How to Set Up Cat Wall Shelves and Climbing Shelves

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Cat wall shelves turn an empty wall into a climbing route: steps, perches, bridges and beds fixed to the wall so your cat can get up high without a cat tree taking up floor space. This guide covers why cats want height, the types of wall shelves, how to mount them so they hold a jumping cat, how to lay out a route, and how to get your cat to use it.

How we wrote this: the welfare advice comes from Cats Protection, the UK vet charity PDSA, the RSPCA and the Ohio State University Indoor Pet Initiative; the mounting facts come from the makers’ own pages (CatastrophiCreations, The Refined Feline and TRIXIE). All were checked on 1 November 2026. We found no independent hands-on test of wall shelf brands that met our standard, so this is a how-to rather than a ranked list. We did not test these shelves ourselves, and we do not show prices or ratings.

Why cats want shelves on the wall

Height matters to cats. The RSPCA says cats are active and like to run, jump and climb, and that they often feel safest when high, so it suggests giving them a suitable high place to climb and rest, for example shelves. The Ohio State Indoor Pet Initiative calls a perch a must have: cats like to climb, and a perch gives them a safe and private place to watch the action from above, where no other animal or person can sneak up on them.

This matters most for indoor cats. PDSA says the main risk of keeping a cat indoors is that they will not get to show natural behaviors such as climbing, jumping, hunting and exploring. It suggests putting up some shelves and using high cupboards or wardrobes to give them extra room and exercise, and points out that climbing and jumping burn calories and help keep joints moving. Cats Protection gives the same advice for indoor cats: provide lots of cat-friendly shelves and things to climb on so they can explore as they would outside.

Wall shelves are one way to do that. A cat tree is another, and many homes use both; see our best cat trees for indoor cats guide. The Refined Feline suggests placing its wall shelves near a cat tree or building a catwalk of several shelves so your cat can jump up to them easily (The Refined Feline).

Types of cat wall shelves

• Steps. Small single platforms that work like a staircase. CatastrophiCreations describes its Cat Climbing Shelf as a small, single-stud step that helps cats get from one piece of furniture to the next, or gives them a quick resting spot. It lists it at 9 inches wide, 11 inches deep and 3 inches high, with steel hardware (CatastrophiCreations).
• Perches and platforms. Wider shelves where a cat can lie down. The Refined Feline’s Cat Clouds shelf is a steel shelf with two platforms, each 20 by 10 inches, plus pads; the maker says it supports up to 70 lbs and weighs 15 lbs itself (The Refined Feline).
• Hammocks and beds. A fabric or padded bed on a wall frame. TRIXIE sells a Hammock for Wall Mounting in its Wall Landscapes for Cats range, covered in sisal and plush, measuring 54 by 28 by 33 cm (TRIXIE).
• Bridges and ladders. Rope, slat or cloth walkways that join two shelves. They let a cat cross a gap instead of jumping it.

Surface matters for grip. Our view, not a quote from the sources: bare wood or steel can be slippery for a cat landing at speed, so look for carpet, sisal or pads on top. The Refined Feline’s steel shelves come with pads, which the maker says are easy to clean (The Refined Feline).

What to check before you buy

• Weight limit. Check the maker’s stated limit per shelf against your heaviest cat. Our view: remember that a cat landing from a jump puts more force on a shelf than a cat sitting still. Where a maker gives no limit, ask before you buy.
• Mounting method. Does the shelf fix into one stud, two studs, or anchors? CatastrophiCreations designs its step to mount into a single stud (CatastrophiCreations).
• Hardware included. The Refined Feline says its wall shelves come with everything needed to hang them, but you need your own drill if you screw into studs (The Refined Feline). Check what is in the box for any brand.
• Wall type. CatastrophiCreations says its step mounts into drywall over studs, plaster, wood, brick or concrete, and has separate instructions for wooden studs, metal studs and concrete (CatastrophiCreations). Know what your wall is made of first.
• Platform size. A step only needs room for paws; a perch needs room to lie down.
• Left or right. Some shelves are made in left and right versions so a route can turn. Check which one you are ordering.

How to mount cat wall shelves safely

Step 1: Find the studs

CatastrophiCreations explains that most US homes are built with drywall over wall studs, wooden or metal 2x4s that frame the wall, and that because studs are very sturdy, it designs its furniture to be installed into them. The Refined Feline says screwing its shelves into studs is not required but strongly recommended for extra security (The Refined Feline). Use a stud finder and mark each stud before you plan the layout, because the studs, not your ideal design, decide where shelves can go.

Step 2: Follow the maker’s instructions for your wall

Use the screws and anchors the maker specifies for your wall type. If your wall is plaster, brick, concrete or has metal studs, look for the maker’s instructions for that wall, as CatastrophiCreations provides. If the instructions do not cover your wall, contact the maker before drilling.

Step 3: Level and test each shelf

Use a level so the shelf does not tilt. Before you let your cat on it, press down firmly on the outer edge, the spot farthest from the screws, where a landing cat pushes hardest. Our view, not a quote from the sources: if a shelf moves, wobbles or creaks, take it down and fix the mounting before any cat uses it.

Step 4: Recheck it over time

Our view: check the screws every few weeks at first, then every few months. Repeated jumping can loosen fixings, especially in drywall anchors.

How to lay out a climbing route

None of the sources we used gives a fixed spacing between shelves, and makers do not agree on one, so follow the maker’s guide for the shelves you buy. These tips are our own view, not a quote from the sources:

• Start low. Put the first step at a height your cat already jumps to easily, such as the top of a sofa arm or a chair.
• Keep gaps comfortable. Space steps so your cat can step or hop, not leap. You can always add a shelf later to make a gap smaller.
• Give two ways down. A route with only one exit can trap a nervous cat at the top, and in a multi-cat home one cat can block another.
• End somewhere worth reaching. A wider perch, bed or hammock at the top, ideally with a view. The Ohio State Indoor Pet Initiative says more than one perch lets cats look outside at different angles.
• Keep clear of hazards. Avoid routes over a stove, glass, a TV, or toward an open window. Cats Protection warns that any cat can fall from a balcony or open window, and that young cats, especially under two, are prone to high rise syndrome because they lack the fear that stops them jumping from heights.

Shelves for kittens, older cats and cats with arthritis

For a cat that finds jumping harder, keep the route low and add more steps. PDSA lists difficulty jumping up to high places as a sign of arthritis in cats, and suggests carefully placed ramps, steps or furniture to help a cat reach favorite spots safely and comfortably. Ladders and bridges also cut out jumps. If your cat has stopped jumping or climbing, or seems stiff or sore, see your vet; do not try to diagnose it at home.

For kittens, a lower route makes sense while they learn. Cats Protection’s warning about young cats and heights is a good reason to keep high routes away from open windows.

How to get your cat to use wall shelves

Some cats are on new shelves within minutes; others ignore them at first. The Refined Feline says cats may not realize the shelves are for them, and suggests putting some catnip on them and placing your cats on them; once a cat has used them, it says, they will remember they are there. The Ohio State Indoor Pet Initiative suggests watching where your cat already chooses to rest, because they will show you where they feel comfortable, and putting a favorite toy on a new perch so your cat investigates. PDSA suggests putting different toys up on shelves now and then so your cat does not get bored of the same places. For toy ideas, see our best toys for indoor cats guide.

Products to look at

We do not link these as picks because we could not find an independent hands-on test that meets our standard. Each line is the maker’s own description, checked on 1 November 2026:

• CatastrophiCreations Cat Climbing Shelf: a small single-stud step, 9 by 11 inches, with steel hardware, made to extend the maker’s wall furniture (maker page).
• The Refined Feline Cat Clouds Cat Shelf: steel, with two 20 by 10 inch platforms and pads, rated by the maker to 70 lbs (maker page).
• TRIXIE Hammock for Wall Mounting: a sisal and plush wall hammock, 54 by 28 by 33 cm, part of the Wall Landscapes for Cats range (maker page).

To compare these on Amazon, search by the full product name. Check the weight limit, mounting hardware and wall types on the maker’s page before you buy.

FAQ

Are cat wall shelves safe?

They are as safe as the mounting. Fix them into studs or the anchors the maker specifies, check the weight limit, test each shelf by pressing on the outer edge, and keep routes away from open windows. Cats Protection warns that young cats in particular are at risk of falls from heights.

Do cat wall shelves need to go into studs?

The Refined Feline says studs are not required for its shelves but strongly recommended (The Refined Feline), and CatastrophiCreations designs its furniture to install into studs (CatastrophiCreations). Follow the instructions for your shelf and your wall type.

How far apart should cat shelves be?

There is no single rule in the sources we used, and makers differ. Our view: start with gaps your cat already jumps comfortably, and add shelves to shorten any jump your cat hesitates at. Use smaller gaps for older cats and kittens.

Are wall shelves better than a cat tree?

They do the same job, giving height to climb and rest, which the RSPCA and PDSA both recommend. Shelves save floor space; a tree needs no drilling and can move. Many homes use both. See our cat tree guide.

Can older cats use wall shelves?

Yes, with a lower route, more steps and ramps or ladders. PDSA suggests steps and ramps for cats with arthritis. If your cat has trouble jumping, ask your vet.

For more ways to give your cat height and comfort, see our best cat beds and window perches guide, the best cat trees for indoor cats guide and the dog and cat toys buying guide.