can i use a rug runner for carpeting cat shelves?

After your cat is familiar with gripping the climber, pick them up and place them at a low spot on the climber and guide them back to the floor (1). Your cat’s natural instinct will be to go head first, but they know this is a bad idea and generally won’t try. Once you have taught them how to come down, they will never forget. For their safety, it is best to barricade the climber (with a ladder for example) while you are away, preventing them from using it.

Until they have mastered the art of climbing backwards (butt first), you will have to carry them down. Getting down is a learning process and you will be the instructor. Think of it as their first time doing CrossFit and give them a few weeks to learn the proper technique.

Depending on your cat’s level of comfort with being held, you can give them a gentle booty push and let them use their front paws to get used to this motion. You can help them by holding a treat or a wand toy a little higher in each successive climb. At the beginning, your cat will most likely climb a couple of feet off the floor and appear to be stuck, not knowing if they can go further or if they can go back (they can do both, but they suffer a catsistential crisis). Indoor adults can have a hard time finding a grip that makes them feel safe. It can take some cats a while to develop the technique and conditioning to climb all the way to the top.

Can i use a rug runner for carpeting cat shelves?