Hubby installed cat wall mount and so far our girl (newly age 7), is ignoring it. I’ve tried putting food on the shelf to see if she would jump up and eat it. She has refused.
Cat nip them if she likes it. Maybe put a piece of furniture that is a little lower than the lowest shelf.
Oh and anytime you put something up, buy something, do not bring them to it, introduce them or anything. The least you let them know you WANT them there, the more likely they will use it from my experience.
Great idea, so…I tried that the first night. I showed her the bowl, I gave her some. I put one on the bench next to her wall mount. And then put one on each of the wall mounts. No success she ignored all of the treats.
Depending on her strength level, the second mount/ could be lower. Since this is something new in her environment, it’ll take some time for her to get used to.
My cat doesn't have the confidence to vertical jump so everything must be steps. He even gets a running start to jump on the couch. Hes 2 and not overweight lol
Thank you, we have a bench/wooden toy bin that she can easily jump up onto to get to the lower level. She loves to be high up and walk walks around on our upstairs banisters fearlessly. So I don’t think the height is the problem.
Cats are efficient (lazy) and follow a strict risk/reward assessment. If they don't think the payoff is worthwhile, they'll continue on without exploring.
Make a temporary transition from floor to the first shelf visible and very simple. Then use a lead to get her revved up and playful. Try getting her to chase the lead up the simple pat to the lower shelf. When you see her regularly going up to the shelf, and the higher one, then remove the temporary transition parts.
It probably looks like that, from the angle that I took the photo. She actually jumps up from our dining table to the top window with no problem. And that is pretty far up. So I don’t think the height is the problem.
Obviously not an oriental cat. Our Tonkinese boy thinks it is greatly amusing to ascend to the top of our pantry via the kitchen counter and the range hood, and getting shouted at only adds to the fun.
First issue I see is it’s not positioned ideally. How is the cat supposed to get on the first one? That bench or whatever has too much distance. You need to make it a lot easier. Yes cats CAN get up if they really want to, but not all cats will really want to. Make it easier and she might be drawn to it then.
We ordered them from chewy. No, she doesn’t have arthritis. My husband, who she loves the most, picked her up and put her on the lower wall mount and gave her a few treats. And then moved her to the top one and gave her a treat. After eating, she immediately jumped down
I've seen articles suggesting a 45° outward angle on [fencing or whatever] can stop cats wanting to jump up to that space. It's thought that they can't see the top of what they're jumping onto so they can't really plan their landing. It may not seem too high to humans, especially if (as you've said) she's jumped onto a flat window sill from a farther distance. I would bet it's the angle of that curve. As someone else suggested, add a few more middle pieces or a set of stairs where she can clearly see the top of the shelf before making her move to it.
Maybe they are spaced too far for her to feel comfortable jumping to.
Sprinkle cat nip on them. Or try to encourage use with a toy or treats.
I recently bought an 84 inch tall cat tower, 2 of my cats love being up high, my other cat will stay on the lower levels. I've only seen her at the top once in three weeks.
Doesn't surprise me. My mom would buy my cats toys for Xmas. They didn't touch them. But a pen cap? Oh boy that is some fun. Finally had to tell my mother to quite buying toys that were accumulating and not used. If you built those, not for the cat but yourself, say shelves, theeenn they would use them. For cat trees and such I bought for mine, again would not use them and there was nothing I could do to get them to. I tried. But the tall free standing shelf thing I used? That they use. See that is your problem, you are doing it for the cats, not yourself. Replace with shelves and place items on them and they will be up there in no time would be my guess lol. Just could not get mine to use things they did not want to.
Might be too high or she doesn’t feel comfortable making the jump 🤷🏼♂️
Edit: Also the curved nature might be throwing her off, if it were flat she might feel more comfortable.
She loves to be high up and is definitely able to jump high. The angle from the pic, makes it look like they are higher up than they are. Aaron, it might be hard to see, but there is a wooden bench below the bottom one that she could jump on to get to the first shelf.
when you finally go to get rid of it she’ll start using it
lol totally. If there was ever to be a cat, that would do that, it would definitely be our girl. She does what she wants when she wants.
Cat nip them if she likes it. Maybe put a piece of furniture that is a little lower than the lowest shelf.
Oh and anytime you put something up, buy something, do not bring them to it, introduce them or anything. The least you let them know you WANT them there, the more likely they will use it from my experience.
Or simply place an item of porcelain on each shelf like that was its intended purpose. I have yet to have any ceramic figure survive my cats.
Haha great idea!
Thanks! Yeah there’s a wooden toy bin right below the bottom shelf that she can easily jump on. ❤️
Puts some treats up there and make sure they see you do it. They will find their way.
Great idea, so…I tried that the first night. I showed her the bowl, I gave her some. I put one on the bench next to her wall mount. And then put one on each of the wall mounts. No success she ignored all of the treats.
Depending on her strength level, the second mount/ could be lower. Since this is something new in her environment, it’ll take some time for her to get used to.
I agree these look pretty high. Maybe add another layer to get to the middle one easier?
It took my cats a full month before they started using the variation I have. Now they bicker about who gets the top shelf 🤷🏼♂️
https://preview.redd.it/96zwoav4ou8g1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9a2bc1ed1d9784a624cb5b5a8e1b3ccee01d2174
My cat doesn't have the confidence to vertical jump so everything must be steps. He even gets a running start to jump on the couch. Hes 2 and not overweight lol
💖
I recommended adding a few more smaller steps to get to those large platforms so she doesn't have to jump as much or as high to get to them
Thank you, we have a bench/wooden toy bin that she can easily jump up onto to get to the lower level. She loves to be high up and walk walks around on our upstairs banisters fearlessly. So I don’t think the height is the problem.
Cats are efficient (lazy) and follow a strict risk/reward assessment. If they don't think the payoff is worthwhile, they'll continue on without exploring.
Make a temporary transition from floor to the first shelf visible and very simple. Then use a lead to get her revved up and playful. Try getting her to chase the lead up the simple pat to the lower shelf. When you see her regularly going up to the shelf, and the higher one, then remove the temporary transition parts.
Thanks!!
I wouldn't either, I'd be scared I'd roll off! Seriously, though, maybe they're too high, and too far apart from each other and the floor.
It probably looks like that, from the angle that I took the photo. She actually jumps up from our dining table to the top window with no problem. And that is pretty far up. So I don’t think the height is the problem.
Looks a little far apart I’ve seen wall ladders you can use or smaller pegs to help bridge. Both look a little high to me
Obviously not an oriental cat. Our Tonkinese boy thinks it is greatly amusing to ascend to the top of our pantry via the kitchen counter and the range hood, and getting shouted at only adds to the fun.
Correct, Abyssinian. I had a Siamese as a child so I consider myself an honorary member of this sub. ☺️
https://preview.redd.it/t6cpq46ddv8g1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a53b421aef2764e9512921f899426831acc9df84
First issue I see is it’s not positioned ideally. How is the cat supposed to get on the first one? That bench or whatever has too much distance. You need to make it a lot easier. Yes cats CAN get up if they really want to, but not all cats will really want to. Make it easier and she might be drawn to it then.
It’s kind of hard to see because it blends in, but there is a wooden toy bench that she can easily hop on to get to the first Wall mount
No I see it. It’s still too far away though. Cats need to be able to see what they’re jumping into usually to feel confident about the jump.
Does she have arthritis? Does she know she supposed to use them and know how? They look more like art deco than pet steps
We ordered them from chewy. No, she doesn’t have arthritis. My husband, who she loves the most, picked her up and put her on the lower wall mount and gave her a few treats. And then moved her to the top one and gave her a treat. After eating, she immediately jumped down
I've seen articles suggesting a 45° outward angle on [fencing or whatever] can stop cats wanting to jump up to that space. It's thought that they can't see the top of what they're jumping onto so they can't really plan their landing. It may not seem too high to humans, especially if (as you've said) she's jumped onto a flat window sill from a farther distance. I would bet it's the angle of that curve. As someone else suggested, add a few more middle pieces or a set of stairs where she can clearly see the top of the shelf before making her move to it.
(Edited typo)
Maybe they are spaced too far for her to feel comfortable jumping to.
Sprinkle cat nip on them. Or try to encourage use with a toy or treats.
I recently bought an 84 inch tall cat tower, 2 of my cats love being up high, my other cat will stay on the lower levels. I've only seen her at the top once in three weeks.
Thanks, I was thinking about getting a catnip toy
She's a cat. It's expected.
Sprinkle it with catnip and forget about it. She'll eventually get up there, and then she won't want to come down.
Doesn't surprise me. My mom would buy my cats toys for Xmas. They didn't touch them. But a pen cap? Oh boy that is some fun. Finally had to tell my mother to quite buying toys that were accumulating and not used. If you built those, not for the cat but yourself, say shelves, theeenn they would use them. For cat trees and such I bought for mine, again would not use them and there was nothing I could do to get them to. I tried. But the tall free standing shelf thing I used? That they use. See that is your problem, you are doing it for the cats, not yourself. Replace with shelves and place items on them and they will be up there in no time would be my guess lol. Just could not get mine to use things they did not want to.
Hahaha cats are the best aren’t they 🥰
Gently put her up top, usually and often.
She doesn't want to do what you want her to do...so surprising for a cat!!
This. Pretend it doesn’t exist/is super boring and kitty will (eventually) be compelled to find it the most awesome thing EVER.
Have you set her down on them so she knows they’re sturdy and she’s allowed there?
Unless it's been months, cats hate surprises and need time- a week or two- to adjust to anything\anyone new....
Might be too high or she doesn’t feel comfortable making the jump 🤷🏼♂️ Edit: Also the curved nature might be throwing her off, if it were flat she might feel more comfortable.
That's a hell of a jump. Unless you have athletic climbers most cats won't be interested in that
She loves to be high up and is definitely able to jump high. The angle from the pic, makes it look like they are higher up than they are. Aaron, it might be hard to see, but there is a wooden bench below the bottom one that she could jump on to get to the first shelf.