Which cat window perch fits your window? Measure first
Short answer: Which cat window perch fits depends on your window, not just your cat. Suction-cup beds and hammocks need a smooth glass pane big enough for the cups; a sill-mounted shelf needs the right kind of window and sill. Measure the glass, the sill depth and the gap to the wall first, check the maker's weight figure against your cat, and then pick the type.
This guide is a measuring-first companion to our window perch buyer's guide. It compares the four window perches we sell, explains what to measure, and works through two example windows.
Why cats crowd the windowsill
Indoor cats often spend time at the window: it's warm in the sun, there's movement outside to watch, and it's often a little higher than the rest of the room. A narrow sill isn't comfortable for long, which is why people look for a perch. Before you choose one, know which kind of window you have.
Step-by-step: measure before you choose
- Glass pane size. For suction-cup perches, measure the glass itself, inside the frame. A big window made of small panes may not have a pane large enough.
- Glass surface. Suction cups need smooth, clean glass. Textured or frosted glass, or glass with film on it, may not hold; none of our makers gives guidance we can point to on those.
- Window type. Is it a sliding window with a track slot? A sill-mounted shelf like our Window Bolster hooks into that slot.
- Sill depth and the gap to the wall. For a shelf that hooks in and braces against the wall below, measure from the slot to the sill edge and from the sill edge to the wall.
- Your cat's weight. Compare it with the maker's figure for each perch, and leave a margin.
- What else uses the window. Do you need to close a blind or open the window? A perch that folds or sits low can help.
The four perches compared
| Perch | Type | Window needed | Maker's weight figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foldaway Perch | Cordless window bed, 4 suction cups | Smooth glass at least 23.3 in (59 cm) long | 40 lb (18 kg) max load | Folds flat against the glass; leave 24 h after fitting |
| Suction-Cup Window Hammock | Framed hammock, 4 suction cups (+2 spare) | Smooth glass windows and doors | Not stated on our page | Bed 21.7 in (55 cm) long; cover is machine-washable |
| Sunlit Perch | Wood seat on cotton ropes, suction cups | Smooth window glass | Rated to 80 lb (36 kg); maker doesn't recommend sustained weights over 60 lb (27 kg) on standard glass | Seat 16.9 × 12.6 in (43 × 32 cm) |
| Window Bolster Cat Bed | Shelf that hooks into a sliding-window slot | Sliding windows only; see fit rules below | 22 lb (10 kg) max load | Wraparound bolster; removable, washable cover |
All four are in The Window and ship to the United States only.
Each perch in more detail
Foldaway Perch
The Foldaway Perch is a cordless bed on four suction cups, 23.3 × 11.2 × 7.8 in (approx. 59 × 28 × 20 cm) including the cups, with a reversible cover (fluffy cushion one side, mesh the other) that zips off. With the mesh side up it folds flat against the glass, so you can close the blind. The maker states a maximum load of 40 lb (approx. 18 kg) and advises leaving it 24 hours after fitting before your cat uses it. Cover: hand wash only, as the maker states.
Suction-Cup Window Hammock
The Suction-Cup Cat Window Hammock holds a framed bed at the window on four suction cups, with two spare cups in the box. The bed is 21.7 in (55 cm) long and the drop from the top cups to the bed is approx. 26.4 in (67 cm), the maker's figure, so check there's room below the cups. Metal frame; the khaki oxford-cloth cover is removable and machine-washable. It fits smooth glass windows and doors.
Sunlit Perch
The Sunlit Perch is a natural solid-wood seat hung on cotton ropes from suction cups, with a plush cushion over a sponge pad. Overall 16.9 × 12.6 × 21.3 in (approx. 43 × 32 × 54 cm) including the ropes. The maker rates it to 80 lb (36 kg) and doesn't recommend sustained weights over 60 lb (27 kg) on standard, non-load-bearing glass. The maker suggests soaking the cups in warm water for 3–5 minutes first, and says set-up takes about 10 minutes. Cushion: hand wash only.
Window Bolster Cat Bed
The Window Bolster Cat Bed is a plush bed with a wraparound bolster on a wooden shelf. Its metal hooks go into the track slot of a sliding window, the brackets push back against the wall below, and screws tighten them to the sill. It fits sliding windows only, with a track slot deeper than 1.5 in (approx. 3.8 cm), no more than 2.75 in (approx. 7 cm) from sill edge to wall, and a sill shorter than 8 in (approx. 20.3 cm). Overall 24 × 18.5 × 10 in (approx. 61 × 47 × 25 cm); bed 22 × 15 × 3 in. Maximum load 22 lb (10 kg), as the maker states.
Worked examples
Example 1: a large single pane, and you want to close the blind. Your living-room window has one smooth glass pane about 30 in long, and you close the blind at night. The pane is longer than the Foldaway Perch's 23.3 in minimum, and it folds flat against the glass, so the blind can still come down. Fit it following the maker's steps and wait 24 hours before your cat uses it.
Example 2: a sliding bedroom window with a shallow sill. Your sliding window has a track slot about 2 in deep, the sill sticks out 6 in, and the sill edge is about 2 in from the wall below. That's within the Window Bolster's limits (slot deeper than 1.5 in, sill shorter than 8 in, no more than 2.75 in from sill edge to wall). If your cat is under the maker's 22 lb load and likes a raised edge to lean on, it's a reasonable choice. If any of those measurements is outside the limits, look at a suction-cup option instead.
We can't promise your cat will use any perch. It's a spot at the window to try instead of a crowded sill.
Who these perches aren't for
- Windows without a smooth glass pane big enough for the suction-cup models.
- Non-sliding windows, or sills outside the limits above, for the Window Bolster.
- Cats over the maker's weight figure for a given perch.
- Anyone who'd rather not re-seat suction cups from time to time: check the cups regularly with any suction-cup perch.
- Windows you open often, where a perch would be in the way or a cat could reach an open gap. Keep windows closed or screened when a perch is in use.
- Shoppers outside the United States: these ship to the US only.
FAQ
How do I know which cat window perch will fit?
Measure first: the size and surface of the glass pane for suction-cup perches, or the slot depth, sill depth and gap to the wall for a sill shelf. Then compare with each product's fit rules.
Do suction-cup window perches work on any glass?
They need smooth, clean glass. None of our makers gives guidance we can point to on textured or frosted glass or glass with film.
How much weight do they hold?
It varies by perch, as the makers state: Foldaway Perch 40 lb (18 kg); Sunlit Perch rated to 80 lb (36 kg), with the maker not recommending sustained weights over 60 lb (27 kg) on standard glass; Window Bolster 22 lb (10 kg). We don't have a maker's figure for the Suction-Cup Window Hammock.
Which window perch can fold away?
The Foldaway Perch folds flat against the glass when the mesh side of its cover faces up.
Will the Window Bolster fit my window?
Only sliding windows with a track slot deeper than 1.5 in, no more than 2.75 in from sill edge to wall, and a sill shorter than 8 in. Measure before you order.
How long before my cat can use a suction-cup perch?
For the Foldaway Perch, the maker advises waiting 24 hours after fitting. Follow each maker's fitting steps.
Can I wash the covers?
The Suction-Cup Window Hammock's cover is removable and machine-washable; the Window Bolster's is removable and washable; the Foldaway and Sunlit Perch covers are hand wash only.
Do you ship outside the US?
No. These perches ship to the United States only.
Related guides
- Best window perch for a cat: a plain buyer's guide
- Bored indoor cat? What actually helps
- How to choose a cat bed by the way your cat sleeps
- How to hang a cat hammock: ceiling hooks and window suction cups
- Browse all cat help guides
Notes
Sizes, fit rules and weight figures are taken from each product page and credited to the maker. Unusual window? Email support@purrmint.com and we'll share what the maker states before you order.