Why Do Cats Love To Perch?

When it comes to our feline friends, there are certain habits that we know they love. Cats love to send those objects flying off our countertops. They have a love of fresh water coming from the faucet, too. And another thing that almost every cat loves? Being perched up high. There are some kitties that are more fond of perching than others, and there are even certain breeds of cats that fancy themselves a good perch, too. If you’ve ever wondered why it is that cats love to perch, well, just keep reading!

Cats love to perch for a few reasons…

I feel safe from up here!

Your cat is the connoisseur of comfort. And they’re also the connoisseur of self-security, too. While your feline friend knows exactly when and where their next meal is coming from, it’s hardwired into their DNA to want to feel safe from predators. If your cat was to be living out on the streets and forced to fend for themselves, they’d likely hide or perch up high to make themselves feel safe. It’s an instinctual habit that cats do because it provides them with the sense of security that they so desperately crave. So, don’t take offense to it if your cat chooses to perch rather than cuddle up next to you on the couch at night. Simply worship them from afar and respect their innate desire to be safe and secure.

I could get used to a view like this!

Cats are all about vantage points. Sure, they don’t need to worry about predators attacking them inside of their homes, but if there’s one thing that cats are, it’s micromanagers. Your cat loves to know what you’re doing at all times, and that includes everyone else in your home, too. When your cat is perched in your home, it provides them a view of the world below where they can easily keep watch of the humble human servants moving about their home. Your cat is channeling their inner gargoyle, and looking down at the world below!

why cats love to perch

Your cat’s version of D.N.D.

When your cat is sleeping, they do not like to be disturbed. Oftentimes, when a cat is ready to take a deep cat nap, they’ll perch themselves up in a quiet spot of your home and take a siesta. For cats, there are levels of sleep just like there is with humans. And while your cat might not require as much REM sleep as you do, they prefer not to be bothered, startled, or annoyed when they choose to get sleep.

Remember, sleeping and snoozing are much different. But often you will see cats fast asleep while perching because they feel safe and this allows them to go off to dreamland with ease. My kitty Pepper recently received his very own fancy pants cat tree, and aside from the fact that I know cats love to perch, I wanted to give him a place to retreat to sleep where my dog won’t pester him. Pepper is a great cat, so I couldn’t help but give him his Christmas present early! (You can get yours here if you like.)

Got a parrot kitty in your life?

If you have a kitty that’s obsessed with getting their parrot on, you are one of the lucky few! Shoulder perching in cats is not super common, so feel very special if your cat does this to you. There are some particular breeds of cats that really enjoy being up high, like the Maine Coon and the Abyssinian. Cats that fancy themselves a good perch on your shoulder often love the view from above and the security that your shoulder is giving to them. It’s a way for them to show you affection but to also satisfy their instinctual urge to perch. Remember, heights give your feline friend a natural sense of security that they crave.

Did you learn anything new and interesting about our feline friends? Share this article with other cat lovers that you know so that they can learn something, too.

Have you ever wondered why it is that cats love to stare at us? Find out the answer here on cattitudedaily.com.

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