How to teach a cat to use wall shelves?
This is one of the most frequent questions I receive from clients.
"What if my cat doesn't want to use the wall shelves?"
My answer is almost always the same.
First, let's allow the cat to make its own decision.
A cat doesn't like to be forced
The biggest mistake is placing the cat on a shelf and expecting it to love it immediately.
The cat must discover the new space on its own. The less we interfere, the greater the chance it will accept it faster.
That is exactly why I always say that patience is a caregiver's best ally.
Curiosity is stronger than coercion
Cats are extremely curious by nature.
A new wall shelf very often becomes an object of observation for the first few days. The cat looks. It sniffs. It analyzes. And only then does it decide to make the first jump.
This is completely normal.
Not every cat will do it on the first day
Some cats jump up after a few minutes. Others need a few days.
And there are those that pretend the shelves don't exist for two weeks... ...and then suddenly start using them every day.
It is not worth worrying about. Every cat has its own pace.
Height is natural for a cat
If your cat sleeps on a wardrobe, windowsill, or fridge, it means it likes to observe the world from above.
Cat wall shelves don't teach it a new behavior. They simply give it a safer, more stable, and more comfortable place to do what it already does every day.
The first route is of huge importance
When designing new products, I always wonder how the cat will move along them.
The distances between shelves cannot be accidental. They must match the cat's capabilities. They can be neither too small nor too large.
Therefore, when designing, I take into account the differences between breeds, age, agility, and the natural way cats move. Thanks to this, a caregiver can build a cat path tailored to their cat and their home.
It is not just a place to jump
A well-designed cat wall gives a cat much more.
It can rest. Observe the surroundings. Hide from excess stimulation. Pass another cat. Retreat when it feels like it.
This is its own space. A space over which it has control.
Stability is of huge importance
A cat will very quickly sense if a shelf bends, wobbles, or makes disturbing sounds. In many cases, it will simply stop using it.
That is why, when designing PRASKA products, I pay great attention not only to appearance, but above all to construction, stability, and the safety of daily use.
It is precisely these elements that determine whether a cat will trust the new space.
Designed from experience
Over 14 years of breeding pedigreed cats, I have noticed one thing.
If shelves are stable, properly spaced, and respond to the cat's natural needs, most cats sooner or later start using them.
Not because someone taught them to. But because the cat itself decided that this is exactly where it wants to be.
And in my opinion, that is the best recommendation.
In conclusion…
I don't believe you can teach a cat to love height.
However, I do believe you can create a space for it that it will want to use itself.
That is exactly why for over 14 years I have been designing products inspired by the daily observation of cats, rather than a passing trend.
Because the best cat shelves are not the ones that appeal most to a human. They are the ones the cat itself chooses every day.
Every PRASKA product is created with one simple thought – first the cat's needs, then the design. That is precisely why our shelves and cat paths are chosen by breeders and cat caregivers in many countries around the world.
Izabela Praska
Pedigree cat breeder and founder of the PRASKA brand
Frequently Asked Questions
How to encourage a cat to use wall shelves?
It is best to let it discover the new space on its own. It is not worth placing the cat on the shelves or forcing it to use them. Curiosity usually works much better than coercion.
Why doesn't a cat use new shelves right away?
This is completely natural. Every cat needs a different amount of time to accept a new element in its environment. Some cats jump up immediately, others only after a few days or even weeks.
Do all cats like height?
Most cats naturally choose places located higher up. Thanks to this, they can observe their surroundings, rest, and feel more control over their space.
How to arrange cat wall shelves?
The shelves should form a comfortable route tailored to the cat's age, size, and agility. It is important that the animal can freely climb up, rest, and safely descend from the entire structure.
If you want to create a space for your cat that aligns with its natural needs, explore our wall shelf and cat bridge sets.