The Importance of Vertical Space

As a cat behaviour consultant who frequently sees the positive impact of adding more vertical space to a cats home, I want to share with you some of the reasons why adding cat appropriate vertical space can make a huge difference for your cat(s), and for you!

Confidence and Surveillance

The ancestor of the domestic cat (the African Wildcat) seeks elevated positions on which to perch so that they are better able to spot prey and predators, a behaviour that ensures their safety and survival. By comparison, our domestic cats live a life of relative safety with plentiful food, but try telling that to their instincts! They still retain their wild ancestors strong desire to occupy vertical space, despite living in a relatively safe environment with abundant access to food.

An African Wildcat (felis lybica) watching her environment safely resting in a tree

Occupying an elevated position allows cats to survey their surroundings, giving them a sense of security and control over their environment. A high vantage point helps them to feel safe, reducing unnecessary anxiety and stress that comes with being forced to live on the ground level.

Physical and Mental Stimulation

Vertical spaces encourage physical exercise, which is vital for a cat’s health. Climbing, jumping, and exploring territory at differing heights helps to get our (often sedentary) house cats up and moving about. Additionally, these activities provide mental stimulation, reducing the risk of problem behaviours rooted in boredom.

For indoor cats especially, vertical space can add vital enrichment by mimicking some of the challenges and adventures they might encounter in the wild. A fun task I sometimes set for my clients is to think of ways in which they can add enough vertical space into a room that their cat(s) can travel the entire perimeter of the space without once needing to touch the floor! This can then wind up being a great space for training and enrichment activities, with many opportunities to ask their cats to use the space in creative and fun ways. Plus- have you ever been in a room while a cat has the zoomies doing laps around the rooftop? It’s hilarious and so much fun to watch.

Axel having a ripper good time playing on top of one of our cat treees

Expanding Territory

Humans largely live on the horizontal plane, and this is reflected in the types of spaces we live in. As horizontal plane dwellers, furniture items like beds and couches are paramount to our comfort and lifestyles. But, cats are a bit different! They perceive their territory in both the vertical and horizontal planes- for them, occupying vertical space is every bit as natural and important as sitting down on a couch or sleeping in a bed is to us.

I invite you to think for a moment about what it would be like to live in a house without a couch, or a bed. Would you be uncomfortable? Would you be stressed? Would you rather live in a space where both those things were available to you? Now, think about the fact that cats live on both the horizontal AND vertical planes, but frequently have to co-exist with humans who focus on structuring life on the horizontal plane. How might a cat who has limited to no access to vertical space feel? And crucially- how might this impact upon their behaviour?  

If your cat is jumping onto the top of open doors, climbing stair rails, jumping up onto the fridge/shower doors, or trying to find other ways to get up high- they’re sending you a strong message that they would benefit a great deal from some extra purpose built vertical space- just for them!

When cats free roam, a recent study found that they can patrol a median territory of around 1.3km – 3.7km (1). Many of us ask our cats to live life solely indoors, and whilst this may keep them (and wildlife) safe, we are significantly restricting their territory and opportunities for enrichment as a result. This is why I encourage people to take advantage of the vertical plane and add as much space there as possible. This is a particularly important consideration if a cat (or cats) live in a small apartment. By utilising the vertical dimension, you can create a more enriching environment that feels larger and more stimulating for your cat. This can help reduce stress and prevent behavioral issues that arise from feeling confined.

Reduces stress and tension in Multi-cat households

Adding multiple well spaced apart vertical spaces in socially significant areas of your home frequently helps to reduce tension in multi-cat households by:

1. Expanding Perceived Territory: Increasing a cat’s perception of their territory can reduce tensions that arise from feeling the need to defend limited ‘turf’.

   
   

2. Providing Vantage Points: Allowing cats to occupy more vantage points enables them to survey their territory, boosting their confidence and reducing stress from unexpected encounters with other cats.

   
   

3. Minimising Territorial Conflict: Reducing competition over vertical space is crucial. Cats do not simply ‘work things out’. Repeated negative interactions with another cat can erode their relationship and reinforce negative opinions. By providing each cat with their own resting place, we can transform negative interactions into neutral ones, halting the deterioration of their relationship and fostering positive experiences.

   
   

4. Offering Choice and Control: Giving cats the choice and control over where they perch promotes behavioural health. Animals that perceive they have control over their environment tend to be more behaviourally healthy.

   
   

5. Increasing Vertical Space: More vertical space means more options for retreat and conflict avoidance. Adding plenty of vertical space helps caregivers notice when a cat is trying to escape, allowing them to intervene and redirect to prevent further escalation.

The cat trees might be a bit tatty (these were our first and last cheap pre-fabbed cat trees!), but these are four very happy cats each with their own individual space!

Better Health Outcomes

Providing access to vertical spaces can also serve as an early warning system for health issues in cats. If your previously enthusiastic climber suddenly becomes hesitant to occupy elevated positions, it might indicate an underlying health problem. This change in behaviour can be a crucial signal to book a vet visit promptly. Early detection through such behavioural cues can spare your beloved cat from unnecessary pain and suffering, ensuring any health conditions are addressed before they worsen.

Providing Vertical Space

I have talked a lot about the value and importance of adding vertical space, and here are some ideas for how you can achieve that:

1. Cat Trees: These are specially designed structures that offer multiple levels for climbing, scratching, and lounging. The taller the cat tree the better, a good height goal to keep in mind is 'human head height- or higher!'. Genuine product recommendation: For anyone lucky enough to live in Adelaide, Australia- I had all of our cat trees custom made by O's Poles and cannot recommend this small Aussie business with a big heart highly enough. O's Poles are superbly made, safe, affordable, and have withstood years of use from my four highly athletic cats and still look good as new!

   
   

2. Wall-Mounted Shelves: Installing shelves at different heights on your walls can create a climbing route for your cat. These shelves can be customized to match your home’s aesthetic.

   
   

3. Suction Cup Window Beds: These beds attach to windows, providing a sunny spot for your cat to relax and watch the world outside. This option is economical and portable, taking up very little space. You can easily stagger multiple beds across a large window to maximise valuable real eastate (from a cats perspective!). An ideal solution if you rent!

   

   Baxter and Axel soaking up the sunshine in a window mounted bed

4. Clearing Furniture Tops: Simply clearing the tops of bookshelves, cabinets, and other furniture can provide additional perching spots for your cat. Just make sure they have at least two ways to get up- and down!

   
   

5. DIY Options: If you’re handy, you can create custom vertical spaces yourself, I have seen some very inventive structures created by handy cat owners from spare building materials or cheap ply wood.

Considerations when adding vertical space:

1. Stability: Ensure that any vertical structures, such as cat trees or wall-mounted shelves, are securely anchored and stable. Wobbly or unstable structures can be dangerous and deter your cat from using them.

   
   

2. Materials: Use cat-safe materials that are non-toxic and durable. Avoid materials that can splinter or break easily, as these can cause injuries. If your cat suffers from pica, avoid adding any vertical furniture which is made using materials they may find tempting to chew on or ingest.

   
   

3. Weight Capacity: Check the weight capacity of shelves and other elevated structures to ensure they can support your cat’s weight.

   
   

4. Access Points: Ensure there are multiple access and egress points, especially in multi-cat households, to prevent territorial disputes and stress.

   
   

5. Maintenance: Regularly inspect and maintain the vertical spaces to ensure they remain safe and in good condition.

   
   

6. Multi-Cat Households: In homes with multiple cats, it’s essential to ensure that vertical spaces have multiple access and egress points. This prevents one cat from blocking or defending a high spot, which can cause or exacerbate stress and conflict .

   
   

7. Familiarity: I know I’ve just spent a lot of time telling you about why vertical space is so necessary for cats, and with any luck I’ve inspired you to think about how you could add some for your own house panthers. But! Don’t forget that cats can often be wary of change- even ‘good’ change, and introducing new furniture can sometimes be an initial stressor (for some cats).

   
   

   If you have any reason to suspect that your cat might be thrown by new objects in the home- set your cat up for success. Take the example of a new cat tree- most don’t arrive pre-made and you’ll need to assemble it yourself. If lots of boxes and chaos and construction is likely to unsettle your feline friend, try assembling the tree out of sight and sound of your cat.

   
   

   Before you bring the new cat tree into their territory, take a blanket or cat bed they spend a lot of calm, peaceful time in and rub it well all over the new tree- scent is hugely important to cats and if the new furniture smells like them it could well help them to adjust easier and experience less stress.

   
   

   Another thing I suggest is to scatter your cat’s favourite treats all over and around the new cat tree. This way your cat gets reinforced for exploring the tree and this will help them to perceive it in a less threatening and more positive light. You can continue to pair the new tree with positive reinforcement by tossing a treat to your cat every time they confidently explore near or on their new cat furniture. A lot of people find that their cats quickly pair ‘tree’ with ‘treats’ and this is a great behaviour to reward- a cat on a tree isn’t a cat trying to dash out a front door, or wandering all over your kitchen benches (just to give two examples!).

   
   

8. Positioning: To maximize the benefits of vertical space, it’s important to distribute cat specific vertical spaces throughout your home, especially in socially significant areas (i.e. living rooms, home offices, bedroms, kitchens) where humans spend a lot of their time.

   
   

   Most cats want to have the option to be near their human companions, and if you have a particularly busy or noisy home, adding high space can help your cat to feel safer spending time engaging in family life- especially if you teach children and dogs that a cat occupying their high space is to be left alone.

   
   

   Additionally, positioning vertical spaces near sunny spots or windows with a good view can provide extra enrichment. Cats love basking in the sun and watching the outside world, so these locations can become favourite spots for your feline friend.

   
   

   Although sometimes (as the video below demonstrates) they're still going to have more fun watching you- no matter how good their view outside is!

   
   

In conclusion

As a cat behaviour consultant who has seen firsthand the amazing impact adding vertical space can have, I am so so passionate about sharing information about the simple environmental adjustments we can make that have a dramatic positive impact on our cats well-being, and our harmonious co-existence with them. I hope I’ve helped you to start seeing that vertical space is not just a luxury for cats; it’s a necessity. When we understand and cater for our cat's instinctive needs we allow them more opportunities to exhibit natural behaviours. A cat who has increased opportunities to exhibit natural behaviour is a happier cat, and happier cats are healthier cats- and easier to live with!

Monique van Maanen, FBST

Helping cats and their people to live more harmoniously together!

References

1. Jensen HA, Meilby H, Nielsen SS, Sandøe P. Movement Patterns of Roaming Companion Cats in Denmark-A Study Based on GPS Tracking. Animals (Basel). 2022 Jul 7;12(14):1748