A home designed for cats is more like patient themed park for your cats, but with no roller coasters or cotton candy.
Rather, imagine warm spots, high climbing cat scratchers, and a few other items that can engage those paws that otherwise seem so lazy.
From the way you’ve watched your cat sprint across the house as if its the Indy 500, there is no doubt that these animals need some room to explore their inner tigers. Let us get into the main idea, which is turning your home into a cat’s heaven!
Know the Needs of Your Cat
To start with, what are the basic requirements of your beloved cat? It’s not all about food (although that’s a big factor).
When domesticated, these little felines are a lot more complicated than it may seem and they even have complex dynamics that go beyond understanding why they do such strange behavior as sending your drink flying off the table. But knowing these bases is the first step into making their little heads happy.
Let’s talk about space in relation to cats. They are very territorial, it’s part of their nature. They like to have their own areas where they feel protected.
This means giving them different places in your house where they can go o when things get too hectic – like when the vacuum cleaner gets turned on! Blankets in quiet corners and pillows high upon the shelves can turn into their secret places.
On the other hand, there’s also stimulation to consider! Lack of brain stimulation can result in destructive behavior (don’t ask, but I’ve seen a couch turn to shreds).
Advanced toys or simply toys that employ a bit of thinking can keep your pet entertained and on toes. Have you seen a cat playing? It’s almost similar to having an Olympic sportsperson!! It’s so fluid but at the same time, it is really funny to watch.
If you can even identify what kind of things your cat is interested in, then you are already halfway in enhancing the quality of life for your cat.
Creating Vertical Space
On the subject of heights, let’s discuss about vertical spaces! We all know that cats are natural climbers, and if left to their own devices, they would’ve most probably climbed Mount Everest, just to take a nap at its peak.
So why not give your cats a chance to climb more often by placing shelves or cat trees around your house?
Mounting the shelves along the walls gives the cats a perfect chance to grab a bird’s eye view and a vantage point to watch their desired targets (a.k.a., that suspicious dust bunny peeking from under the sofa) which is most probably the target of their pouncing.
Besides, these vertical areas also give them secure places away from playful children or nosy dogs.
Also, you may want to buy some multi-level cat trees with ramps and hiding places. Like any cat owner knows, there are so many ways other than working out a cat can be just as effective.
Most of the time they don’t even need to work out, they can just sleep after being the cutest little things ever.
Interestingly, it is more than conventional wisdom, that adding vertical elements does not only help cats, it also helps us humans! They add character and class while keeping our pets entertained.
Scratching Posts: The Overlooked Saviors
So now let’s move on to one of the most important factors in a cat-friendly household: scratching posts! Others might question why these tall pieces of cardboard-covered furniture warrant such attention.
Well, think about it: cats need to scratch – it is how they keep their nails trimmed and their scent markings up. Otherwise, I fear that our dear couches will have to bear the consequences!
On the bright side, picking the right scratching post certainly helps. For example, keeping a strong post that won’t collapse during vigorous scratching sessions (ah, the life of cat owners, having to scrub the floor clean after a fallen scratching tower).
Additionally, it is good to have a bit of variety! Some cats scratch surfaces that are predominantly horizontal; some scratch the vertical ones. Having both may really help them out.
The location is also important; For example, when placing a scratching post, try to attach the post to places where your cat likes to lounge around or a spot that contains a chair they’ve been able to scratch in beforehand.
That way, they will not direct their vision towards your favorite chair with the intention of scratching it, but instead be looking at the scratching forks.
So remind yourself: spend time when searching for scratching options, as protecting your furniture today can prevent unnecessary costs in the future.
The Placement of Cat Litter Box is Crucial
However, let us address the factors we’ve missed in less detail which is the location of the cat litter box: the unsung genius behind the calm households with cats.
Let’s agree nobody wants to find an unpleasant smell of feces infested in cells somewhere waiting for action, or a pair of smug eyes under a bed looking back at you. To encourage a cat to use a place designated as a toilet, it requires a stable combination of carefully designed inhibition and cleanliness. Yes.
If cats can, they prefer to be able to see where they’re going without having to encounter a lot of foot traffic, but they still want to be able to jump easily towards their litter box the next time nature calls (You wouldn’t want an animal construction robots just to take a deuce!).
More often than not, a little space in the corner of a laundry room or inside a linen closet will do the job, however avoid placing boxes near food dishes for hygiene purposes.
And, I can’t help but mention this: it is crucial to maintain hygiene standards. Cats appreciate clean cats’ habits, and a clean texture helps reduce the smell. Besides, Would you really want to have a dump in a stinky toilet, I wouldn’t.
To summarize the point, which we have restated: I do believe that the provision of comfortable conditions under which our furry friends are cared for is a considerable benefit to all participants of interactions.
Suggested Resources:
The Ultimate Guide to Cat Care
https://www.catcare.com/ultimate-guide-to-cat-care
How To Make Your Home More Cat-Friendly
https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/how-make-your-home-more-cat-friendly
Tips For Choosing The Right Cat Tree
https://www.petmd.com/cat/general-health/tips-choosing-right-cat-tree