If a cat wanted to, theoretically - could one walk on the ceiling?

[Taverner]

Say, if you carpeted the walls and ceiling - would a cat's strength be enough for it to take a stroll to meet the ceiling cat?

Just a strange thought

[begin_within]

1. Its claws could hook into the carpet, but it would have to have great strength to counteract gravity

A really, really lean, fit, muscular cat might be able to achieve it, but cats usually won't try things they can't do. I have seen my cats do pretty amazing things like go straight up the outside wall of the house, which is stucco.

[Sanity Claws]

2. I've had a cat climb walls

but he jumped down after getting about four to five feet high.

[Fire Walk With Me]

3. They can do it. They don't need carpeting; drywall is fine.

Up they go, all day long while we're at work. Those strange sounds at night? The cat is walking on the ceiling. Installing lightbulbs that only have a week's life left. Think it's not true? Look hard at your cat the next time a light bulb goes out. Is it hiding a laugh? You betcha.

[TZ]

4. They are too heavy

Their claws don't have enough grip to hold them up agaisnt gravity. Notice that the only critters who can really do that are insects. They are much stronger with regard to body size than any larger creature.

[Blue Diadem]

5. They could probably make it to the ceiling but not be able to hang onto the ceiling.

I'm just thinking of our cat trees and how grandkitty can run right up them to the ceiling. If he flips over though and tries to hang onto the underside of the shelves without support, he can't stay there very long.

[Taverner]

6. But what if they had REALLY long claws, and was a kitty of steel?

[Critters2]

8. Oh, yeah, A kitty of steel could do it. So could a gravity-defying kitty. nt

[Blue Diadem]

9. SUPER KITTY!

[kedrys]

7. What do you mean, theoretically?

My dearly beloved Marble once climbed up a vertical tile wall with no problem. Granted, it was in the bathroom and we were giving her a bath because she got into something, but still.

I know Evie with her gravity problem definitely could.

[Orsino]

10. Ideally, the cat would be *carried* on the ceiling...

...but yes, the cat's complete quantum description shows that its waveform overlaps that of the the ceiling.

[flvegan]

11. Yes, if the cat was named Lionel Richie.