From the oak tree in your backyard to the neighbour’s white picket fence, cats like to find the perfect perch.

They may even choose elevated spots over cozy beds in cat houses.

What makes elevated locations so attractive to cats?

Here are 5 reasons that may surprise you.

1. To display higher status

When several cats live in houses for outside cats, they will develop a pecking order.

A higher-ranking cat may choose a higher perch to remind everyone of her rank.

If tension is in the air, she may be able to ward off a fight by climbing to an elevated perch.

The other cats will likely be intimidated and leave her alone.

2. To scan the landscape for dinner possibilities

Whether inside on a sunny windowsill or perched high in a tree, your cat is always on the lookout for dinner.

Off the ground, she can see further in every direction.

According to the Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine, cats like to know what is going on.

Some houses for outside cats come with a lounging deck for the perfect vantage point.

With an elevated perch, cats won’t miss prime hunting opportunities.

3. To prevent ambush

Cats are often nervous about being attacked from behind.

To avoid this, they choose an elevated location when they want to rest.

If their perch has a back wall (or is near one), they will have greater security and peace of mind.

Also, they can spot any oncoming attacks and prepare a response.

4. To maintain personal space

When cats grow fatigued by human interaction, they can easily retreat to an elevated perch.

It’s the perfect way to have some quiet time and recharge.

In a multi-cat outside cat house, cats may prefer to eat on their perch.

According to research done by the University of Georgia, cats prefer to sleep on a personal perch.

They appreciate having a space to call their own.

5. To experience scent familiarity

To the cat, scent signals comfort, identity, and familiarity.

Cats are highly sensitive and responsive to scents.

In our houses for outside cats, your cats will love curling up in a place that is exclusively cat-scented.

If visitors make your cat nervous, she will appreciate having a perch with a familiar kitty scent.

Did you know that we build outdoor cat houses with platforms? You can get your feral kitty a cat house with an elevated perch!

Check out our fabulous cat houses with platforms today!