Cat Stairs Reviews 2024: Plus Step by Step DIY Guide

Cats are born explorers. They love to climb, leap, jump, and slink around the house and backyard.

In fact, your kitty may love to jump so much that it's not unusual to find her perched on top of a bookshelf (yikes!) or hanging out on your shoulder.

In a 2017 interview with MNN, Atlanta-based certified cat behavior consultant Ingrid Johnson explains: “Cats love height and height gives them a sense of security and gives them the ability to survey a lot of space from one vantage point.”

This begs the question:

Why do cats love to sit on our shoulders or hang out on the back of couches and other tall items? This makes a lot of sense.

It may also make you wonder how you can support your feline as she tries to fulfill her natural instinctive desire to achieve great heights. Cat stairs!

After all, consider what would happen if:

• You're worried about her climbing on something that isn't sturdy, like a bookshelf or media cabinet
• You're concerned she's getting too old to safely get up onto perches she used to love
• You're worried about her ruining your furniture
• You're worried that your multiple kitties don't have enough room to safely climb and explore and are creating traffic jams in high places

If any of these concerns have ever crossed your mind, then a cat ramp or cat staircase may be a perfect solution. According to Catster, a good pair of pet stairs can help your feline exercise, play, and explore—not to mention reach their favorite hangout spots safely where they can nap, survey the scene, or even enjoy a snack!

In this short review, we're going to introduce the benefits of pet steps and help you figure out which style would be the best for your animal. With so many options to choose from on the market, our research (including a handy pros and cons list for each of them) should help you narrow down your search and make a good purchasing decision—

—Hopefully one that will make your kitty jump for joy!

[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”Mary Nielsen ♥” link=”” color=”#ff9900″ class=”” size=”15″]You love what you see? Purrfect! Rest assured that I put these products on the list specifically due to their genuine quality and not for other reasons. I would just like to be transparent with you and inform you that FelineLiving may obtain a share of sales or other monetary compensation from the links on this page. I hope your furry friends will love these reviewed products and that it will spark joy in each pair of feline eyes! [/perfectpullquote]

Best Cat Stairs and Steps 

Reviews of the Best Stairs and Steps for Pets

1. Aeromark International Armarkat Pet Stairs
2. PetSafe Plus Pet Stairs
3. CertiPUR -US Certified Foam Pet Stairs
4. Frisco Cat & Dog Stairs
5. Foldable CertiPUR -US Certified Foam Pet Stairs
6. PetSafe Solvit Wood Pet Stairs
7. Pet Gear Easy Step

We've done our research. You might say we've climbed mountains to get you the best steps and staircases designed for felines! The following options have been selected as the top kitty stairs based on things like quality, durability, versatility, price, and of course pet parent (and pet) review.

1. Aeromark International Armarkat Pet Stairs

This set of stairs can be safely used for your feline or canine housemates. Materials are harmless and safe to use around pets and humans alike. Plus, they can double as durable scratching posts for your cats!

If the cost seems high to you, try not to let it scare you away. Most reviewers have found that the high quality stairs are well worth the price tag.

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2. PetSafe Plus Pet Stairs

These PetSafe stairs may not be the most attractive on the list, but where they lack in style they certainly make up for in utility and durability. These steps are lightweight, which means they are easy to use even for pet guardians who may have a hard time lifting heavy objects—let alone lifting their pets!

Amazingly, this staircase can safely support an animal up to 150 lbs, but at 5 lbs it only weighs a fraction of that.

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3. CertiPUR-US Certified Foam Pet Stairs

These steps from CertiPUR-US are made with USA-based foam for comfort and security. Materials are guaranteed to be made without potentially harmful chemicals and substances including ozone depleters, PDBW flame retardants, mercury, and lead. Plus, they are super sturdy and have a non-slip bottom for extra security. That said, many reviewers warn that they still can slip on hardwood surfaces.

Good news for those of you who are more stylishly-inclined: you can chose from a variety of different colors so your pet's steps will fit nicely into your household decor.

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4. Frisco Pet Stairs

Faux fur lines these pet stairs from Frisco, making them look all the more classy and comfortable. You can choose from 2 height options, great for small or senior pets that have trouble getting unto the bed or couch.

Compared to some other options on this list, these also seem to be a bit on the flimsy side. The good news is that it's easy to assemble and could be a good “starter” staircase for smaller animals.

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5. Foldable CertiPUR-US Certified Foam Pet Stairs

Cute and functional, customers really seem to appreciate these pet steps from CertiPUR-US. A unique feature about them is that you can unzip the top step and turn it down for easy under-the-bed storage.

The comfortable foam is also covered with a durable and removable fleece-like fabric that you can pop into the washing machine for super easy clean-up.

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6. PetSafe Solvit Wood Pet Stairs

If you love wooden decor, then these stairs for pups and kitties will fit well into your home. The height is customizable and you can even fit it to taller beds, meaning your animal doesn't have to give you those sad eyes as she gazes fondly over the edge of your mattress!

It can be a bit slippery, so these stairs tends to work best on a soft carpet or rug. Plus, it's super easy to fold up and store away when it's not in use.

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7. Pet Gear Easy Step III Pet Stairs

Last but not least on our list is this set of stairs from Pet Gear. It's built with the small pet in mind and can be put together in a few simple steps (no pun intended). It features rubber anti-slip grippers on the bottom to improve stability, however some users still report seeing some wobbly movement when their animal use it.

A lot of pet owners point out that the stairs aren't steep, making them a lot safer for their animals—especially if they are older or have health problems.

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Why Do You Need Cat Stairs?

There are two main concepts to keep in mind that may help you see why your feline may benefit from pet stairs.

What goes up does come down…but going down may be harder than going up in the first place.

Think about it: your kitty is probably so clever that she easily can find her way up to the top of a bookshelf or windowsill (heck, even a tree!) to watch over her humans. This may leave you scratching your head thinking, “How the heck did she get up there?”

It may also leave her wondering how the heck to get down!

A pair of cat stairs would take care of this problem by giving her easy access to somewhere up high…while also guaranteeing that she has an easy way to get down, too.

And this brings us to the second concept to keep in mind:

Cat's don't always land on their feet. Giving your animal a sturdy set of steps to access her favorite hangout spot can keep her safe and help her avoid the dangers of falling from a big height. This is especially important for certain animals who are either very young, very old, recovering from an illness or injury, or dealing with certain health issues that could make climbing a bit more risky and challenging.

By the way, while all kitties love to play and explore, some aren't over-the-top adventurous. Your cat may simply want a comfortable place to nap and lounge around…or better yet, snuggle with you! For this reason, a set of stairs to a sofa or bed can be ideal.

Lastly, a cat staircase gives your kitty a great way to exercise if she's indoors-only, particularly if you live in an apartment or a one-story home. She can go up and down her little stairs to her heart's content…and get a great workout in, too!

How to Make Cat Stairs DIY

As you've seen in this review, there are plenty of high quality cat stairs you can purchase. But if you're interested, you can also make a DIY cat staircase!

What's nice about making it yourself is that you can customize it more easily to fit your feline's needs and your decor and space. Plus, depending on the materials you get you can actually save yourself a bit of money. When it comes to the price the DIY option can be quite cheaper depending on the materials.

Here are some basic instructions for making a DIY kitty staircase yourself, with each component listed step-by-step…no pun intended!

Step 1: Measure Twice, Cut Once! Create Your Stringers

Stringers are the sloped, sawtooth-shaped sides of your kitty's staircase which support the entire device. The exact measurement you'll make depends on how tall the object is that the staircase will lean up against, such as your bed or a sofa.

The width of the stairs also depends on how big your cat is. Generally, the larger the cat, the wider and deeper the steps should be. But keep in mind that older cats or animals with mobility problems may need bigger ones, too.

Step 2: Attach and Brace the Stringers

Brace your stringers together with some supports and fixtures. If you have a larger cat, you'll want to use larger and sturdier braces.

Step 3: Adding the Rear and Risers of the Staircase

Using a large flat piece of material, close off the back of the staircase. Alternatively, you can leave the back of the staircase open (they'll still be functional and safe without it).

Then add your risers—these are the flat pieces on the inside edge of steps that prevent kitties from slipping between the steps. Very important!

Step 4: Customize! (Paint and Decorate)

Two things to keep in mind when choosing a paint color for your steps:

• Choose a durable, high quality, and pet-safe paint.
• Choose a color you'll like—because you'll be looking at it every day!

Two to three coats should do the trick. Feel free to get creative!

Step 5: Adding the Steps and Finishing Touches

To increase the durability, you may want to add a final stain to your steps. Note: many people think its easier to add paint and stain on the steps BEFORE attaching them to the actual staircase.

Once the steps are dried, glue them down on the risers and stringers and secure with large nails. Consider adding tread material, like carpeting, to increase paw traction.

Viola! Your sweet feline will now have her own homemade kitty staircase. We encourage you to reduce, reuse, and recycle used materials—you'd be amazed at how much is out there!

Conclusion

What's cuter than watching your little feline jump, get up, explore, and play?

We know—not much! Support her natural physical instincts by giving her a way to safely and securely access higher spots to snooze, play, or simply watch over everybody else.

Even if you're a dog parent, your canine could use a good set of stairs for getting in and out of the car, onto the couch, or onto your bed for some prime-time snuggling.

Be sure to share this article with your fellow pet owners who are looking to support healthy and happy animals, and check out the rest of our website for other ideas on safe and satisfying animal exercise!