5​ ​Steps​ ​to​ ​Creating​ ​a​ ​Cat-Friendly​ ​Home

 

1.​ ​Expand​ ​your​ ​cat’s​ ​world:​ ​Create​ ​vertical​ ​space

 

The​ ​creation​ ​of​ ​vertical​ ​space​ ​is​ ​life-changing​ ​for​ ​cats.​  ​It​ ​makes​ ​their​ ​world​ ​larger.​ ​ It​ ​makes​ ​it​ ​easier​ ​for​ ​cats in​ ​a​ ​multi-cat​ ​household​ ​to​ ​get​ ​along,​ ​as​ ​it​ ​helps​ ​create​ ​enough​ ​space /​ ​assets​ ​to​ ​go​ ​around.​ ​ It​ ​lets​ ​them survey​ ​their​ ​world​ ​from​ ​a​ ​place​ ​where​ ​they​ ​feel​ ​confident,​ ​up​ ​high.​ ​ It​ ​also​ ​encourages​ ​exercise,​ ​which​ ​is lacking​ ​for​ ​many​ ​cats,​ ​by​ ​giving​ ​them​ ​a​ ​reason​ ​to​ ​jump.​ ​ There​ ​are​ ​attractive​ ​ways​ ​to​ ​create​ ​vertical​ ​space for​ ​your​ ​cats:​ ​gorgeous​ ​cat​ ​trees,​ ​cat​ ​shelves,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​connection​ ​of​ ​these​ ​vertical​ ​spaces​ ​to​ ​create​ ​“cat superhighways.”

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2.​ ​Give​ ​your​ ​cat​ ​a​ ​way​ ​to​ ​“hide”​ ​in​ ​plain​ ​sight

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Block​ ​off​ ​hiding​ ​spots​ ​that​ ​are​ ​out​ ​of​ ​the​ ​way​ ​(like​ ​under​ ​beds​ ​and​ ​furniture),​ ​and​ ​create​ ​hiding​ ​spots​ ​in​ ​the middle​ ​of​ ​the​ ​action.​ ​ Provide​ ​a​ ​spot​ ​for​ ​your​ ​cat​ ​to​ ​disappear​ ​in​ ​plain​ ​sight,​ ​where​ ​they​ ​can​ ​still​ ​be​ ​a​ ​part​ ​of family​ ​life.​  ​If​ ​your​ ​cat​ ​is​ ​able​ ​to​ ​“hide”​ ​by​ ​crawling​ ​into​ ​an​ ​igloo /​ ​cave /​ ​hidey​ ​bed​ ​in​ ​the​ ​living​ ​room,​ ​as opposed​ ​to​ ​retreating​ ​to​ ​a​ ​spot​ ​under​ ​the​ ​bed,​ ​you’ll​ ​be​ ​helping​ ​a​ ​nervous​ ​or​ ​scared​ ​cat​ ​build​ ​confidence​ ​as well​ ​as​ ​integrate​ ​with​ ​the​ ​family.

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3.​ ​Offer​ ​a​ ​room​ ​with​ ​a​ ​view

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Cats​ ​love​ ​to​ ​look​ ​out​ ​windows.​ ​ Create​ ​a​ ​lookout​ ​point​ ​for​ ​your​ ​cat​ ​with​ ​a​ ​window​ ​perch,​ ​cat​ ​tree,​ ​or​ ​an appropriately​ ​situated​ ​shelf​ ​or​ ​bookcase.​ ​ But​ ​be​ ​aware​ ​that​ ​the​ ​presence​ ​of​ ​neighborhood​ ​cats​ ​can​ ​upset some​ ​indoor​ ​cats.​  ​If​ ​there​ ​are​ ​outdoor​ ​cats​ ​in​ ​plain​ ​sight,​ ​you​ ​will​ ​want​ ​to​ ​create​ ​“Cat​ ​TV”​ ​in​ ​another​ ​window or​ ​in​ ​other​ ​ways,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​with​ ​fish​ ​tanks​ ​or​ ​videos​ ​of​ ​prey​ ​animals,​ ​like​ ​mice​ ​and​ ​birds.

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4.​ ​The​ ​clean​ ​multi-bathroom​ ​home

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The​ ​“plus​ ​one”​ ​rule.​ ​ When​ ​determining​ ​how​ ​many​ ​litter​ ​boxes​ ​you​ ​need,​ ​count​ ​the​ ​number of​ ​cats​ ​you​ ​have,​ ​and​ ​add​ ​one;​ ​if​ ​you​ ​have​ ​two​ ​cats,​ ​you’ll​ ​want​ ​three​ ​litter​ ​boxes,​ ​situated​ ​in​ ​locations​ ​with social​ ​significance​ ​to​ ​your​ ​cats.​ ​ Unfortunately,​ ​your​ ​cats​ ​would​ ​like​ ​their​ ​litter​ ​boxes​ ​placed​ ​where​ ​you spend​ ​most​ ​of​ ​your​ ​time.​ ​ We​ ​understand​ ​that​ ​you​ ​might​ ​not​ ​want​ ​a​ ​litter​ ​box​ ​in​ ​your​ ​living​ ​room,​ ​but perhaps​ ​you​ ​can​ ​compromise:​ ​If​ ​your​ ​cats​ ​spend​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​time​ ​by​ ​certain​ ​windows​ ​or​ ​doors,​ ​place​ ​the​ ​litter boxes​ ​in​ ​these​ ​spots,​ ​or​ ​in​ ​the​ ​bathroom​ ​that​ ​you​ ​use.​  ​Be​ ​sure​ ​to​ ​scoop​ ​that​ ​litter​ ​twice​ ​a​ ​day​ ​to prevent​ ​litter​ ​box​ ​avoidance!

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5.​ ​Place​ ​scratching​ ​posts​ ​where​ ​your​ ​cat​ ​wants​ ​them

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There​ ​are​ ​several​ ​reasons​ ​your​ ​cat​ ​may​ ​choose​ ​the​ ​sofa​ ​or​ ​your​ ​bedroom​ ​carpet​ ​for​ ​scratching.​ ​ They​ ​are important​ ​locations​ ​to​ ​your​ ​cat,​ ​and​ ​mark​ ​key​ ​territory.​ ​ You​ ​spend​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​time​ ​in​ ​these​ ​two​ ​locations,​ ​and your​ ​cat​ ​wants​ ​to​ ​leave​ ​their​ ​mark​ ​to​ ​indicate​ ​their​ ​co-ownership.​  ​Instead​ ​of​ ​tucking​ ​away​ ​scratching​ ​posts where​ ​you’d​ ​like​ ​them,​ ​place​ ​them​ ​in​ ​these​ ​spots​ ​(or​ ​wherever​ ​else​ ​your​ ​cat​ ​seems​ ​to​ ​want​ ​to​ ​scratch).  Make​ ​sure​ ​the​ ​scratching​ ​posts​ ​you​ ​choose​ ​are​ ​sturdy,​ ​and​ ​provide​ ​a​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​scratching​ ​positions​ ​- horizontal,​ ​vertical,​ ​and​ ​inclined,​ ​and​ ​a​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​materials​ ​-​ ​sisal​ ​and​ ​cardboard.​ ​ Cats​ ​aren’t​ ​just​ ​making their​ ​mark​ ​when​ ​scratching,​ ​but​ ​are​ ​also​ ​stretching​ ​their​ ​back​ ​muscles​ ​and​ ​removing​ ​the​ ​outer​ ​nail​ ​sheath.

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How​ ​to​ ​be​ ​the​ ​Best​ ​Cat​ ​Parent​ ​You​ ​Can​ ​Be

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1.​ ​Feed​ ​a​ ​species-appropriate​ ​diet

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Nutrition​ ​is​ ​the​ ​foundation​ ​for​ ​good​ ​health​ ​for​ ​cats​ ​and​ ​humans.​ ​ Cats​ ​are​ ​obligate​ ​carnivores,​ ​and​ ​they​ ​need meat​ ​to​ ​thrive.​  ​A​ ​raw​ ​or​ ​grain-free​ ​canned​ ​diet​ ​is​ ​best.​ ​ Your​ ​cats​ ​will​ ​thank​ ​you​ ​for​ ​it.

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2.​ ​Regular​ ​veterinary​ ​check-ups

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The​ ​American​ ​Association​ ​of​ ​Feline​ ​Practitioners​ ​recommends​ ​a​ ​minimum​ ​of​ ​annual​ ​wellness​ ​examinations for​ ​all​ ​cats.​ ​ Semi-annual​ ​wellness​ ​exams​ ​may​ ​be​ ​indicated​ ​for​ ​older​ ​cats​ ​and​ ​cats​ ​with​ ​recurring​ ​health problems.​ ​ Changes​ ​in​ ​health​ ​status​ ​may​ ​occur​ ​in​ ​a​ ​short​ ​period​ ​of​ ​time,​ ​and​ ​by​ ​the​ ​time​ ​cats​ ​show symptoms,​ ​a​ ​disease​ ​may​ ​already​ ​be​ ​progressed​ ​to​ ​a​ ​stage​ ​where​ ​treatment​ ​will​ ​be​ ​more​ ​complicated​ ​and more​ ​expensive.

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3.​ ​Enrich​ ​your​ ​cat’s​ ​environment

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At​ ​their​ ​core,​ ​cats​ ​are​ ​still​ ​wild​ ​animals,​ ​and​ ​while​ ​we’ve​ ​invited​ ​them​ ​into​ ​our​ ​homes​ ​to​ ​share​ ​our​ ​lives,​ ​we can’t​ ​expect​ ​them​ ​to​ ​completely​ ​give​ ​up​ ​all​ ​their​ ​instincts.​  ​We​ ​have​ ​to​ ​look​ ​at​ ​our​ ​living​ ​space​ ​from​ ​the​ ​cat’s point​ ​of​ ​view​ ​and​ ​provide​ ​an​ ​environment​ ​that​ ​keeps​ ​them​ ​stimulated.​ ​ When​ ​cats’​ ​needs​ ​are​ ​not​ ​met,​ ​they will​ ​be​ ​stressed,​ ​and​ ​this​ ​stress​ ​will​ ​often​ ​demonstrate​ ​itself​ ​in​ ​behavior​ ​issues​ ​such​ ​as​ ​inappropriate elimination,​ ​scratching,​ ​and​ ​aggression​ ​toward​ ​other​ ​cats​ ​and​ ​even​ ​the​ ​humans​ ​in​ ​the​ ​household.  Accommodating​ ​cats’​ ​needs​ ​is​ ​critical​ ​to​ ​ensuring​ ​that​ ​they​ ​are​ ​happy​ ​and​ ​healthy.

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4.​ ​Keep​ ​your​ ​cat’s​ ​teeth​ ​healthy

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Dental​ ​disease​ ​is​ ​the​ ​most​ ​frequently​ ​diagnosed​ ​health​ ​problem​ ​for​ ​cats,​ ​and,​ ​if​ ​left​ ​untreated,​ ​can​ ​lead​ ​to serious​ ​health​ ​problems​ ​including​ ​heart,​ ​kidney​ ​and​ ​liver​ ​disease.​ ​ The​ ​best​ ​way​ ​to​ ​prevent​ ​dental​ ​disease​ ​is through​ ​brushing​ ​your​ ​cat’s​ ​teeth,​ ​and​ ​it’s​ ​not​ ​as​ ​hard​ ​as​ ​you​ ​may​ ​think​ ​to​ ​get​ ​a​ ​cat​ ​used​ ​to​ ​regular brushing.

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5.​ ​Consider​ ​getting​ ​pet​ ​insurance

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Could​ ​you​ ​easily​ ​afford​ ​to​ ​pay​ ​$1000​ ​to​ ​$3000​ ​if​ ​your​ ​cat​ ​had​ ​a​ ​sudden​ ​medical​ ​emergency?​  ​Could​ ​you cover​ ​the​ ​cost​ ​of​ ​a​ ​prolonged​ ​illness,​ ​which​ ​can​ ​easily​ ​run​ ​into​ ​several​ ​thousand​ ​dollars?​  ​Can​ ​you​ ​easily cover​ ​your​ ​cat’s​ ​annual​ ​or​ ​bi-annual​ ​exam,​ ​preventive​ ​lab​ ​work,​ ​and​ ​dental​ ​cleaning?​ ​ If​ ​you’re​ ​uncertain, please​ ​consider​ ​pet​ ​insurance.

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6.​ ​Learn​ ​as​ ​much​ ​as​ ​you​ ​can​ ​about​ ​cat​ ​health

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The​ ​more​ ​you​ ​know​ ​about​ ​feline​ ​health,​ ​the​ ​better​ ​off​ ​your​ ​cat​ ​will​ ​be.​ ​ Your​ ​cat’s​ ​veterinarian​ ​is​ ​your​ ​most important​ ​source​ ​of​ ​health​ ​information!