“This isn’t just about fun and games; it’s deeply rooted in their biology,” said our expert.
—
VolanthevistviaGettyImages
Cattreeshelpcatsexpresstheirbiologicalinstinctswhileprovidingaspaceforexercise.Ifyoushareahomewithacat,you’veprobablynoticed:Catstendtoseekoutheights.Whatcatowneramongushasn’tcaughttheirpetleapingontocountersorsoaringontoshelvessohighupthatwecan’treachthemwithoutaladderorsteppingstool?
Thisloveofhighspacesispartofcats’naturalinstincts,accordingtoStephanieMerlin,acertifiedfelinebehavioristandcatwell-beingeducatorwhorunsthepopularInstagramaccount@thefulfilledfeline.
“Catsarebothpredatorandprey,sohavingahighvantagepointisanaturalwaytohelpthemfeelsafeandsecure,”Merlinwrote.“Thisisn’tjustaboutfunandgames;it’sdeeplyrootedintheirbiology.”
Onewaytosupportyourcat’sevolutionaryneedforheightsisthroughinvestinginacattree,adedicatedstructurewithmultipletiersforcatstoclimbandperchon.Thebenefitsofcattrees“gowaybeyondofferingverticalspace,”Merlinexplained