Every couple of nights, our pet, Kalista, gets these spurts of energy, which cause her to desire to climb walls.
It’s as if our smallest has gained all the confidence needed to go on an exciting rock climbing class, and she’s now obsessed with dragging her tiny body to the top of doors, only to return to the ground.
The behavior first came to light the last year when Kalista tried climbing on a carpet rolled in our former apartment.
I remember vividly the first night when it began to occur. It was clear that you could hear Kalista crying from the next room. At times, I became worried that something was wrong.
Kalista was around 8-9 months old. She was already having some issues with us. Most of the problems resulted from Kalista needing to be more energetic and curious. Most of the time, this would result in Kalista finding her head stuck in something and going missing for a short period because she was scared or embarrassed.
At first, when Kalista ran up our carpet, we discovered Kalista hanging on to her life at the top of the roll carpet. They squeal her were getting louder and louder as time went on.
For some reason, Kalista did not attempt to carry herself onto the rug. This was the ideal choice as she could have the chance to rest comfortably or jump onto my desk near the floor.
After a few instances, we saw Kalista doing this and decided to remove the carpet as it was just too tempting for Kalista.
The behavior stopped until we moved into the larger apartment. After that, Kalista seemed to be back in the same situation, but this time using walls rather than carpets that had been rolled up.
Kalista seems to care about something other than whether she’s climbing the wall, an entryway frame, or any other vertically oriented object. If we had an armoire for coats, she’d be a maniac on it.
Although there aren’t any definitive reasons cats display this behavior, vets and behaviorists offer a few theories about the causes cats get excited when they see the doors and walls.
Your cat HAS an additional energy source to help you burn.
Indoor cats have a bad reputation due to their inability to concentrate and are obese. However, this doesn’t mean all indoor cats are destined to be lazy and fat.
Cats are all born with a desire to kill and hunt. This is one of the reasons cats are only sometimes recommended as pets for rodents or other mammals of small size.
Even if the cat inside does not mean that they’ve lost their desire or the drive required to hunt animals.
The most common time for this energy to show up is in the evening since cats are night creatures. Since they are nocturnal creatures that primarily hunt in the evening, It makes sense for cats living in the dark to keep getting a surge of energy in the evening even when there’s no predator nearby.
This type of energy is often misinterpreted as schizophrenia; however, in most instances, it’s just puffed-up energy from your cat’s sleep all day.
Suppose your cat often has a massive burst of energy you cannot manage. In that case, it is recommended that you get them a companion, engage them more often (especially when they’re at their most energetic), or use mechanical and passive toys.
Your cat is hyper EXCITED, TIRED, or TIMULATED
While it may appear like I’m repeating the same message repeatedly, Your cat’s being overly excited, excited, or excited isn’t necessarily a sign that they’re bursting with energy.
Kalista is prone to flashes of excitement, particularly when she’s not seen us for about a half-hour.
She’ll typically jump over to the walls or the chair if we walk by her sitting on a stool or near an obstacle. She says, “I’m so excited to meet you!”
In the same way, cats can be prone to this behavior in response to people they love, birds out, or the sound of kibble being put into food bowls, etc.
THE CAT IS STRESSED AND Needs a calming intervention
I’ve just stated that the reason why cats can climb walls is that they’re stimulated. But now I’m saying the opposite, and that’s the weird aspect about cats. Cats display similar behaviors depending on the situation or emotion.
Other behaviors cats show in different situations include headbutting or bunting, kneading, rubbing their bodies against yours, and biting.
If a cat becomes stressed, it could exhibit some undesirable behaviors.
The behaviors can include:
- Peeing out in the cat litter boxes.
- Peeing on an owner’s bed.
- Scratching at furniture.
This could let your cat know that they want to be entertained more often or require some stimulation.
In such situations in such situations, it is recommended you provide your cat with interactive games to enjoy or to take food from. Things such as slower food feeders or Puzzle feeders can be great options for your house.
THEY SEE AN ACTUAL THING ON THE WALL
It is essential to remember that cats can see and hear things we can’t notice or even hear.
It’s not to say that cats are ghosts or beings we cannot observe or hear. It does indicate that cats have a greater sensitivity to seeing and hearing.
Although you might find it difficult to be interested in that little white fluffy creature moving along on the walls, the cat could be glued to it and ready to attack.
When cats are chasing something or trying to catch something falling, they shake their bodies in an expression of pouncing or hunting for this item or piece of debris.
If you have a cat like this, you must purchase a laser pointer or an automated one.
You’ll likely be watching your cat running after the pointer in front of you.
Your cat is looking for more directional places to go.
It’s easy to overlook that cats love climbing and getting high up.
When we first got Kalista as a baby, she would not lie on our mattress. However, Kalista would watch us rest on the top of our bookshelf.
Although Kalista particularly likes to be in the upper levels, it’s different from our other cats, who are concerned about whether they’re being given space in the vertical direction.
While Beau enjoys his cat tree and the space we created to be a bed for the Meowfia, I wonder if the interest he showed at a higher level than before the time of Kallista.
Cats are most secure when they’re high up because they can see everything and be aware of any changes in the house.
There is a belief that cats climb walls to release their desire to jump or climb. However, I wonder whether this relates to why Kalista climbs walls.
We have around six primary climbing areas for my cats, including four that are accessible to my cats throughout the day. Although these areas are always accessible, Kalista will climb the wall once or twice weekly.
Other ways to stop your cat from CLIMBING on the wall
If you’re trying to get the cat off of climbing on walls, it will determine why your cat is doing it in the first place.
There are some general “must-do’s” that you should include in your home and some situations requiring additional setup.
GET YOUR CAT A LARGE SCRATCHING POST
Are you using one of the scratching post sporting mice? Could you get rid of it?
Okay, don’t toss it away, But I’ll tell you, If your scratching area is less than 3 feet, your cat won’t be able to extend themselves.
Try to grab your cat with a giant scratching board, put it in the spot they climb or scratch, and then see if they will take the bait.
One of the main reasons cats scratch furniture such as couches and chairs is that they do not have enough space to stretch out.
Cats require scratches to stay alive. It’s a vital element of their well-being; therefore, it would be cruel to stop them from doing it.
Instead, make sure your cat knows that certain areas aren’t allowed or that particular behavior is unacceptable using a warning phrase or sound.
Don’t ever hit or shout at your cat because it can cause them to be scared or cause them to be afraid of you.
Your cat can be enticed to scratch their scratching posts by placing some catnip on it. Whenever they use the scratching posts, ensure you treat them by giving them treats and plenty of cuddles and petting when your cat enjoys them!
If you are trying to keep cats from doing anything, it will require patience and a lot of persistence.
It is essential that every family member is fully committed to your cat’s training and that you use the techniques you have chosen for this purpose.
If the family members decide not to follow the mutually agreed-upon methods but instead reinforce the cat’s behavior, the cat won’t take to the lessons.
USE DOUBLE-SIDED Tape
I’ll admit that I’ve never needed to use double-sided tape. I’m grateful that I’ve never used double-sided tape since it looks like a pain to put up.
I’ve seen several blogs that advocate double-sided tape, and most reviews for cats are favorable.
Cats do not like the feel of double-sided tape. In addition, double-sided tape can be stuck to the cat’s feet. After jumping or walking through the double-sided tape, you can allow your cat to connect the video to the area.
The double-sided tape works best on counters and doors with frames. It could be more difficult if you want to stick it to the wall.
CONCLUSION
Although your cat’s climb through walls could be quite an eye-opener, it is likely a little playful and looking to start the day off right.
Cats living in indoor environments are expected to display this behavior, particularly when they aren’t given enough chances to play. In these situations, it’s helpful to keep some non-active toys around to provide the cat with something to play with, even when you’re not engaged.
Suppose your cat is still exhibiting this behavior even after you’ve given them an adequate amount of toys, scratching surfaces or run-on, and spaces that allow vertical space to jump and run and have used double-sided tape. In that case, speaking with your vet about future steps is best.
Although, in most cases, the vet will suggest engaging with your cat more often, they can inform you if any issues with illnesses or medical problems could be at the source of the energy-spinning wall climbing sessions.
The wall climbing issue is usually not a problem because it’s simply a cat. However, it’s always better to be safe instead of sorry, particularly if your cat has been bouncing over the wall to the point that they’ve ruined it.
