Why do cats love high places?
Based on veterinarians' materials, let me explain in 30 seconds.Cats are thought to like high places because they can look all around and keep a distance from other animals, which makes them feel safe. Cats are hunters, but they were also hunted by other animals, so they are said to climb high to keep watch and stay safe.
Keeping watch and staying safe
Guidelines on cats' living environments, written by groups of cat veterinarians in the United States and the United Kingdom, describe high places as important spots where cats can keep watch over their surroundings. Veterinarians at Ohio State University also explain that cats are hunters, but were also eaten by other animals, so they naturally climb high to keep watch and stay safe.
A cat's "safe place"
The same guidelines explain that a "safe place" for a cat feels small and enclosed, and is often high up. Cats tend to feel safer just by not being able to see something scary, and they can settle down even if their whole body is not hidden. When a cat relaxes at the top of a cat tree or on a shelf, it may be choosing one of these safe places.
Keeping a distance from other cats
Cats do not much like unfamiliar cats coming into their territory. In homes with several cats, the guidelines say, high places make it easier for cats to spend time without meeting face to face, which means less competition and fewer fights. The university's explanation suggests that, even in the same room, cats should be able to keep about 1–3 meters apart, not only side to side but also up and down.
"The highest cat is the boss" is not confirmed
People often say that "the higher a cat sits, the higher its rank." However, the vet association and university materials we checked describe high places as spots for keeping watch, feeling safe, and keeping a distance from other cats, and say nothing about rank. There is more than one reason cats like high places, and each cat's personality also changes what it prefers.
Want to know more?
- For kittens and older cats, the guidelines recommend placing resting spots lower or adding ramps so they can climb up.
- It is also a good idea to include resting spots where the cat can see the view outside a window.
- It is recommended to provide at least as many safe places as there are cats, set apart from one another.
Quick quiz: test yourself
Why do cats seem to like high places?
Show the answer
- Higher means higher rank
- They can keep watch and feel safe
- Warm air collects up there
They can keep watch and feel safe High spots let cats look around and keep away from other animals, so they feel safe. The sources checked say nothing about rank.
High spots let cats look around and keep away from other animals, so they feel safe. The sources checked say nothing about rank.
Next quiz ›Sources
- AAFP and ISFM Feline Environmental Needs GuidelinesAmerican Association of Feline Practitioners・International Society of Feline Medicine（Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery）
- Environmental Enrichment for Indoor CatsThe Ohio State University（Indoor Pet Initiative）
This article was written after checking the sources above as of 2026-10-03. Explanations may change as research progresses. Photo credits are shown below each photo.
