Cats on wrong side of bannister

[loyalandnaturalboy]

We have just adopted 5 month old cats from a rescue. They are allowed supervised access to hall and landing but stay in one room when we are out. But on the landing they are walking on the wrong side of the bannister and I am a nervous wreck! But dh says that if we put anything there to block it they will just climb up that? Can anyone advise?

@SummerSazz so familiar!!

Best of all the other cat is indoor only and very confused why outdoor cat can demand windows and doors to be opened at will and he can't!

The sound of claws sliding down the tiles and the squawking of birds of prey at her - delightful.

Ours did the same OP. One jumped through the bannisters onto the floor below the first day we had him. He was fine. Soon enough he was fat enough to no longer fit through and then we weren't so worried about him

Most of our cats would have been fine, but we did have one which was incredibly clumsy and always running into or falling off things. Fell off the top of the wardrobe. Fell into a bath full of water.

If you're worried, I'd move any hard furniture with sharp edges from underneath.. but as a PP said, cats gonna cat, and they usually fall on their feet (and style it out by pretending they meant to do that)

Mines only one story up but I actually blocked it off with cardboard and tape when she was a kitten. It looked an eyesore but my heart couldn't take it. Was like having a toddler all over again!

Normal cat behaviour, it’s decided that’s the spot for them.

Looks like an excellent position for a cat! They like to keep an eye on everyone . We have a first floor balcony with railings and have the French doors open in summer - the cats go out there but seem to know it wouldn't be a good idea to jump!

My stupid cat Vixen used to like sleeping on top of the handrail on the first floor. Unfortunately she sleeps very deeply and has fallen off a few times and knocked a few teeth out. I resorted to putting sellotape all over the handrail to put her off. Since she came back from being missing for a few weeks, she hasn't tried it again thankfully. The thud of her hitting the stairs and seeing blood round her mouth used to panic me so much.

Toad also likes the handrail but more to sit with all four paws perched on the newel post, like a strange cat sculpture. When he was younger, I did catch him twice climbing up the slanted rail and sliding down it.

My cats have issues! 😁

Good, my cats never did this! I wouldn't like it either...

Our cat used to scramble up a wall, onto a flat roof and then God knows how to a second storey bedroom window where she'd sit on the outside windowsill until someone let her in. She was a fat cat and the windowsill was an inch wide. Never fell off. Cats defy the laws of nature, they'll be fine

You need a set of carpet covered cat shelves/steps to get up there.

It'll give you the happiest cats in the world (and you slightly less stress).

I'm so envious of your galleried landings!

Your cats will be fine - they're programmed to be able to do that sort of thing.

Your cat is pretending that's a tree. They will be fine. Cats can descend a significant distance without harm. Let them in to the rest of the house and they'll find somewhere else they like.

As PP says, cat gonna cat. Do not fret!

My cat fell from a fifth floor roof. That was scary. He was fine.

They are waiting for you to play bannisters with them.

Rules are simple, you stand on the stairs and put your hand through the bannisters towards the cat who is waiting on the landing, they use the bannisters to pull themselves along the floor at lightning speed and catch your hand. One point to you if you pull your hand back in time , one point to the cat if you don’t. Some cats —cheat— go for pouncing. It’s allowed apparently.

There are of course no prizes. Though someone usually ends up a bit bloody. (Clue: not the cat)

🤣 Viques my DH is silly enough to play the game whereas I ensure that I use the rail instead of the uprights! New cat utterly adored the game and is camouflaged with our flooring so mostly wins!