Cat Window Perches and How to Choose the Right One

Cats are fierce predators, but for their safety, we have to keep them inside. That means they're going to love staring out the window. And who wouldn't? There are all sorts of activities, from the local birds and squirrels to neighbors walking down the street to the gentle waving of the trees. It's an endless font of entertainment for that fuzzy feline brain.

So, why not make things easier on your fur baby and get a window perch?

A cat window perch doesn't need to be elaborate. They can be simple, little more than a platform attached to the windowsill. Or, they can be decorative, hung directly against the glass. Some are meant for sitting, some incorporate beds for lounging and napping in a sunbeam, and some may even have toys attached.

With so many options to choose from, how do you pick the right one? Fortunately, it's not as hard a choice as you might think.

Different Styles of Cat Window Perch

First, let's talk about the main styles of window perch you can get for your cat.

Glass-Adhering Suction Cup Perches

The first, and one of the more common kinds of cat window perches you'll find, is the kind that sticks directly to the glass of your window. These perches are basically just cat beds with a firm rim to support them, and some heavy-duty suction cups that stick to the glass of the window.

They can come in "platform" type or "hammock" type, but either way, they're going to have the same kind of form factor. Large suction cups provide enough support that even a heavy cat, sitting with the leverage of the bed platform, won't break the suction.

At least, not easily. See, suction cups need to be used properly, on clean glass, otherwise they can come loose over time. When they do, your cat comes tumbling down, in for a rude and unpleasant experience.

That said, when mounted properly, these cat perches are perfectly fine. As long as you check them occasionally and, if necessary, re-adhere them to the window, they'll be perfectly safe for your fur baby.

Window-adhering perches can come in a few different styles. The most common are flat, with suction cups directly at the bed level, providing the narrowest form factor. Others use support cords that pull upwards from the outer edge of the perch, with suction cups higher up, where they provide opposite leverage to avoid the suction cups pulling loose. If you've ever seen the viral clip of a cat chewing through one, only for their platform to drop out from under them, you know the type.

Additionally, some of these cat perches are fixed as they are, while others are hinged and can fold up and out of the way if you need to close the curtains or blinds.

Keep in mind that suction cups need to be applied properly, and usually need to be re-adhered at least once a month to ensure they're secure. They can also pop off unexpectedly if the area gets particularly hot or cold, so if you have extreme temperatures, keep that in mind.

Sill-Mounted Perches

The second major type of cat window perch is the sill-mounted perch. These usually have something that hooks to the inner edge of the window along the bottom, like a thin metal bracket. Then, they have legs beneath them that angle into the wall to provide support under the perch.

Usually, these are not hammock-style perches. That's because they're low enough that, with the sag of a hammock, your cat wouldn't be able to look outside comfortably. Instead, they're sill-level or higher platforms, which may have padding or a cat bed on top, or may just be a platform you can put anything you like on.

Unlike glass-mounted perches, sill-mounted perches don't rely on the suction of a suction cup set to keep them in place. They're more stable and less likely to come loose, especially if you get one that uses actual mounting hardware to attach it to the window or the wall.

The downside is that, with motion and impact from your cat jumping on and off the perch, the legs that touch the wall can scuff the paint or even damage drywall in some cases. Good, high-quality perches have padding or rubber feet to prevent that from happening, but lower-quality, cheaper perches might not.

Of course, a little scuffed paint is nothing in the long run, so it's not exactly a huge demerit for this kind of perch. Watching your fur baby chirrup at the birds is worth it!

Wall-Mounted Perches

Wall-mounted perches are basically shelves. That's really it! Some of them are mounted poles that have a fabric hammock you can hang between them. Some are literally just shelves with some padding and cat-based branding. Either way, they work the same way wall-mounted shelves work.

The downside to these perches is that they can't actually mount on or at a window, since they require you to screw them into a wall stud to mount securely. If you have a corner window, you can mount it to the wall perpendicular to the window and still act as a window perch, but they aren't quite as up-close and personal to the outdoors that way.

Ceiling-Hung Perches

Ceiling-hanging perches are usually hammocks, typically with mounting cables and brackets at each corner. The idea is that you hang it from the ceiling, or from either wall of a narrow hall or other nook that the cables can reach. This positions the hammock in a nice mid-way spot for your cat to settle in and enjoy.

These are often kind of awkward to find a place to hang them, especially if you want them to hang in front of a window. If you have high ceilings, they can also be difficult to put in an accessible space.

Floor Perches

Floor perches are similar to cat trees. They're stable like furniture, with wide bases, central towers, and flat shelves and hammocks arranged in enticing and comfortable positions for your cat.

It's kind of hard to call a cat tree a window perch just because you put it in front of a window, though. After all, if you back a couch up against a window, that doesn't make the back of the couch a cat perch, right? It's still a couch, even if your cat loves to sit there.

There are some dedicated window perch cat trees you can buy, at least. They tend to be like very simple, short cat trees, positioned about sill height or a little higher, with a single tower and a sturdy base. They aren't meant for full cat tree duty, just serving as little more than a glorified end table for sitting.

How to Pick the Right Cat Window Perch for Your Fur Baby

So, those are the major kinds of cat perches, but which kind is the right kind for your kitty?

The answer is, it depends on your cat. So, think about some of the considerations you may have.

How do you want to mount the perch? A perch needs firm mounting to be stable and safe for your cat. You might not be able to mount to a windowsill if you have the wrong kinds of windows, and if you're renting your home, you might not be allowed to drill into the walls for mounting hardware. On the other hand, suction cups can be weak and variable, need to be re-mounted regularly to stay safe, and can still come loose unexpectedly.

Other kinds of mounts, like ceiling or wall mounts, can also require drilling and mounting hardware, which can be a deal-breaker.

What kind of surface do you want the perch to have? Hammocks can be soft and comfortable, but many cats prefer a harder surface to lounge on, and a hammock can make it less attractive to sit and watch the world outside. Ideally, you'll try a couple of kinds of cat furniture and know whether your cat prefers harder or softer beds, so you can pick their preference.

Do you have more than one cat? Most cat window perches are designed for one cat, or at most two smaller cats. Larger individuals or, more commonly, 2+ adult cats can overwhelm a perch, especially the suction cup perches. You'll want one that is sturdy and stable, or designed for multiple cats, in that case.

How easily is the cat perch cleaned? Most cat window perches have removable fabric covers that can be washed, either from normal dirt and debris, or in case your cat has an accident or hocks up a hairball while sitting there. Some don't, though, so you'll want to check if the perch you're considering has a removable and washable cover or not.

Do you want to move the perch from time to time? If your cats tend to prefer some windows in the summer and others in the winter because the sun lands at different angles, it can be handy to have a perch you can easily move from window to window. Of course, most of us will just get two, but hey, if you're sticking with just one, you might want to keep that in mind.

Overall? My inclination is that suction cup perches are fine for lighter solo cats, and for cases where you can't risk damage to a wall. Otherwise, they can be too risky about falling suddenly. Sill-mounted perches are the best option if your windows can accept them, which most can. Otherwise, a floor perch is probably your best option, even if it doesn't feel like a window perch.

The decision of a flat perch or a hammock perch is, likewise, up to you and your cat. Some cats prefer hammocks, others don't. It's really a matter of personal feline preference, and there's only one way to find out if they'll like it, which is to get it and see.

That said, I'd love to see all of your adorable pictures of your cats dozing or watching the birds from their perch, so show me what kind you like in the comments!

Cat Window Perch FAQs

As is traditional, I'll cover a few topics here that I didn't get to in the meat of the post.

Are cat window perches safe for my kitty?

For the most part, yes. Even if your cat is sleeping on a perch and a suction cup suddenly comes loose, it's a lot more likely to just be a rude awakening and a bit of indignation than any sort of serious injury.

Still, we want to avoid even that much if we can, right? Fortunately, as long as you mount a perch correctly, it will be fine.

How high up should I mount the window perch?

This depends on your cat and on what other furniture you have around. The higher up the perch is, the harder it is for your cat to reach it, so the less likely they are to use it. As long as they can get to it, though, cats love being up high, so a higher mount is better.

Basically, mount it where they can access it from something nearby, like a cat tree, the back of a couch, or a convenient shelf. Obviously, make sure there's nothing there that they can knock over, since that will be an avenue of traffic for them.

It's also worth considering your cat's health. Larger and obese cats will have a harder time getting up into a perch. Older cats and cats with mobility issues, likewise, will have more trouble. Pick a height that works for your cat!

Should I get a window perch or a catio?

Catios are very cool, but they also tend to be a larger investment. You need to attach something to the outside of your home, and that's not always easy or doable, especially if you're renting. Catios are some of the most fun cat-focused setups you can have, but they aren't for everyone.

For most people, a cat window perch is going to be the best option regardless. It gives them a viewpoint to the outside, it lets them sleep in the sun right up by the glass, and it's still conveniently inside, where you don't have to worry about an open window in inclement weather.

If you can swing a catio, though, a lot of cats absolutely love them. It's just not always in the cards for everyone, is all!

So, there you have it; my rundown on how to pick the perfect cat window perch. Any other questions? Let me know!