My ladder climbing cat

Sam went on one of his rare rampages around the apartment, racing throught rooms, and jumping up onto furniture. I heard an unusual sound from the living room, and saw Bailey run out looking scared. When I went in to investigate, Sam was at the top of my step ladder, that I had left out to finish painting. He was not on the top platform (it says, clearly, "This is not a step", so I guess he can read). He was on the top rung, and trying to turn around to get down. There is not enough room for a big cat to turn around. I went to help, and he sort of slipped, I had my arm under him, but he was hanging from the step holding on with his front paws. I managed to stay calm, and held on until he scrambled back on to the step, and I picked him up and carried him from the step.

Poor boy was kind of scared, I think, he just snuggled in my arms. Silly cat, thinking he should be climbing ladders!

Oh, and the ladder is now folded, step side in, against the wall.

We have our ladder set up in the attic where the cats play. They run up and down it! Sometimes one will get on the top (mine can't read, I guess ) and have a battle with another on a lower rung. It's like watching kids play king of the hill!

You can take an old wooden stepladder and set it up just for cats. Hang toys off of it and they love to play on it and sharpen their claws on it. We have one feral here that loves ladders, no matter how high, aluminum or wooden, he will climb them. We were on the hay barn earlier this summer and Kabota climbed up the ladder to be with us. Goofy cat!

You mean its safe? I am overprotective, I guess. It just seems too easy for them to slip and fall.

Sam is declawed, so he tends to be cautious about climbing, that's why it was such a shock to see him at the top of the ladder. Maybe I should leave it up, and see what he does.

I am talking about the small step ladders not the big ladders. About being declawed, I don't know, if it is all four declaws Then no, because the cat has no traction or gripping power.

For declawed cats, it's the only way they can get up that high! I often feel sad for the declawed cats when I see them watching the others climbing the cat tree. (note: I did not declaw them! They were adopted that way!)

He's just declawed on the front. I do feel sorry for him, because he can only get as high as he can climb. And I think he loves climbing, he runs up the fire escape when he's outside.

I keep looking for cat trees that have steps so he can get to the top. He is a pretty big cat, and can jump high, but I have noticed that Bailey, who is smaller with all her claws, is a lot more fearless. And when he is jumping down from something, like the top of his condo, he tries to use his front paws for traction against the carpet, and sort of slides down. That's why I worried on the aluminum ladder, if he just put his front paws on the side of the ladder and hoped that traction would help him down, I could imagine an accident.

Although the ladder has been up all week, want to bet that wasn't the first time he had been up there? I'm thinking its just the first time I caught him at it.

Originally posted by Sammie5
(it says, clearly, "This is not a step", so I guess he can read).

Click to expand...

YAY SAM!!!!

I'm glad he wasn't hurt, and I'm sorry he got a little scared, but it must have been a lot of fun (at least at first) for him being able to get up there!

It's really strange... we've cleared out another overhead compartment for the gang. This one's in the living room, and it's a little tricky to jump up into because they have to launch themselves off the bed that's on top of the box that houses my monitor on the couch. Every once in a while it slips off as they fly up, the bed flies onto the floor.... but Spooky and Tuxedo just don't jump into any of the cabinets, period. And they've got they're claws. They jump up onto the top of the cat tree from the floor - almost three times the jump from the couch to the shelf, and like 1 1/2 times the jump from the bed to the overhead compartment there... it's so weird, and they have their claws!

GO SAMMY GO!!!!! It sounds to me like he'd love one of the shorter old wooden ladders. That should be fairly safe for him... they steps are easy to walk on, and the fall wouldn't be much if he has a miss.

That Colossus cat playground looks amazing! I am seeing lots of ideas for cat trees and condos. I have a very shallow bay window in my office, where the radiator is situated, and I am planning to build something for the cats there. Its wasted space otherwise. I think a platform over the radiator, with some places to climb, and they could look out the window would be fun.

And I love the idea of a small step ladder - I'm sure I have seen them at flea markets, they sell them as plant stands. If Sam likes climbing so much, I should find something for him to climb, right?

And Laurie, you've cleaned out another compartment? How many do you have left that you are hogging with your useless people stuff?

Poor kitty! Bet he'll be back at it tomorrow though!