ᐅ Does your Kallax shelf work well as a room divider with pets that like to jump?

Hello everyone,

I’m planning to use an IKEA Kallax shelving unit as a room divider in my apartment. However, I have two quite agile cats who like to jump and climb. So, my question is: does your Kallax unit hold up well as a room divider with pets that frequently jump on and climb it? Are there any experiences regarding its stability, tipping risk, and possible damage to the shelving unit? I want to avoid the unit constantly tipping over or being unsafe, so I would really appreciate your assessments and tips.

I also use my Kallax as a room divider, and my cat often jumps on it. It is important to secure the shelf to the wall to keep it stable and prevent it from tipping over.

It is important that the Kallax shelf unit is properly anchored, either with wall fixings or special connectors. Cats that often jump can otherwise affect its stability. Additionally, I recommend storing heavy items as low as possible to keep the center of gravity low. Without proper securing, the shelf can become unstable, especially with active pets.

Hello Puke44,

you asked a very relevant question, especially since Kallax units are not necessarily designed to be room dividers. I know this well – my cats love climbing everywhere. Besides the wall mounting that JONSON mentioned, a stable base is also important. On carpet or soft flooring, the Kallax can wobble more easily. I also placed anti-slip pads underneath and only partly filled some compartments so that the cats don’t have overly heavy areas to land on. When I play roughly, it still wobbles, but it’s not a problem. You should also consider that cats often use the surface as a scratching area. A thin protective film or some kind of plexiglass cover on top can help preserve the appearance of the shelf.

How old are your cats, and how large? That would be helpful for further advice.

angel schrieb:
How old are your cats, and how big? That would be helpful for further assessments.

Thanks for asking! Both cats are 2 years old, medium-sized, very agile, and can jump at least 60 cm (24 inches) straight up from a standing position. Each weighs about 5 kg (11 lbs). They’re no longer kittens but still very active. Your suggestions about non-slip pads and plexiglass protection sound interesting; I’ll definitely take a closer look.

Regardless of the type of attachment used, I recommend securing the Kallax room divider to the wall with additional anchors. This more effectively prevents tipping, even if cats jump in from above. The shelf’s open compartment design offers no solid back support, which generally increases the risk of tipping.

Furthermore, the load on each compartment should be considered: opposing compartments with different weights can affect stability. Even weight distribution and placing heavier items as counterweights at the bottom enhance stability.

If possible, metal brackets at the shelf corners can also be used; these remain discreet but provide reinforcement. This makes it harder for pets to shift or tip the shelf.