Reviewed and updated for accuracy on July 30, 2018 by Katie Grzyb, DVM. As a species, cats are known for their grace, agility and athleticism. However, there is one physical feat with which many cats have struggled—getting down after they climb a tree. Why does a cat climbing a tree have so much trouble descending? Why Do Cats Climb Trees in the First Place? Katenna Jones, an associate certified applied animal behaviorist, certified cat behavior consultant and owner of Jones Animal Behavior in Warwick, Rhode Island, says that cats are an interesting species from a behavioral perspective because they can be predators to small creatures while being vulnerable to larger animals. “You see behaviors at both ends of the predator/prey spectrum. So, as skilled hunters, they may chase their prey up a tree without realizing what they’ve gotten themselves into. On the other side of the coin, cats tend to go high when they feel threatened. So if a cat feels his life is in danger, he would very likely run up a tree, which offers safety and a vantage point,” explains Jones. That said, Jones notes that looking too deeply into a cat’s reasons for climbing a tree might be a moot point. “Cats may also climb trees because they can and it’s fun,” she says.