While the popular saying might be “happy wife, happy life,” those who use it probably haven’t lived with an unhappy cat. When cats are unhappy in their environment, they can engage in all kinds of unwanted behaviors, from scratching the furniture to urinating outside of the litter box.
The reason cats can be so temperamental is because they are very highly territorial, so their environment means everything to them. They also happen to be very opinionated pets, and this means that despite all your best efforts to make your cat happy, there’s always the chance that she will find something she doesn’t particularly like.
But a big part of the problem actually starts with us, the cat’s parents. Out in the wild, cats live life by making their own decisions, but when they’re kept as pets, we take over just about all their decision making processes. We decide where our cats will go to the bathroom because we place the litter box. We decide what and when our cats eat, what toys they play with, which scratching posts they’ll use, and more, and a lot of times, we make these decisions based on our human considerations and not the cat’s.
So, if you want to learn how to make your home cat friendly, the good news is that it really isn’t that hard. Here are some things you should start considering if you want to live a happy life with a happy cat.
#1: Create a Safe Home For Your Cat
Keeping your cat safe is probably your number one job as a pet parent. And in any standard American home there can be dozens of things that can potentially harm your cat, from dangerous chemicals, prescription medications, and toxic plants to extension cords, appliances, and more. As a result, before you bring your cat home, you should do a thorough assessment of your home to make sure that your cat won’t be able to get into anything she shouldn’t.
#2: Provide High Resting Places
Cats are climbers by nature, and they love nothing more than resting in high places where they can keep an eye on what’s happening below them. As a result, you will want to provide your cat with a range of different resting places, including some that are higher up off the floor. Some ideas can include:
- A tall, multi-level cat tree or scratching post
- Freestanding cupboards, bookshelves, or wardrobes
- Sturdy wall shelves installed to serve as a “cat highway”
A high resting space is especially important if you have other pets, like a dog, because the high resting place will allow your cat to get away from the drama and take a nap in safety.
#3: Create Private Hideaways
Unlike dogs, cats can occasionally be anti-social pets that prefer staying away from the hustle and bustle. Thus, providing your cat with secret hideaways will help them spend their alone time in a safe space. You can make a space under the bed, inside cupboards or wardrobes, or even behind the sofa. When your cat is in her private hideaway, you shouldn’t disturb her (unless you have reason to believe that she may be hiding due to being injured or feeling unwell).
#4: The Trial and Error of Litter Trays
Cats can be extremely particular about their litter preferences. Some cats will refuse to use clumping litter while others may not like clay litter. Some cats are even choosy about the brand of litter because some brands are just too highly scented for their sensitive noses.
The same also applies to the litter box itself. Some cats will refuse to use a box with a covering, while others will appreciate the privacy. In short, you should be prepared to go through a series of trial and errors to find the litter and box that your cat will find acceptable to use.
But while it might take a few tries to find the perfect litter, where you place the litter box should be a much easier decision. Ideally, the litter box should be placed in a discreet corner, away from your cat’s food and water. It should also not be placed near a full-length window or a busy thoroughfare.
Once you get your litter and box selected and the proper place prepared, you will want to make sure you remove any feces and urine from the box on a daily basis and do a complete litter change once per week. Cats are extremely sensitive to using dirty litter, so if you want to keep your cat happy, keeping the litter clean is a must.
#5: Tips for Food, Water, & Sleep
When it comes to providing your cat food and water, it can be easy to think that simply placing some food and water in a couple of bowls will suffice, but if you really want your cat to be happy, then you should give this a little more thought. For starters, cats can be particular about the type of bowls they eat and drink out of.
Plastic bowls can scratch easily and some can even give off odors that your cat might not like, especially if the bowls were previously used to store food. Another option is stainless steel bowls, which are popular because they are easy to clean, but if your cat wears a collar with or without a bell attached, it could make a noise when it touches the metal bowl. In most cases, the best solution is to use either a ceramic or glass bowl. If your cat is a breed that has a flat face, like a Persian, then a shallow bowl is recommended.
It’s also important to think about how cats eat and drink in the wild. Cats hunt for their food and search for water, so by putting her food and water next to each other, you could dispel her from eating or drinking. Instead, you should place her water bowl in another part of the home, so she can enjoy searching for it. If you have more than one cat, then you should have one water source per cat plus one extra.
Cats spend a lot of their daytime hours sleeping, so it’s vital to provide your cat with a variety of suitable sleeping spots. Place a couple beds throughout the home in spots that are sunny, warm, and quiet. Make sure the beds are washable, but don’t wash them too frequently unless they are soiled, as cats will naturally gravitate to certain areas by scent.
Additional Tips to Make Your Home Cat-Friendly
Along with the tips listed above, there are a handful of other things you can do to help make your home as cat-friendly as possible. These can include:
- Using catnip and catnip infused toys to stimulate her senses
- Providing her with new toys, cardboard boxes, paper bags, and other novel items at random times to encourage exploration and stimulate her curiosity
- Leaving the blinds open, so she can bask in the sun and watch the outside world
- Opening windows to let fresh air in, so your cat can enjoy a wider variety of scents
- Providing her with toys with fur or that move to satisfy her predatory nature
While this might seem like a lot of work to make your home more accommodating to your cat, the truth is that it will be well worth it. After all, you want to give your cat the best life possible, so she can reward you back with years and years of love and companionship. To satisfy all your cat’s needs, just remember, before you make a decision on your cat’s behalf, stop for a minute and think, “would I like this if I were a cat?”