Are cat window perches safe?

Because window perches often rely on suction cups, there is always a risk of one or more of the cups sliding, or falling off the window completely. However, following the instructions found in the “Mounting” section of our What To Look For guide should help minimize this possibility, especially if you dismount and reattach the suction cups once a month. In general, cat window perches aren’t heavy enough to be dangerous, even if they fall.

How do I get my cat to use their window perch?

A window perch is an inviting surface that offers a vantage point that cats appreciate, and often also provides a cushioned platform where they can sun or nap. If your cat already loves hanging around your windows, then it will likely discover a newly installed perch. However, you can help attract your cat toward it with snacks or catnip.

The 6 Best Cat Window Perches of 2023

Commerce Photo Composite — The Spruce Pets / Lecia Landis

Most cats will tell you, in their way, that they love to be up high. (It seems to have something to do with predator/prey instincts.) A cat perch not only gives them a vantage, but also allows them to observe the outside world so they can salivate at the squirrels and birds passing by. A cat perch is especially useful if you don’t have window sills.

In our search for the best cat window perch, we looked for perches that support any sized cat, reliably attach, and offer a comfortable vantage. Our favorite is the AMOSIJOY Cordless Cat Window Perch, which comes with two covers suitable for different seasons and a fold-up design that’s easy to use. But there are several other cat window perches we also love, which might work even better for your cat.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

AMOSIJOY Cat Window Perch at Amazon

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Best Wall Mounted:

Mau Houdini Cat Shelf at Maupets.com

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Best Multi-Level:

K&H Pet Products Double Stack Window Mount Kitty Sill at Amazon

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Best Scratcher With Perch:

PetFusion Cat Window Climbing Perch at Amazon

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Best Hammock:

Fukumaru Wall-Mounted Cat Hammock at Amazon

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Best No Drill:

Mewoofun Mewoofun Cat Perch at Amazon

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In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look For
FAQ
Why Trust The Spruce Pets

Amazon

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What We Like

No cords for a cat to trip over
Beefy suction cups
Seat folds up so that blinds can be lowered
Faux rabbit fur cover is machine washable
Usable without fabric cover
Can also be wall mounted
Multiple sizes available

What We Don't Like

Only available through third-party Amazon seller
No color options

This window perch uses four heavy-duty suction cups to hold up a stainless steel frame, which then becomes the supports for zip-on fabric covers. The suction cups are beefy at 3.3 inches across, and you can press on the nut bolt affixing the cup to the frame, which helps squeeze out extra air to create a stronger seal. Unlike many other suction cup perches, this one doesn’t use wire guidelines, which makes it easier for your cat to use it without having to negotiate around the perch’s supports.

The AMOSIJOY window perch can be fitted with either a mesh or faux rabbit fur cover—making this a great option for hot- and cold-weather window watching. The faux fur cover is machine washable. The suction cup mounts also include hinges, so you can fold up the platform against the window, getting it out of the way for blinds or curtains. If you’d prefer the AMOSIJOY Cordless Cat Window Perch can even be wall mounted.

Price at time of publish: $30

_{Dimensions: 17.7 x 11.8 x 6.9 (small); 20.5 x 11.8 x 6.9 (medium); 24.4 x 11.8 x 6.9 (large) | Mount Type: 4 suction cups or 2 drywall anchors | Colors: Gray cloth cover, khaki mesh cover}

Maupets

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What We Like

No suction cups
Supports up to 24 pounds
Felt shelf is easy to lint roll and is replaceable

What We Don't Like

Requires drilling holes in your walls
Not machine washable

Designed for drywall, the Mau Houdini Floating Cat Shelf is an attractive perch with a minimalist look. It comes with four drywall anchors, allowing it to support 24 pounds. The Mau Houdini has a taut felt platform suspended between two rods, which makes for a comfy place for your cat to stand or lie down, but is also a little awkwardly positioned between a solid perch and a cushioning hammock. The felt surface itself is replaceable and can be vacuumed or cleaned with a lint roller.

The Mau Houdini is available in a light and a dark gray version.

Price at time of publish: $69

_{Dimensions: 25.5 x 14 x 4 inches | Mount Type: 4 drywall anchors | Colors: Light gray, graphite}

K&H Pet Products Double Stack EZ Window Mount Kitty Sill

Amazon

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What We Like

High weight threshold suction cups
Multiple level configurations available
Folds up against window so you can lower blinds
Cover is machine washable

What We Don't Like

Individual suction cups sometimes come loose

The suction cups on the K&H Pet Products EZ Window Mount Kitty Sill are industrial strength and able to hold up to 100 pounds apiece. The two levels are capable of supporting two cats, but the Double Stack is also a great pick for single-cat households, since it provides a pass-through between levels, allowing your cat to move vantage points and play. The Double Stack version of the EZ Window Mount Kitty Sill has six suction cups in total.

The platforms themselves have a comfy low-pile carpet that warms easily in the sun, and each platform can be folded up against the window if you want to lower the blinds. The carpeted cover can be removed and machine washed.

There are also single stack, triple stack, and quad stack versions of the EZ Window Mount Kitty Sill available.

Price at time of publish: $36

_{Dimensions: 12 x 23 x 27 inches | Mount Type: 6 suctions | Colors: Gray}

PetFusion Ultimate Cat Window Climbing Perch

Amazon

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What We Like

Thick, 1-inch base for stability
Scratching post breaks down into multiple parts for storage
Comes with sleeping pad

What We Don't Like

Sleeping pad not machine washable

The PetFusion Ultimate Cat Window Climbing Perch combines a sisal-wrapped scratching post with a big top platform. It’s designed to be set up against a window, with three suction cups used to affix it. Unlike other perches, this combination scratcher encourages your cat to climb, providing a better exercise than your standard napping perch.

You do have to assemble the combination scratcher and perch, though it comes with all the tools necessary, and the process is straightforward. It even comes with a little bag of catnip.

Price at time of publish: $70

_{Dimensions: 20.5 x 16.5 inches (platform), 44-inch total height | Mount Type: Floor base with 3 suction cups for stability | Colors: Espresso}

The 11 Best Cat Scratching Posts of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Amazon

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What We Like

Cozy fabric
Multiple color options
Comes with multiple mounting hardware options
All wood construction
Machine-washable hammock

What We Don't Like

Too saggy to act as a stable platform
Wood looks untreated

Like the Mau Houdini, this is another wall-mounted perch. It’s more of a classic wood design than the modernist Mau and has a deeper hammock that a cat can curl up in. The Fukumaru hammock can support up to 40 pounds. It comes with mounting hardware for both drywall and masonry—it even includes a drill bit. The dense rubberwood is a welcome alternative to plastic, but it does look a little rough—like untreated, natural wood. It might work for some decor aesthetics, but not all.

Price at time of publish: $33

_{Dimensions: 15.7 x 13.8 inches | Mount Type: 4 solid wall screws or 2 drywall mounts | Colors: Black stripe, white flannel, retro walnut}

Mewoofun

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What We Like

Can be installed in multiple locations
Adjustable frame
No drilling of holes and no suction cups
Five color combinations

What We Don't Like

Price varies slightly between color options
Not recommended for cats that like to share a perch (40-pound weight limit)

Put your power tools away, the Mewoofun Cat Window Perch is designed to connect to a window sill with two hooks, a level for balance, and two legs underneath for support. It's available in five color combinations and the frame, made of engineered wood, is adjustable. The lightweight hammock can be connected to other surfaces, such as a desk, and can support up to 40 pounds of kitty relaxation.

Price at time of publish: $30

^{Dimensions: 17.7 x 14.5 x 10 inches | Mount Type: 2 hooks, a level, and 2 support legs | Colors: Pink, yellow, blue, purple, orange}

Final Verdict

Our favorite cat window perch for most homes is the AMOSIJOY Cordless Cat Window Perch. It doesn’t have any wires for your cat to negotiate around, its suction cups are beefy, and it comes with two different covers—one for warm weather and one for cold. If you’d rather mount a cat perch on your wall, maybe next to a window, check out the Mau Houdini instead. It has sturdy hardware, an attractive design, and an easy-to-maintain felt hammock.

Mounting

Because cat window perches are designed to be affixed to glass (or a nearby wall), most ways of attaching a window perch have to be completely non-destructive and easy to undo, and not leave behind any weird residue on your windows. Suction cups are a mounting solution that is non-permanent, easy to readjust, and easy to use, but unfortunately, they are not always the most effective. Everyone’s had the experience of mounting something with a suction cup, only to have it fall down in the middle of the day or night. There are a few ways to mitigate this problem, however.

To ensure the best suction installation, clean the suction cups with a mild soap, and allow them to completely dry after. Also clean the window surface. Warm suction cups are softer and more pliable, which makes it easier to form a tight and effective seal. To warm a suction cup, you can either leave it out in the sun for a while or soak it in warm water. (Just make sure it’s thoroughly dry before use.)

But no matter how good your seal is, suction cups will never be a completely permanent solution. It’s best to dismount and re-mount your suction cup window perch approximately once a month.

Height and width

While a healthy adult cat can jump more than four vertical feet, they’re unlikely to blindly jump up to something that high, especially a small cat perch. A cat perch that’s approximately 30 inches off the ground—about the height of a nightstand or cabinet—is a height that most cats are comfortable navigating. Eighteen inches high would be more manageable if your cat has to jump from a narrow spot, such as up from a windowsill.

FAQ

Are cat window perches safe?

Because window perches often rely on suction cups, there is always a risk of one or more of the cups sliding, or falling off the window completely. However, following the instructions found in the “Mounting” section of our What To Look For guide should help minimize this possibility, especially if you dismount and reattach the suction cups once a month. In general, cat window perches aren’t heavy enough to be dangerous, even if they fall.
How do I get my cat to use their window perch?

A window perch is an inviting surface that offers a vantage point that cats appreciate, and often also provides a cushioned platform where they can sun or nap. If your cat already loves hanging around your windows, then it will likely discover a newly installed perch. However, you can help attract your cat toward it with snacks or catnip.

This article was written by Ellie Welles, a product reviewer for The Spruce Pets. Welles is the proud mother of four cats and is dedicated to finding the best of everything for her felines. She treats her cats to cat trees, platforms, and other high vantage points, where they love pawing at people who walk by.

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