A wardrobe. A windowsill. The fridge. The top shelf of a bookcase. You can buy the comfiest bed there is and put it on the floor, and your cat will still choose somewhere higher up. It's not chance, and it's not a whim. It's territorial behaviour - one of the most fundamental things in a cat's biology.
In more than 14 years of breeding pedigree cats, I've noticed that even given a choice between a soft bed on the floor and a comfortable spot high on the wall, most cats choose height. Understanding why helps in designing a space where a cat feels safe.
A house cat's territory isn't just the floor. It's the whole space a cat moves through, including spots at different heights. Behavioural literature calls this vertical territory: shelves, wardrobes, bookcases, scratchers, and any point a cat can watch its surroundings from above.
A wild cat climbs trees to survey the land, avoid threats and rest somewhere ground predators can't reach. A house cat has kept that instinct. From up high it sees more, reacts sooner to changes around it, and feels safer than on the floor, where it's exposed to everything going on around it - people, children, other animals.
That's why wall-mounted cat shelves aren't a decorative extra. They're part of a cat's territory - a space that lets it meet a natural need to watch from a safe height.
A cat doesn't only rest when it's asleep. It also rests when it can get away from too much stimulation. A house full of people, children, a dog or other cats is an intense environment for a cat. A shelf or bed set high up then becomes its own refuge - somewhere no one bothers it and other members of the household simply can't reach.
In my own cattery, I notice that cats almost always head for height after intense play or contact with someone unfamiliar. It's their way of finding calm again. A cat with access to a safe spot up high recovers faster and reacts with less stress to everyday situations at home.
A cat that uses shelves doesn't just rest on them. It marks them as its own. It rubs its cheeks along the edges - glands around a cat's lips and forehead release pheromones that leave an invisible scent trail. It scratches the surface - glands in its paw pads also release pheromones while scratching.
These scent trails tell a cat: this is my place, I'm safe here. That's why cats return to the same shelves every day - they're returning to their own scent. Moving a shelf forces a cat to re-mark its territory, which explains why changes to its environment can be so hard for a cat.
This is a topic that doesn't get talked about enough. In a home with several cats, vertical space resolves conflicts that can't be resolved on the floor.
Height naturally sorts out relationships within a group of cats. In my own cattery, I see a repeating pattern: the highest shelf or platform goes to the cat with the highest status in the group. The other cats settle onto lower levels. It's a natural hierarchy that doesn't need managing - just enough spots at different heights.
A cat that feels threatened by a dominant housemate can pass over the top rather than confronting it on the floor. A more withdrawn cat can retreat to the highest shelf without blocking other cats' routes. A confident cat gets its own lookout point to keep watch from.
That's why, when designing a shelf layout, I look at more than how it looks. I think about communication between cats. Every route should have at least two exits - a cat that feels trapped on a dead-end shelf will react with stress or aggression. Layouts with bridges and hammocks give cats alternative routes and ease tension within a group.
No. Some cats are what's called "ground dwellers" - they prefer hideouts on the floor, under furniture, in enclosed spaces. That doesn't mean something's wrong with them. It's an individual preference.
In my own cattery, I see both types: cats that head for the highest point from day one, and cats that would rather hide in floor-level dens and houses. A well-designed space should offer both options - vertical and horizontal - so every cat can choose what suits its nature.
Interest in height can also change with age. Kittens climb everywhere. Adult cats pick favourite spots and return to them as part of their daily routine. Older cats may start preferring lower positions if climbing gets harder for them - ramps and lower-mounted shelves then help them keep access to vertical space.
Physical activity, the chance to climb, watch from above and rest somewhere calm all have a direct effect on a cat's wellbeing. A cat that can meet its natural territorial needs is calmer and more confident.
As a breeder, I see that a prolonged lack of access to vertical space, in cats that need it, leads to compensatory behaviours: excessive scratching of furniture, vocalising, hiding, and in extreme cases, toileting outside the litter tray. These are signs that a cat doesn't have enough control over its territory.
That's why a well-designed space isn't a decorative feature. It's the foundation of a cat's wellbeing.
The best design for a cat starts with understanding its nature. Only then come the shelves, the beds, the routes. Because a home shouldn't just be beautiful. Above all, it should be a real world for a cat to live in.
Izabela Praska
Pedigree cat breeder and founder of PRASKA
That depends on your cat's ability and the layout of the room. What matters most is creating a safe route your cat can move along freely and rest on at different heights.
There's no single answer. One cat may need a handful of lookout points, while with more cats it's worth planning several independent routes and resting spots.
Yes. A well-designed cat wall helps ease tension between cats, offers a choice of routes, and lets every animal find its own safe space.
If you want to give your cat a space built around its natural needs, explore the PRASKA wall shelf, bridge and set collection.
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