If you share a home with a cat, you’ve probably noticed: Cats tend to seek out heights. What cat owner among us hasn’t caught their pet leaping onto counters or soaring onto shelves so high up that we can’t reach them without a ladder or stepping stool?

This love of high spaces is part of cats’ natural instincts, according to Stephanie Merlin , a certified feline behaviorist and cat well-being educatorwho runs the popular Instagram account @thefulfilledfeline .

“Cats are both predator and prey, so having a high vantage point is a natural way to help them feel safe and secure,” Merlin wrote. “This isn’t just about fun and games; it’s deeply rooted in their biology.”

One way to support your cat’s evolutionary need for heights is through investing in a cat tree , a dedicated structure with multiple tiers for cats to climb and perch on. The benefits of cat trees “go way beyond offering vertical space,” Merlin explained.…