The step height here is 11cm, and that number is the reason to choose these. Many pet stairs are built to reach bed height in as few steps as possible, which leaves risers so tall that a stiff old cat is effectively jumping three times instead of once. Shallow, frequent steps are far kinder to a painful hip than a steep climb, even if it means the stairs only reach 34cm.

The frame is E1-certified particle board, rated to 50kg, so a large dog can use it without the structure moving underfoot — and stability is what decides whether a nervous animal trusts it a second time. Treads are wrapped in 400g/m² plush, dense enough to give claws purchase where bare board would be slippery. Sisal rope on the posts turns it into a scratching option as well, which keeps a cat's attention on the stairs rather than the sofa arm.

• Overall 45cm long x 35cm wide x 34cm high
• Three steps with a gentle 11cm rise each
• E1-certified particle board with 400g/m² plush
• Sisal rope scratching posts built in
• Supports up to 50kg; 5.4kg net weight
• Suitable indoors or out

Check the height you actually need. At 34cm these reach a sofa seat, a low bed, a car boot or a window sill — not a high divan. If you need bed height, take the four-step version at 59–60cm instead. Buying stairs that stop short of the target is the most common mistake here.

Who it's for: Ageing cats and small dogs with joint pain, dachshunds and other long-backed breeds, and pets recovering from surgery who need shallow stages rather than a climb.