15 Cat Wall Ideas for Small Spaces
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When the floor is full, go up. A cat wall uses the space above the couch, beside the door or in the corner by the window, and it gives a cat what a cat tree does: height, a place to scratch and a view of the room.
Here are 15 ideas for small spaces, from a single set of steps to full wall systems. I checked that each product is in stock on Amazon US and stuck to ones with strong ratings and plenty of reviews. Check the weight limit against your own cat before you buy, and fix shelves into studs or the anchors the maker supplies.
Our Favorite
For a first cat wall, I’d start with the FUKUMARU Cat Climbing Shelf. It is a four step climbing shelf in solid rubber wood with natural jute scratching surfaces, it ships from Amazon, and it had 4.5 stars from more than 3,100 reviews when I looked. It takes up very little wall, and you’ll see how your cat uses height before you commit to a bigger layout.
15 cat wall ideas for small spaces
1. A staircase of steps
Steps are the simplest cat wall. A row of steps up a blank bit of wall gives a cat a route to a high perch with no big jumps, which is kind to older cats. The four step shelf above is the compact choice.
2. Separate steps you can space out yourself
If you want to set your own heights, a set of individual steps is more flexible. The ESPETS Solid Wood Cat Wall Steps come as a set of three in black painted solid wood, rated to hold up to 35 lbs. It had 4.5 stars from over 60 reviews.
3. A 4-in-1 shelf set
A set with a few shelves and a scratching post covers the basics in one hang. The FUKUMARU 4-in-1 Cat Wall Shelves is a wooden set with a scratching post, listed for 16 inch drywall installs. It had 4.4 stars from more than 1,800 reviews.
4. Shelves that look like decor
Not every cat shelf has to look like pet gear. The Moon and Star Cat Wall Shelves are wood shelves with decorative cutouts, pre-drilled and paintable, so you can match them to the wall. It had 4.3 stars from nearly 150 reviews.
5. A tall wall-mounted tree
A wall tree gives you the height of a floor cat tree without a base eating up floor space. The FUKUMARU 70 inch Wall Mounted Tree combines a scratching post with a soft cushion perch, and it is listed for 16 inch drywall installs. It had 4.5 stars from over 200 reviews.
6. A five-tier tree for small and medium cats
The FUKUMARU 5-Tier Wall Mounted Cat Tree is listed for small and medium cats, with a scratching post and a lookout at the top. It had 4.5 stars from more than 1,000 reviews. If you have a bigger cat, read the weight rating on the listing before you buy.
7. A tall sisal post with a hammock
The PAWSCRAT 5-Tier Wall-Mounted Cat Tree has an 80 inch sisal post and a hammock, in gray. It had 4.7 stars from over 100 reviews.
8. A full system for large cats
If you have a big cat, or two, a complete system makes sense. The KinoTail 9-in-1 Cat Wall Shelves for Large Cats includes a 21.6 inch cat bed, a 17 inch hammock, a 19 inch condo and perch, and a 52 inch wall cat tree. It is a bigger spend, at over $100 when I checked, and it had 4.7 stars from nearly 180 reviews.
9. A multi-level set with a bridge and hammock
The Wood Cat Wall Shelves Climbing System is a multi-level set with perches, a bridge and a hammock, listed for 40 lbs and suited to a corner. It had 4.3 stars from nearly 350 reviews.
10. A 6-in-1 set with a house
If your cat likes to hide as well as climb, look for a set with an enclosed bit. The 6-in-1 Black Cat Wall Shelves Set includes a hammock, scratching post, cat house and climbing platforms. It had 4.3 stars from about 140 reviews.
11. A window perch with a metal frame
A window is the best view in the house, so give the cat a seat. The Zakkart Cat Window Perch is supported from below by a metal frame, holds up to 40 lbs, and has a machine washable bed. It had 4.8 stars from more than 4,600 reviews.
12. A foldable perch for a curtained window
The Zakkart SnugCloud Foldable Window Perch is a cordless, curtain-friendly hammock bed on a metal frame, rated up to 40 lbs. It had 4.7 stars from more than 1,700 reviews.
13. A windowsill perch that hooks on
For a deep sill, a hook-on seat is a quick job. The AMOSIJOY Wooden Windowsill Perch is a 24.4 inch wood and metal frame with a zippered cushion, holds up to 40 lbs, and mounts with hooks. It had 4.6 stars from nearly 4,800 reviews.
14. A suction cup window hammock
No tools, no drilling. The PEFUNY Cat Window Hammock uses strong suction cups, has a waterproof flannel cover and is made for larger cats. It had 4.5 stars from more than 20,000 reviews. Check the weight limit, press the cups onto a clean window and test it yourself before the cat does. There is more in where to put a cat hammock.
15. Start with one shelf, and watch what your cat does
This one needs no product. Put up a single shelf or a short run of steps, give it a couple of weeks, and see whether your cat uses it and which way they go. Some cats want a high lookout, some want a hideaway and some ignore all of it until you move it nearer the window. Once you know, adding pieces to match is easy. If you want a floor option as well, my guide to minimalist cat trees has a few.
Planning a layout in a small space
Sketch the wall on paper first, or mark it out with painter’s tape. A route that climbs from low to high, with a landing at each change of direction, works better than a straight stack of shelves, because a cat can see where it is heading. Leave room at the top for the cat to turn around, and keep the top perch away from doors and shelves of breakables. In a studio apartment, a corner often gives you the most height for the least wall, and a perch beside the window gives the cat something to watch while you work.
If you rent, start with window perches and suction hammocks, since they leave the walls alone, and add drilled pieces only once you know what your landlord allows. A cat wall also works well beside a floor scratcher, so the cat has a low place to stretch and a high place to settle.
What to check before you buy a cat wall
- Weight limits. Each listing gives a limit per shelf or for the whole set. Check it against your heaviest cat, and allow for a cat landing, not just sitting.
- What your wall is made of. Several of these sets are listed for 16 inch drywall installs. If you have brick, plaster or rented walls, check that the fixings suit them and that you are allowed to drill.
- Spacing. Leave a gap your cat can jump comfortably, and put something soft under any high shelf. Older cats do better with smaller steps.
- Washable fabric. Beds and cushions get hammered, so a removable, washable cover is worth having.
- Placement. Next to a window, above the couch or beside a door usually works. Cats like to see the room.
FAQ
Are cat wall shelves safe?
They can be, if they are fixed properly and kept within the weight limit. Use the anchors or studs the maker recommends, check the fixings every few months, and put a rug or something soft below the highest shelf.
How high should cat shelves be?
There’s no single right height. Start with a low first step, especially for a kitten or an older cat, and build up towards a lookout.
Will a cat wall damage my walls?
Anything screwed in leaves holes when you take it down. Suction cup hammocks and hook-on perches do the least damage and suit rentals better.
How do I get my cat to use a cat wall?
Place the lowest step by something your cat already likes, such as the sofa or the window, and leave a treat on the first couple of steps. Don’t lift a cat onto it. Let them find it themselves.