We all know that cats like to be up high. They like the view, and it makes them feel safe.
Maybe you’ve thought of getting your cat a condo so they can climb up and hang out on, but space in your home or apartment is tight already, and filling it up with more cat furniture isn’t a great idea.
And not only that, but you’ve got a nice home decor thing going on and don’t want to mess it up with something that something you got at a pet shop.
That’s where a cat shelf comes in.
It gives your cat a nice high place to hang out, and maybe even climb on, without taking up space in your living room — and some of them actually look so nice that your guests might mistake it for artwork at first.
Here are 11 shelves, with detailed descriptions so you can choose the one that’s the best match for you, your home, and your cat. And if you’ll scroll all the way down, you’ll also see a video with instructions on how to make a DIY cat shelf.
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More Things That Will Make Your Cat Happy:
Pet Fusion Floating Wall Shelves (No Drilling!)
PetFusion Cat Activity Wall Shelves
This set of 3 floating shelves is Amazon’s Choice in the Cat Climbing Shelves category.
The shelves are very attractive and blend in with your home decor, with no brackets showing. They slide into zinc drywall anchors that you screw into the wall first, so installation is easy — it should take about 20 minutes — with no drilling required (unless you prefer to anchor into studs or have plaster walls).
There are sisal pads on two of the shelves to give kitties something to scratch and make it easier to climb onto.
HumaneGoods Wall-Mounted Floating Cat Shelf
HumaneGoods Wall-Mounted Floating Cat Shelf
This shelf is made of 100% wood and measures 19 by 10.8 inches, giving cats each space to feel comfortable without the fear of slipping off. It has a slightly curved design to fit the contours of how cats like to curl up. The shelf supports up to 30 pounds of cat.
It comes with three replaceable carpet pads that attach with velcro, so the shelf itself stays protected.
Three screws, three wall anchors, and three screw caps are included, which is everything that you need to mount the wall.
Amazon reviewer Brandan D. Bishop describes why he (and his cats) love this shelf:
This is a great cat shelf! Really easy to install and took just a couple of minutes to put up. It appears to be very sturdy. Both cats took to it immediately and seem to love it. It’s been used as a bed, a staging area for sneak attacks and a catapult to other areas. Given that last use, it appears that it will hold up well over time and rough usage.
One of the biggest reason for purchasing is that it looks nice in our living room and doesn’t take up a lot of space like regular cat furniture. We’ve talked about purchasing another one or two for other areas of the house. Definitely a great purchase!
On2Pets Set of Wall Mounted Canopy Shelves with Leaves
Our poor cats … they always want to go outside and frolic about in nature, and we won’t let them. (There are too many coyotes in our neighborhood, and our orange and white cat Gingie would especially be a huge target.)
So this set of two shelves is designed to give your cats the illusion of the great outdoors while they’re stuck inside your apartment.
You can choose between four styles of leaves:
- Green (the one pictured above)
- Fall
- Plum
- Summer (which is sort of a green and gold mixture
Reviewers raved about these shelves, saying they were sturdy, a great deal compared to other similar products, looked great even in a bedroom, and made a nice “hiding place” for the cats.
Amazon reviewer WendyLS explains in detail why she loves these shelves:
I have 2 cats. One 8 year old that’s about 12lbs (and very nervous/reserved) and a very energetic 8 month old “kitten” (he’s very tall already). I shopped for at least 8 weeks for shelves to catify our very small, already crowded apartment …
… Trying to keep it low-budget is tough since cat shelves seem to be outrageously priced on every website. I kept coming across these and finally took the dive.
My kitten, Finn (the one in the photos) was on the shelves before they were off the floor!
… My son (15) and I put up the shelves in about an hour. This is because we have horrible walls and the shelves don’t come with drywall anchors. We drilled one side into the studs, the other into the drywall using old plastic anchors we dug up around the house.
We used a cheap little drill for the studs and they’re very sturdy … The brackets are solid metal (not plastic like older reviews) and you get long screws as well as short screws now, too …. I recommend buying metal wall anchors or toggles while you wait for these to arrive. We plan to change the plastic to metal once we get a chance (though the shelves are totally sturdy with the plastic) just to be extra-safe.
The foliage is bendable and although Finn immediately chewed the leaves, none were loose nor torn. And he’s a rowdy kitty! I love the look of them and will probably handpaint the underside of the shelves to add personalization, since that part is visible.
Love the carpet topper. Rough enough to scratch & roll/groom, but soft enough to be comfortable, too! ❤️
I’ve searched high and low. These are the best deal if you don’t want to pay $50 for each tiny step or $150 for a curved shelf. These are actually deeper AND wider than the $100+ versions. And those are just plain wood! I’d buy these again & again! …
BIG NOSE Wall Mounted Multi Level Cat Shelves
BIG NOSE Wall Mounted Multi Level Cat Shelves
This is a 43 inch scratching post that mounts onto your wall and has two attached flat shelves and one cat hammock. The shelves can hold up to 15 pounds of cat.
Reviewers raved about these shelves, saying they were sturdy, easy to assemble, well-priced, and made a great kitty bed. They also liked how it didn’t take up much room, making it ideal for apartments and other small living spaces.
Amazon reviewer Tara J. called this a “must-have for cat owners”:
This product was EXACTLY what I needed and at an affordable price!
With 4 cats and 2 dogs in the house, I wanted something sturdy and made of quality materials which would provide my cats with their own elevated space. While I have cat condos, they are bulky and take up so much floor space and it seems they are always shedding carpet or wearing down quickly. This product delivers on its claims and I will be purchasing additional climbers for other rooms in my home…
CatastrophiCreations Wall Mounted Cat Tree Shelves
These shelves are more like a kitty playground than your basic shelf — and probably the best way to have a kitty playground if you live in an apartment or small home. It measures 36 by 56 by 12 inches, is available in three different colors, and has hidden brackets to give the entire thing a floating look.
It holds up to 62 pounds in the hammock and 85 pounds per each wooden piece, so no matter how big your cat is, it’s sure to support them.
All the fabric pieces are removable and washable, so you can easily keep it fresh-looking.
Amazon reviewer Michael gave a thorough description of these shelves’ pros an cons, plus a few helpful tips:
This is a great cat track system. It looks nice in our house and the cats really love being able to get up higher than a regular floor-standing cat tree. The price isn’t too bad, either, compared to the more expansive floor-standing ones. My cats are 17-20 pounds and this track has no problem holding them up. It is a bit noisy on the other side of the wall when they jump on it, but I don’t know that I can fault the system; just be conscious of where you mount it.
My only major complaint is with the mounting hardware. The included screws were kind of short, considering that they often need to be drilled at an angle into studs. Also, unless you have a long extension drill bit, your driver will be at an angle and the included screws are prone to cam-out and stripping. I put in a few of the included ones and then switched to some premium torx head construction screws. The brackets are difficult to get a good angle on because they are narrow, but such is the price for a sleek design.
Pros:
- Looks great
- Lots of height for the money
- Cats love it
- Not too hard to install
- Doesn’t take up floor space
Cons:
- Can be noisy when large cats climb on it, depending on wall construction
- The finish on the boards was a little rough. It seems that the stain raised the grain and they didn’t sand afterward. This is a minor nitpick and maybe unique to one batch.
- Expensive, but not much more than a large free standing tower
- The included mounting screws aren’t great
Tips:
- Get a long extension bit for your drill/driver
- Spend a few $ on nicer screws at the hardware store
- Use a laser-level for alignment
- The canvas is tight, but will stretch
THE REFINED FELINE Lotus Leaf Cat Shelf
This modern cat shelf is made of a combination of solid wood and bent ply and is 22 inches long and 10.5 inches deep.
The shelf has a contoured design, which has 3 benefits:
- The shelf stays against the wall better
- It’s easier for cats to jump into
- It prevents cats from falling off
Reviewers liked how this shelf was beautiful, very sturdy, and easy to install. Yes, it is fairly pricey for one shelf, but several customers said it was worth the money to get something durable with a great finish.
BIG NOSE- Wall Mounted Cat Tree House
BIG NOSE- Wall Mounted Cat Tree House
Love the idea of a cat condo but don’t have room for it in your small apartment? No problem — just get this condo that mounts to your wall!
It can also be the added shelves after remove the cover. Two solid wood shelves are adjustable to direction.
Amazon reviewer bmbranno says that this is the perfect cat condo for “bruisers”:
I have big cats. Fat cats. Cats that should be on a diet and eat smaller cats for a snack. They love to beat up everything! They would make great quality control cats. On that note, keeping something nice like a cat tree, playground or tower is nearly impossible. Usually new ones are ready for the trash heap within four weeks tops.
The Big Nose units are absolutely indestructible and get the best rating I have ever given on condos, cat trees, and accessories. Clearly the folks that designed these units had cats that were related to mine and knew exactly what was needed to build something indestructible, durable, and long-lasting. Not to mention my cats freaking love both the condo and the double cat tree we purchased … Thank you Big Nose for finally building something I can rely on and won’t come crashing to the ground!!!
MYZOO Spaceship Gamma, Wooden Cat Perch
MYZOO Spaceship Gamma, Pet Bed for Cat & Dog, Window Perch, Cat Tree, Made of Wood (Oak, Open Left)
Here’s a different kind of cat shelf — basically a wall-mounted bed, available in oak (as pictured above) or walnut.
It has a modern, attractive design, has an acrylic dome that let your pretty kity’s face when he sleeps, and keeps your cat warm (especially with a blanket or cushion placed inside) without getting stuffy.
In addition to mounting it on the wall, you can also just let this sit on the floor as a sort of cat house.
Reviewers loved how this shelf “looked like a piece of artwork” and they were very impressed with its quality.
CatastrophiCreations Cat Mpd Wall Mounted Cat Tree Shelves
CatastrophiCreations Cat Mod Lift Handcrafted Wall Mounted Shelves,
This shelf is unique is that it’s not just a place for a cat to hang out and sleep, but also a place where there can climb without taking up any small in your living area.
The dimensions are 34 by 11 by 20 inches and the fabric is removable to make it easier to clean.
It includes:
- 42” Canvas fabric
- 3 Mounting planks
- 2 Ladder pieces
Reviewers liked how these shelves were easy to install and loved how they looked. (You can choose different color combinations: the one in the photo above is English chestnut and charcoal fabric.)
It also can support very large cats with no problem. (The hammock can hold up to 62 pounds and each wooden piece can hold up to 85 pounds.)
However, some reviewers said that even though they liked the shelves, they were pricey for what they were.
Amazon reviewer Heather F. said this was her cat’s new favorite hangout:
I bought this to give my cat a “stepping stone” to get up on top of a tall bookcase (anchored to the wall for safety!) from other nearby furniture, so she could get her vertical space thing going on …
… The item is of good quality and seemed very stable after mounted to the studs in wall. It came with plenty of clear instructions and all the hardware needed. I really liked the Onyx option to match my existing black furniture. It might seem a little pricey for what it is but I’m willing to pay a little more for quality handmade items and to support small businesses. I hope to add a couple more pieces soon to expand it into a little kitty jungle gym since she seems to like it.
Wall Mounted Cat Hammock & Shelf
Wall Mounted Cat Hammock & Shelf
Why sleep on a hard, flat shelf when you can sleep on a hammock?
This rubberwood cat shelf is 16 by 12 inches and includes a canvas hammock which can be removed and washed.
Reviewers liked how it was cute and sturdy enough to hold large cats.
NOTE: This shelf does NOT come with the hardware for drywall or wood/studs, so you’ll need to provide those yourself.
Trixie Pet Products Wall-Mounted Cat Shelf Set
Trixie Pet Products Wall-Mounted Cat Lounging Set
This shelf set includes four total pieces — two steps, a condo, and a hammock. They are covered in plush and also have sisal scratching surfaces so your kitty can claw away while he’s up high.
Reviewers said that the included screws were pretty cheap and snapped easily, so I’d recommend tossing them and using your own screws. (One reviewer just purchased heavy duty dry wall mounts and said that did the trick.)
To install this set correctly and have it stay put, it’s important to be able to correctly find the studs in your wall, so if that isn’t something you can (or want to) do, pass on this one.
How to Make DIY Cat Shelves
Finally, if you want to try making your own wall-mounted cat shelves, just follow the instruction in this video: