Large Cats Don’t Use Most Cat Towers — Here’s Why
Why do I always advise people who own large cats not to casually purchase cat climbing frames?
If you have an adult cat of a larger size living in your home, chances are you’ve experienced something like this:
You excitedly set up a "seemingly nice" cat tower, stepped back to admire the result, only to find your cat walk over, look up for two seconds —
Then turn around and jump onto the refrigerator.
As a university professor, I study animal behavior in the classroom;
As a cat owner in real life, what I study is why the things I spend money on don’t get used by the cats.
Later, I discovered that the problem mostly stemmed from the same issue:
Most cat climbing frames were not designed for large cats at all.
Large cats are not simply “scaled-up versions of small cats”.
This is the sentence that I most frequently correct in class.
From the perspective of behavioral science, an increase in body size implies that three things change simultaneously:
1.Different ways of jumping
2.The demand for stability is higher upon landing.
3.Their psychological expectations of space are completely different.
Unfortunately, many so-called "cat towers" merely increase the number of floors and make the colors cute, but fail to truly consider how an adult cat would use them.
When you search for "cat tower for large cats", what you are usually trying to solve is not "how attractive it is", but rather the following practical issues:
- Will the cat tip over when it gets on?
- Will the platform be too small?
- Will the bed collapse?
- Can grabbing the pillar really help the cat stretch its body?
If these issues are not resolved, cats won't "force themselves to adapt".
Cats will only express their preference in the most straightforward way — by not doing it.
My first "tragic mistake" occurred on a cat tower that was highly rated.
A few years ago, I bought a highly-rated cat tower for my 9-kilogram Maine Coon cat at home.
The photos turned out very well and the comments were quite lively.
So, what about the reality?
- The upper platform is just wide enough for one to stand, but not wide enough for one to turn around.
- The height of the claw holder is insufficient. When the cat claws, its back is bent.
- Three months later, the middle part of the sleeping area collapsed directly.
That cat later used it only for one thing:
To jump over it and go somewhere else.
After that, I began to seriously study a question:
What exactly should a cat tower suitable for large cats look like?
The cat tower that is truly suitable for large cats should pass these tests at least:
1.The height doesn't matter much; what matters is whether it's easy to walk through.
Many people believe that "the higher, the better".
However, for large cats, the distance between layers is the key factor.
A good design should feel like a comfortable staircase;
A bad design is more like a physical fitness test.
Later, I saw some modern-style towers. Although their appearance wasn't as "extreme" as before,
the cats seemed to be much more at ease when climbing up and down.
This wasn't a coincidence; it was the structure speaking.
2.The platform is too small, which is the top reason why large cats don't use it.
When a cat rests at a high place, it is essentially seeking a sense of security.
If the platform can only "barely hold on",
the cat's subconsciousness will remain in a state of tension.
My personal experience is that:
The platform should be large enough for the cat to lie down completely without having to tuck in its tail.
This aspect is actually better achieved in many cat towers that feature modern wooden structures.
3.Stability is not about weight, but about structure.
Some cat towers are really heavy,
but when the cat jumps onto them, they still shake.
The reason is usually just one:
The design of the center of gravity is unreasonable.
A good cat tower for big cats should make the cat "understand" right away as it jumps onto it — that this place is reliable.
Why do I increasingly prefer the wooden cat towers?
From a research perspective, and also from a practical perspective.
The wooden structure has several practical advantages:
- The load feedback is clearer.
- Less vibration
- It doesn't deform even after being used for a long time.
This is also the reason why I later began to notice modern wooden cat towers like mewzoom —
not because of the name, but because they are clearly designed to solve the problem of "long-term use by adult cats", rather than just being for show.
The height of the scratching post is not sufficient. In fact, this is a waste of the cat's natural instincts.
The issue of scratching is often understood too simply.
It is not just for sharpening claws, but:
- Stretch the back
- Relieve stress
- Rebuilding a sense of security
If the scratching post is too short, large cats will be forced to bend over.
From a behavioral perspective, this is an incomplete action, which will make the cats more agitated.
To judge whether a cat scratch post is good or not, I only consider one thing:
Can the cat fully straighten its body when scratching?
The act of sleeping, big cats do it in a much more "elegant" way than you might think.
Many cat beds look cute,
but in reality, they are only suitable for small-sized cats to curl up and sleep in.
The more common sleeping position for adult large cats is:
- Lying on one side
- Extend all limbs naturally
- Without any physical restrictions
So I prefer the design of large open beds with removable washable cushions.
It's not luxurious, but rather practical.
A cat tower is actually a way to re-delineate the "territorial boundaries" within the home.
This is the one thing I want to say the most.
When large cats have a stable, comfortable and their own vertical space of their own:
- They are less anxious.
- Less damage to furniture
- Being more socially connected is actually healthier.
From a behavioral perspective, this is reducing resource conflicts.
From a practical standpoint, it is —
The house is much quieter now.
Final Note: Don't let the cat "make do" with your choice
I've always believed that this kind of cat climbing frame,
isn't for people to look at, but for cats to use.
If you are looking for a cat tower that is truly suitable for large cats,
please ignore "how attractive it is",
ignore "whether it's a hit or not",
and just seriously ask yourself this one question:
If I were this cat, would I be willing to use it every day?
When you start to think from this perspective,
you will find that the truly suitable choice is actually not many —
but once you make the right choice, the cat will express its gratitude through actions.
And this is always more genuine than the five-star ratings in the comment section.