Cat compulsively jumping

by Maggie

My cat often spontaneously jumps up a wooden beam that's between our patio windows. He does this at random times, and always up this particular beam. He gets a running start, and leaps up the beam, gripping it with his legs, and falls back to the floor.

It's probably hard for you to picture this, but bear with me. As a clearer description, I guess I would liken it to a person jumping up a fireman pole and sliding back down.

There are numerous scratches on the beam from his strange habit.

I'm pretty puzzled as to why he does this.. I wonder if it's a nervous compulsion, or if he just does it for fun, out of boredom.

Does anyone else have a cat who does something similar? If you have any ideas on why he does this, I'd like to hear them!