One of the best ways to ensure your cat’s happiness is to make sure their living space is ideal for them to live in safety, comfort, and their own style. Here are some things you can use to create the perfect environment for your whiskered family member.
1. A window with a view
Cats love to hang around and laze around windows. It is a much sought-after activity for them. It’s a great way for cats to connect with the outdoors while being safe and comfortable in their own homes. Having a cat-friendly window is a good idea. Additionally, it is even nicer to have a comfortable ledge at the window for your cat to rest on. Having some cat toys around the area, as well as a slope leading to the ledge, would make it more fun for your feline friend. The setting can be perfect if you place a reading nook or leisure area next to it. This way, you and your cat can bond longer while sharing a cosy communal space.
2. Have suitable hiding spots
You know your cat loves solitary time too, and it needs those nooks and crannies to hide and get away from the world. Because cats are observers, having a tucked-away spot in the middle of a family room is a good idea. This way, they can be around the family and have their own space. A cosy cushion or a cardboard box can both work well for this purpose.
For a more detailed spot, you can purchase a cat bed. These come in many shapes and sizes, and you would do well to see which one is your cats’ preferred type of bed. Depending on your cats’ disposition, you may want to keep the hideaway in a quiet place compared to right in the middle of the family room. It’s good to have multiple hideaways for your beloved cat!
3. Comfortable spaces
Whatever place or places you create for your cat, they should be comfortable, and it’s beneficial to think like a cat to achieve that! What do cats like and feel comfortable with? Cats enjoy exploring, hiding, climbing, and simply being their “catsy” selves. Think about your furniture being cat-friendly. Is the layout of your room “cat movement friendly”? If you are the proud owner of multiple cats, it would be a good idea to give each cat its own belongings.
You may want to decorate your cat’s spaces with pictures of cats for a finishing touch to add to that feline feel around the house.
4. Catering to the need for scratching surfaces
A must-have is scratching surfaces to facilitate your cat’s natural urge to scratch. You wouldn’t want your furniture to be subject to that behaviour from your beloved pet cat. In line with a natural environment, cats love vertical scratching posts, similar to trees. Horizontal options are also helpful to have a secondary option.
You can place scratching surfaces strategically around your home for your cat to go from one to the other and never get bored. They are excellent diversions from your upholstered furniture.
5. Litter tray placement
Cats don’t like to go to the toilet next to where they eat. So, one of the most important things to do is to keep your cats’ food bowls away from the litter tray. The litter tray should never be placed in a location that makes your cat feel uncomfortable. It will be nearly impossible to train them to use it. Moreover, places where your cat might feel stuck, or even noisy spaces, are not recommended.
Ensure your litter tray is placed away from eating spaces, secluded yet easily accessible and comfortable for your cat to use and for you to have an easy clean up.
Remember, to create the purrfect living environment for your cat, you don’t have to have a big budget. You can be creative. All you need is to think like a cat. By understanding their behavioural patterns, tendencies, preferences, and needs for bonding and solitary time and many such nuances, you can create the best living space for your feline companion.
At The Cat Vet, we carry a wide variety of cat supplies and accessories you may need at home. You can also speak with one of our staff members to receive advice and suggestions on what you may add to your home to create a more cat-friendly environment. Please contact us at 800CATVET to receive additional information.
