What Is A Cat Wall?

cats climbing on wall furniture

Indoor cats can get stuck in routines, and this can lead to boredom. One space-efficient way to get an indoor cat to be more active and shake off boredom is a cat wall. Cat walls are like catios, in that they’re installations designed specifically for your cat’s benefit. 

If you have an indoor cat and want them to be more active, have more activities to do, and enjoy its day-to-day life even more, then a cat wall could be the perfect pick for you.

Cat Walls: The Basics

Cat wall is an umbrella term to describe any wall that has been fitted specifically for cats. Most cat walls are a combination of shelves, tunnels, bridges, and hammocks, all designed to give your cat spots to climb and lounge in. 

One huge benefit of a cat wall is that they don’t take up any floor space, perfect for smaller homes that have empty walls. Cat walls are also relatively inexpensive to put together, and you can add as many or a few items to the cat wall as you want.

To really spruce up a cat wall, you can also add cat wall toys. This provides your cat with hours of entertainment, all from the comfort of a high-up spot in your home.

Cat Wall Benefits

Cat wall comes with plenty of benefits and relatively few drawbacks. Some of the biggest benefits include:

  • Efficiency. Cat walls are incredibly space-efficient, and they don’t require clean up when your cat isn’t using them
  • Exercise and activity. Indoor cats love to climb and run around on cat walls, great for a cat that has been lacking exercise.
  • Security. Cats naturally want to climb somewhere high to stay safe. Cat walls scratch this itch, giving your cat the perfect spot to perch high up.
  • Aesthetic enrichment. Cat walls don’t have to be ugly! When well-designed, a cat wall can look great in any home.
  • Less destruction. Cats on cat walls are too preoccupied to scratch at furniture and rugs! If your cat has bad scratching habits, a cat wall can be an excellent distraction. 

How to Make a Cat Wall

One of the best parts about a cat wall is that you can make it your own! There are no rules for what you have to include on a cat wall, just good ideas to give your cat even more to enjoy.

Cat shelves

Shelves are a must-have for the perfect cat wall. These are simple shelves that you can easily hang up, and they give your cat a sturdy platform they can jump on and off while climbing. Particularly comfortable shelves can also make great napping spots!

Hammocks

Many cats love the sensation of hanging while they sleep in hammocks. Adding a hammock to your cat wall gives your cat a nice napping spot, and the hammock has room to hang since it’s up on your wall. We would recommend at least one hammock per cat in your home.

Bridges

A string of shelves is not fun! Connect shelves, hammocks, and beds with a cat bridge. These cute little bridges help create an intricate cat wall arrangement that will keep your cat busy for hours each day.

Scratching posts

Scratching posts are a must-have for cats, and any good cat wall should have several options. You can choose from vertical scratching posts or horizontal posts that can double as steps from one platform to another.

Cat Wall FAQs

How do I get my cat to use a cat wall?

Encourage your cat to try out the wall with treats or toys. Over time, your cat will learn that the wall is safe and will begin going there on its own.

Are cat shelves a good idea?

Cat shelves are a great idea, especially for smaller homes with less floor space. A cat shelf gives your cat an excellent vantage point of your home.

What material are cat wall shelves?

Cat wall shelves come in various materials, but most are made of wood, bamboo, or a similar material.

Thomas Short
Latest posts by Thomas Short (see all)
Scroll to Top