sense of
security, like fully enclosed condos or high vantage perches.

Cat trees provide cats with a place to rest, climb and exercise while also encouraging
play and deterring destructive behavior such as scratching on furniture. Furthermore,
these structures may help train kittens or distract bored adults.

Cat trees can be found for purchase at pet stores, online and home improvement and
DIY retailers. Their cost can vary greatly based on size, features and height; those
with more elaborate features could cost several hundred dollars or more; on average
however the price for large tall cat trees averages $250.

## Window Seats

When designing your cat-friendly home, it’s essential to think vertically. Cats 
love being up high, so providing spaces for them to perch and rest will create more
living space without taking up floor area. Plus, giving your feline access to these
elevated areas may prevent other cats from cornering them and possibly injuring 
themselves.

Window seats differ from cat trees by being built-in benches that sit directly under
windows, creating cozy nooks perfect for gazing out the view, reading a book, snuggling
close with someone special or even sneaking a power nap! Window seats come in various
sizes and designs so that they fit any space seamlessly – they also create an eye-
catching focal point in any room!

If you have the space and budget for a custom-designed window seat, professional
installation should be considered for optimal results. This ensures an exact fit
with your home’s architecture as well as proper electrical or HVAC handling. However,
if money or space are an issue simply placing an upholstered bench or chair near
a window can create an inviting cat nook; just make sure that any fabric chosen 
is stain-resistant to facilitate cleaning in case accidents arise.

Create a cat-friendly reading nook by flanking your window seat with bookshelves
for storage and display, such as in this bedroom from Christina Kim Interiors where
an upholstered bench provides additional under-bench storage – ideal for curling
up with your book!

Provide your cat with various vertical spaces can keep her mentally and physically
stimulated while helping prevent boredom and obesity. In multicat households, these
spots may also help defuse territorial disputes: “Cats who are higher up can monitor
what’s going on around them, giving other cats ample warning of their presence,”
according to behaviorist Pam Johnson-Bennett’s best-selling book Cat vs Cat.

Small or large homes alike can add vertical space and towers for their cats in virtually
every room of their house. By accommodating to their natural instincts and behaviors
for exercise, territory expansion, height gains and height changes they will be 
happier and healthier indoors.

## Shelves

Cats need high spaces to survey their territory, feel safe and rest. That’s why 
you may see your cat scaling the top of a bookcase or peering down at you from an
exposed ledge on your refrigerator – an instinctual need that dates back to when
wildcats perched high up to keep an eye out for prey and predators.

Cat owners who do not provide vertical space for their felines could run into territorial
issues or fights between multiple cats in their living space. Each cat should have
access to their own high spot so they can safely avoid aggressive interactions from
another feline while remaining within the same living space.

Enhancing your cat’s climbing and perching space throughout the house with imagination
can be easy with just a little creativity. There are numerous products on the market
like cat trees, window seats and shelves but frugal feline owners can create an 
entirely new world for their feline family member with inexpensive items from home
or thrift stores.

Shelves can easily become feline perches by adding pieces of furniture or fabric
to cover potential hazards and provide a comfortable nook for felines to rest upon.
Bookshelves and entertainment centers that can withstand cat weight offer excellent
perching options, while shelves themselves provide enough surface area. Shelves 
may even serve as hiding or play areas for your feline friend and help organize 
clutter within your home!

A key to successful cat-proof shelving setups for high spots is ensuring they are
secure, with multiple exits provided in case your pet feels threatened by other 
animals or members of their household. More elaborate shelving setups for cats might
involve wood and carpet pieces cut to shape for easier grip, covered with fabric
that provides grip. You could also opt for simpler approaches that are less costly,
such as hanging cloth over each shelf for an easy budget-friendly approach.

## Superhighways

If you want to expand the vertical space available for your cat, consider creating
a superhighway–a series of surfaces that allows it to navigate throughout your home
without touching the floor. Begin small, perhaps by placing one window sill or piece
of furniture behind a sofa back and connecting them until they form a complete circuit
that your cat can walk along. Superhighways fulfill an essential need of your feline’s,
handed down from its wild ancestors who perched high places while remaining safe
from predators while keeping an eye out on what was going on around them while simultaneously
watching for predators while staying safe from predators while enriching their lives
as enrichment programs!

This article has been reviewed and edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist
Dr. Kenneth Martin and LVT Debbie Martin as experts.

### Share this:

 * [  Print ](https://lifeandwork.blog/vertical-space-and-towers-for-cats/#print?share=print)
 * [More](https://lifeandwork.blog/vertical-space-and-towers-for-cats/#)

 * [[
 * [Share on Tumblr](https://www.tumblr.com/share)
 * [  Email ](https://lifeandwork.blog/vertical-space-and-towers-for-cats/?subject=%5BShared%20Post%5D%20Vertical%20Space%20And%20Towers%20For%20Cats&body=https%3A%2F%2Flifeandwork.blog%2Fvertical-space-and-towers-for-cats%2F&share=email)
 * [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)
 * [  Telegram ](https://lifeandwork.blog/vertical-space-and-towers-for-cats/?share=telegram)
 * [  WhatsApp ](https://lifeandwork.blog/vertical-space-and-towers-for-cats/?share=jetpack-whatsapp)
 * [  Reddit ](https://lifeandwork.blog/vertical-space-and-towers-for-cats/?share=reddit)
 * [  Threads ](https://lifeandwork.blog/vertical-space-and-towers-for-cats/?share=threads)
 * [  Mastodon ](https://lifeandwork.blog/vertical-space-and-towers-for-cats/?share=mastodon)
 * [  Nextdoor ](https://lifeandwork.blog/vertical-space-and-towers-for-cats/?share=nextdoor)
 * [Post](https://x.com/share)
 * [  Bluesky ](https://lifeandwork.blog/vertical-space-and-towers-for-cats/?share=bluesky)

### _Related_