How can I check that my cat can descend a climbing route comfortably?

Check the downward route as carefully as the climb up. A layout that looks manageable from the floor may leave a cat turning sharply, stepping around a support or dropping farther than intended on the way down.

Look at the positions of platforms from the highest resting area towards the floor, noting clear landing space at each stage. Your cat's confidence and mobility matter more than an impressive height. Avoid luring it to an upper shelf before confirming an easy return route. If the cat hesitates, reverses repeatedly or searches for an alternative way down, reassess the arrangement. A lower resting option or an additional approved step may be more suitable. Sudden changes in jumping or descent should also prompt veterinary advice rather than being treated only as a furniture preference.

Trace the descent with your finger on a photograph, marking the surface the cat reaches at each stage. Do not rely on an assumed jump to the sofa if that sofa may be moved or occupied.