snaps by Brigitte Schuster

swiss cat ladders

By Emma Do

13 November 2022

How does a cat return to its owner’s apartment? In Switzerland, residents have a network of outdoor ladders for their precious kitties.

Cat flaps are all well and good for homes on the ground floor. But what about for moggies who live in multi-story apartments? In lieu of a cat elevator, many buildings in the Swiss capital of Bern have installed a series of ladders, which descend from balcony to balcony, down onto the street. For owners who want to let their pets run free, these ladders provide a bit of daily adventure and exercise (as well as an easy entryway back home) for otherwise housebound cats.

If you’re curious about how it all works, check out the book Swiss Cat Ladders, in which author and photographer Brigitte Schuster documents the moggie ladders of Bern.This story was originally published on May 8th, 2019.