How to Get a Cat Down From the Top of the Fridge

Cats are curious, and natural climbers. For some cats, this is a risky combination. Cats often find ascending a breeze; it is descending that can be the hard part. This is especially true for kittens and declawed cats. A cat seeks out warm spots to nap, which is why it will climb on a refrigerator. Although far from being a tree or a roof, the refrigerator just may be high enough the cat cannot get down, requiring human help to bring it back to terra firma.

Things You'll Need

  • Cat treats
  • Cat food
  • Chair or step-stool
  • Towel
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Instructions

  1. The Coaxing Method

    • 1

      Assess the situation before doing anything to assist the cat. If the cat seems distressed, this can affect the way it will need to be helped down from the refrigerator. A kitten will likely need assistance, while an older cat may just need coaxing.

    • 2

      Offer the cat treats from whatever surface is closest to the cat, perhaps the counter top. The cat may want the treats badly enough it will come down off of the refrigerator on its own.

    • 3

      Try shaking a bag of cat food or opening a can of wet cat food in view of the cat. Maybe it was not interested in treats, but often cats come running when they think it is dinnertime. This may coax a stubborn kitty down safely..

    The Towel Method

    • 4

      Put a chair or step-stool a foot or so from the refrigerator. A scared cat may scratch or bite. The distance between the chair and the refrigerator will prevent a well-placed claw to the face.

    • 5

      Step onto the chair or step-stool, taking the towel along. Speak reassuringly to the cat while spreading the towel open in front of it.

    • 6

      Put the towel around the cats body, lifting the cat from under the midsection with one hand. Wrapping the towel under it with the other hand will preventing the cat from clawing you.

    • 7

      Hold the towel wrapped cat close to prevent it from squirming and carefully step down off the chair or step-stool.

    • 8

      Unwrap the cat from the towel, and watch in amusement as it acts like nothing ever happened, and likely helps itself to the treats or food used to try to coax it down.