Why Do Cats Like Looking Out the Window?

Cats love windows. Maybe you've gone for a walk and seen your neighbor's cat peering out the window as you passed. Or maybe you've seen your fuzzy feline catching a quick nap on your windowsill, blissfully soaking up the sun's rays.

Windows are sometimes lovingly referred to as "cat TV" — and for a good reason. They can be your cat's favorite form of entertainment! But just why do cats like looking out the window so much? It's often a combination of both instinctual and entertainment reasons. And as a loving pet parent, you can help your cats safely enjoy their favorite pastimes with special extra cozy window perches.

Cats Like Tall Spaces

Cats love hanging out in high places. In fact, they'll often seek the tallest place they can find. It hearkens back to their ancestors that hid in trees while hunting prey to get a better view (and could see any enemy predators coming from miles away). If your window provides any tall vantage point, you'll notice your cat spending a lot of time there.

They Enjoy the Warmth of the Sun

If your kitty always sits at the window right when the sun is beaming through that spot, it's because he loves the warmth. A cat's natural body temperature is higher than a human's, so they prefer warmer spots. Similarly, if you have the window cracked just a little, he might be enjoying the scents and sounds of the outdoors.

Watching Birds & Rodents Is Entertaining

Have you ever seen your cat excitedly chattering when she saw a bird through the window? Or have you watched her paw at the window when a squirrel or lizard was on the other side? Windows are highly entertaining for cats due, in part, to cats' high prey drives. The prey drive is so strong that even a well-fed cat may still hunt birds for sport.

This is why looking out a window at "cat TV" can be as entertaining to them as watching TV is to you. To make it even more fun, set up a bird feeder or birdbath in front of the windows to keep your cat from getting bored.

Cats Like to "Follow" Their Targets

Some cats aren't content just to stay on the lookout at one window. You may notice your cat get particularly excited at something he sees outside, then jump off the window sill and rush to another window nearby to look outside. It likely means an animal caught his attention, and he's following its progress. It's a more active form of entertainment, kind of like when you're watching a sports game in person.

Your Cat Is Waiting for You

Cats may enjoy their solitude, but they love having their human parents in the home with them. So if you often see your cat looking out the window when you pull into the driveway, she may be watching for you to come home. Cats pick up on routines, and your arrival time might be a part of hers.

Keep Your Window Secure for Your Cat

It's a good idea to make sure your window's secure. You may want to open it to give you and your cat a little fresh air — but don't do that unless you have a secure screen that your cat can't push through. Otherwise, your furry friend may quickly jump out the window to go off on an unsupervised (and potentially unsafe) adventure. If you don't have a screen, you only want to open the window a tiny bit since cats are known for squeezing through surprisingly small spaces.

How to Make Your Cat's Window Experience Cozier

Since your cat spends so much time looking out the window, the least you can do is make the experience cozier! The right cat window perch can be a real treat.

A great window perch for a cat is the K&H Deluxe Kitty Sill with Bolster. This premium perch lets your cat watch the world outside while staying extra comfy inside. The hammock is lined with microfleece and is perfect for cats of any size.

Another cat bed for a window is the K&H EZ Mount Window Bed, which gives your cat more privacy during his outdoor viewing time. It comes in multiple colors and opens at the top for easy access.

If your cat loves to multitask by scratching and looking out the window at the same time, consider the K&H EZ Mount Kitty Sill Cradle Scratcher. The curved scratching surface mounts to any glass window. It also comes with a bag of catnip for a little TV-watching snack.

If you have multiple cats in your home that like watching the outdoors together, they'll love the K&H EZ Mount Window Kitty Sill Quad Stack. This four-level cat window perch holds up to 50 pounds and is made with a reinforced and sturdy high-grade steel frame.

Cats love windows for a variety of reasons, ranging from pure entertainment to an instinctual need to guard their surroundings. Whatever your cat's particular reason, he'll be a-meowzed and thankful if you let him watch the outside world from a plush, comfy box office seat.