The 10 Best Cat Wall Shelves of 2022
image: Dote.com
If you have a cat then you’ll know that they love exploring and hanging out in spaces that are elevated off of the ground. Typically cat trees provide this. It’s a safe space for cats to play, relax and satisfy your cat's instinctual need to climb. But if you live in a smaller space, a large cat condo might not be ideal. Instead we recommend wall mounted cat shelves and perches!
These shelves don’t take up any floor space as they utilize your vertical wall space instead. They can be mounted to any wall, in any configuration so you can create a DIY cat wall playground for your kitty!
There are so many choices on the market, so we’ve rounded up the best options depending on what you’re looking for. Check out our helpful comparison chart and breakdown of each pick below!
We take pride in our independent review process, and use it to recommend the best products online. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Best Corner Cat Shelf
Best Modern Cat Shelf
Best Budget Cat Shelf
Best Cat Shelf for Large Cats
Best Window Cat Perch
Best Cat Wall Climbing System
Best Wall Mounted Catwalk
Best Cat Wall Bed
Best Amazon Cat Shelves
Best Wall Mounted Cat Hammock
Best Overall Cat Shelf
Best Corner Cat Shelf
This corner cat shelf from RshPets of Poland acts as a wall mounted cat bed and the perfect perch. Its rounded shape allows for plenty of room for your cat. The solid wood base is sturdy and constructed with care so your cat can lounge, jump and play with ease.
Perfect for cats of all sizes and all ages.
Hand made in Poland!
Free custom name plate included with purchase
Size: 16.5” x 16.5”
Supports up to 30 pounds.
5 out of 5 star customer reviews.
image by: RshPets
This cat wall shelf is beautifully designed. It’s shaped out of a single piece of wood with a cozy felt interior. It looks stylish and modern when mounted on your wall. Your cat will be lounging in style.
The installation is easy and comes with clear instructions. Special screws are included for safe drywall install (no studs required!).
Size: 19.6"W x 12.3"D x 2.8"H
Can support up to 30 pounds.
5 out of 5 star customer reviews.
image by: OxyCraftStory
With over 200 reviews at 5 stars, buyers are raving about this budget friendly cat shelf. It’s carpeted for your cat’s comfort and made with recycled structural materials (so cool!).
There is no assembly required with this one as it arrives all in one piece. It mounts easily in just minutes to your wall with 2 pre-set screws.
Size 20"W x 10"H x 12"D
Can support up to 50 pounds.
5 out of 5 star customer reviews.
image by: blackdiamondcattrees
This wall mounted cat shelf for larger cats measures 35” long! There is plenty of room for lounging, jumping or perching. This cat shelf is also great for a multi cat household.
The pad is over an inch thick to support your larger cat. The pad even snaps into place to ensure your cat feels secure and cozy. Even the largest cat would feel at ease on this shelf.
Size: 16” W x 35” L
Cushion thickness: 1.2”
Can support up to 55 pounds.
5 out of 5 star customer reviews.
image by: CosyandDozy
This window cat shelf is stylish and sturdy. The felt hammock is the perfect spot to watch the world go by! It suctions to any glass surface with powerful suction cups. The steel frame ensures the window hammock stays secure as they won’t bend or sag over time. This one also looks fantastic, almost like a piece of art!
Size: 20"W x 11.5"D x 16"H
Can support up to 30 pounds.
5 out of 5 star customer reviews.
image by: Tuft and Paw
If you want to give your cat the ultimate wall mounted playground, this is it! This system has a Cat Bridge, Escape Hatches, Floating Sisal Posts, Lounges and a Sisal Pole. You can configure it anyway you want. This is any cat’s dream!
Size: 89" W x 63" H x 11” D
Can support up to 62 pounds per hammock; 85 pounds per shelf.
5 out of 5 star customer reviews.
image by: CatastrophiCreations
This wall mounted catwalk is super versatile. It’s perfect to mount over a doorway or window to give your cat its very own elevated route around your home. The bridge area makes for a great lounging spot but also a great zone for play!
Size: 82” W x 6” H x 11” D
Can support up to 85 pounds.
5 out of 5 star customer reviews.
image by: CatastrophiCreations
This wall mounted cat bed is for the cat that loves to lounge! The curved shape perfectly cradles your cat for a restful sleep. The pad is super thick and soft. This will definitely be their new favorite spot. This one also comes in 4 wood options and 11 fabric options so it’s easy to fit this into any home design.
Size: 16” L x 20” W
Cushion thickness: 1.2”
Can support up to 44 pounds
5 out of 5 star customer reviews.
image by: CosyandDozy
Our pick for best Amazon.com cat shelves are the FUKUMARU floating wall shelves. These are made of high quality Rubber Wood with sturdy metal brackets. The pad attaches to the wood with Velcro to make sure it stays in place no matter if your kitty is relaxing or playing. The package comes with everything needed to install.
Size: 10” W x 15.75” L x 4.53” H
Can support up to 30 pounds
4.6 out of 5 star customer reviews.
image by: FUKUMARU
This wall mounted cat hammock looks high end with its minimal design. It’s made from bamboo and high quality canvas. The canvas is also removable and washable! Your cat will love relaxing here after a good play session.
Size: 34" W x 3” H x 11” D
Can support up to 62 pounds.
5 out of 5 star customer reviews.
image by: CatastrophiCreations
Our pick for best overall cat shelf is the Tuft and Paw
Plateau Cat Perch! It’s thoughtfully designed and made with high quality materials. The curved shape ensures your cat feels secure and the sleek look fits perfectly into any home. It can also support up to 100 pounds so there’s no worry for your cat’s safety.
Size: 20"W x 11"D x 9.5"H
Can support up to 100 pounds.
5 out of 5 star customer reviews.
image by: Tuft and Paw
| Editor's Picks | Size | Weight Limit | Price | Customer Rating | In Stock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall Cat Shelf | 20" x 11" x 9.5" | 100 pounds | $199 | 5 | yes |
| Best Corner Cat Shelf | 15.7" x 15.7" x 4.7" | 132 pounds | $155.70 | 5 | yes |
| Best Modern Cat Shelf | 20" x 11" x 9.5" | 100 pounds | $199 | 5 | yes |
| Best Budget Cat Shelf | 20" x 10" x 12" | 50 pounds | $54.25 | 5 | yes |
| Best Cat Shelf for Large Cats | 16” x 35” x 1.2" | 55 pounds | $194.81 | 5 | yes |
Why does your cat need a wall shelf?
It’s your cat’s natural instinct to want to climb and be elevated. In the wild cats climb to avoid predators. Even though there aren’t predators in your home, cats still have the natural instinct to climb. Having elevated space for them gives them a place that’s away from dogs, kids or just extra space for some alone time.
In the wild cats use the higher vantage point to hunt and stalk prey. This gives them the best unobstructed view. Cats are also territorial by nature so having shelves gives your cats space to call dibs over!
Providing wall shelves in your home is essential for your cat’s enrichment!
For more information on this check out Jackson Galaxy’s article.
Are cat shelves safe?
Cat shelves are completely safe as long as they are installed and placed correctly. The cat shelves are places for your cat to both play and sleep. Since your cat might be jumping and running on the shelves, you should install them in safe areas. Place them away from areas where your cat could be in danger of getting injured or breaking something. Keep the shelves away from televisions, breakable items, stoves, frail furniture or beds.
How do I install cat shelves?
It’s helpful to plan your layout on your wall first. Our recommendation is to use painters tape or pencil to help outline where you will place your shelves.
Unless the directions say otherwise, you should always mount your cat shelves into studs to ensure they can support the weight of your cat. You can find the studs in your wall using a stud finder. Here’s our recommended stud finder.
Check out this article for a step by step guide on how to best install cat shelves.
If you don’t want to install them yourself, check out TaskRabbit.com for hired help.
How high is too high for a cat shelf?
Cats will want to climb as high as they can. To keep your cats safe make sure you arrange the cat shelves in a way that’s easy for your cat to navigate. In general we recommend the vertical spacing between shelves to be about 12-18” and the horizontal spacing to be about 12-16”. But keep in mind your cat’s ability when installing your shelves.
How can I install cat shelves without drilling holes into my walls?
There are plenty of ways to utilize your vertical space without drilling holes into your walls. An easy no drill cat wall shelf solution is to opt for the cat shelves that suction cups to glass surfaces, like a window. We recommend the Tuft and Paw perch, but there are lots of other options out there that are suitable. Check out this window cat shelf on Amazon that folds down when not in use, the ultimate space saver!
Another no drill solution is to purchase an over the radiator cat shelf like this one from Boareal, on Etsy. It fits over your radiator so no assembly or drilling is required. It’s easy to pick up and move and made of high quality materials.
You can also integrate cat spaces into an existing bookshelf. Ikea makes cubby cat houses that fit most bookcases. This is an easy solution to give your cat extra space, no drilling required! Just make sure your bookshelf is stable to ensure the safety of your cat.
There are also “over the door” cat trees that can be strapped to your doors and tension rod cat trees like this one that can be placed up against a wall. Both are excellent solutions and require no drilling!
If you want more detailed information on how to provide extra space for your cat without drilling, check out our article here.
Conclusion
Cat shelves are a fantastic way to enrich the life of you and your cat! They provide a safe place for your cat to rest or play. If you live in a small space they are ideal as they utilize vertical wall space instead of floor space. Overall, we think every cat needs some cat shelves to call their own.
We hope you enjoyed our picks for the 10 best cat wall shelves of 2022!
