Cat having trouble making normal jumps
Some cats lack the natural athleticism to jump or appear uncoordinated, barely able to get onto a couch without help. When they do manage to climb up, they often become scared of heights and cry to be lifted back down. Owners suspect this may happen if a cat lacked proper kitten training from living in a small space.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Checking if the cat is spayed or in heat.Did this help you?
- 2Monitoring litter box use for signs of constipation.Did this help you?
- 3Taking the cat to the vet to check for injury or back pain.Did this help you?
- 4Lifting and carrying the cat down when they cry or get stuckDid this help you?
- 5Putting the cat on a diet if weight is contributing to the lack of agilityDid this help you?
- 6Accepting it as a personality trait and enjoying that they stay off the kitchen countersDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I grew up with cats and this is the first cat I've had that seems uncoordinated and possibly scared of heights.”source ↗
“Often when she does climb or jump onto something, she'll cry for me to lift her back down.”source ↗
“She is having trouble making very normal jumps. Has anyone had this happen?”source ↗
“Not all cats are as athletic as some. I have had one cat that would jump on top of 10 foot tall hutch, and then another that can barely get up on the couch without help.”source ↗
“My cat is not a good jumper, I suspect she lived in a small space up until I adopted her at six months so she didn’t get proper kitten training.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 4Why is my cat limping or dragging a back leg?
- 9Why does my cat suddenly refuse to use the catio?
- 5Cat acting lethargic and not eating a few days after spaying
- 64Why is my roommate's cat hissing and following me?
- 2How to get a cat to stop sleeping on your legs
- 10Why is my healthy cat suddenly losing fur?