First of all, thank you to everyone who participated in the “Can your cat manage stairs?” poll! I wanted to share the results with all of you, because I found them quite interesting.
Please keep in mind that some folks may have chosen more than one response
As I’ve told you, CG has had a mixed experience with stairs, but in general we’ve decided that it’s safest if stairs aren’t an option for him. That said, it was fascinating to hear how varied all of your CH cats’ stair experiences have been!
These results come from a total of 35 votes (I now see a few more people have voted since I wrote this!); participants had the option to pick more than one response.
I found it interesting that the the percentages are equal for those who said their cats can do stairs without a problem, and those who said their cats can’t do stairs and they consequently block them. However, the results obviously aren’t that black and white.
Another third responded that their cats were somewhat limited in their ability to do stairs; their cats could only manage carpeted stairs or could only go up stairs — not down.
And then nearly 20% responded that they don’t have stairs. (Now I’m curious if it’s just a coincidence that you don’t have stairs, or if you’ve deliberately chosen a home without stairs.)
While this chart certainly won’t tell you if your CH cat can manage stairs, it is encouraging because it shows how differently abled CH cats are when it comes to stairs. Of course it depends greatly on your cat’s severity of CH, but that doesn’t mean that a moderately affected cat can’t learn!
Some folks left additional comments about their cats’ abilities on Facebook, so I wanted to share them here, too:
Jennifer Jasensky: My answer doesn’t fit, no she can’t do stairs but we don’t block them, she stays away from them herself.
Photo courtesy slightlywinded
Martha Vitez: One year later, I (Martha) walk better and I fall less. For the record, mum still makes me walk up and down at least 15 times every day – practice definitely helps!
Lyn Serino: My person ones, Weebles and Katie, can. My foster, Weebles can’t and fosters Andy and Bobby can.
Rich Bergins: Our two CH cats can do stairs, we have a large pillow at the bottom of the stairs because sometimes they trip up on the last 2-3 stairs. My cat Half & Half leaps up a few steps at a time, sounds like a big dog is coming, she’s a bit clumsy but she gets the job done!
Elizabeth Rausch: Neither Tardy nor Ziggy can do stairs.
Elise Murphy: We don’t have stairs but I’m pretty sure Hippa can if she’d be brave enough to try and Nanako can’t.
Valerie Harris: Boris has learnt to do carpeted stairs -luckily ours have a gentle bend which helps him otherwise i would block them off -Daisy can also manage them
Tara Ciabattari: None of my more mildly affected cats can, but I wouldn’t even let the others try! 
Shelli Madonia: Price oh yes.. and curtains.. and couches and my bed lol
Lisa Beers Kirry: We don’t have stairs so I’m not really sure if JillyBean can do stairs.
MaryChristine Seeley: most of the CHers i’ve known have been able to do stairs, not just all that gracefully. there was a gate at the bottom of the stairs to keep the dogs downstairs, and wobble would come down, jump onto the top of the gate, fall over it onto her side, rest for about 45 seconds, then go right on her way. and rich’s, “pillow at the bottom of the stairs,” idea i always thought could be explained away as the latest in decorating trends.
What do you think about these results? Do you have another response to add? Please share in the comments!
