Can I use this cat shelf idea safely?

Post date: 2026-09-29 12:15:18

While perusing the book "Catification" by Jackson Galaxy, I came upon the entry about using two IKEA Lack wall shelves side-by-side for cats to climb up walls. IKEA's website says the individual shelves can only support 6lb each. But can this idea still work?

The part in the book

The climber consists of two IKEA Lack wall shelves put side-by-side. Alternating shelves are left out, so the result is a zig-zag way up the wall.

My DIY brain thought "genius!" and I checked IKEA's website for measurements. But in the "Good to know" section, it states: "When hung in a vertical position the max. load is 6 lbs per shelf." My cats are 13lb each, so in theory the shelves won't be able to hold them. But... is that just a precaution? The book is more than 10 years old, so maybe Lack shelves were sturdier back then?

Assume I am already aware of other catification ideas, and this is merely a sanity check for this particular idea.

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