By Julie Zeilinger
Huy Phan / Pexels
There’s lots to do earlier than adopting a cat, from shopping for the required provides to prepping to introduce your cat to your house or any resident pets. However maybe some of the necessary is to cat-proof your home.
Cats require various things than different pets would possibly to really feel safe and get the psychological and bodily stimulation they want. For instance, whereas canine and cats each want each day train, canine are sometimes walked by their pet mother and father, whereas cats usually tend to have playtime indoors.
So when making your house extra cat-friendly, you’ll must spend money on loads of cat bushes or cabinets to cater to their climbing instincts, create hiding spots, and refill on toys, scratch posts, and puzzles. To create a protected and comfy surroundings to your cat, take into account the solutions under.
Natalia Tretiakova / Shutterstock
Present loads of vertical house
Cats love getting excessive above the bottom — it makes them really feel protected and permits them to look at their surroundings — so take into account providing your cat a vertical house, akin to a cat tree. In fact, you’ll need to create a cat-safe house, so for those who enable your cat to perch on cabinets or different excessive areas in your house, make sure that the construction is secure sufficient to carry your cat and never close to something that might trigger them hurt (akin to electrical wires or different unsteady or breakable objects).
shchus / AdobeStock
Create hiding locations to your cat
On your cat to really feel protected, they could need to have a spot they will retreat to, particularly in the event that they really feel overwhelmed or are going through a difficult scenario. To create hiding locations to your cat, search for the quietest areas in your house and create an area that’s ideally the fitting dimension for them and enclosed. You can too purchase a cat tunnel or make an enclosure your self (cats love cardboard packing containers) — simply make sure that the house isn’t one your cat might get unintentionally caught in.
Chalabala / Adobe Inventory
Supply a number of meals and water bowls
Particularly for those who stay in a home with a number of cats, it’s necessary to have a number of meals and water bowls in your house — your cat ought to really feel that they’ve protected, constant entry to those important sources. Analysis additionally exhibits that cats drink extra if their water is positioned removed from their meals, so make sure that meals and water bowls are positioned in numerous rooms if doable.
Meals and water bowls ought to be stored in the identical (ideally quiet) areas, and in the event that they have to be moved, they need to be moved step by step. The identical goes for the litter field and beds — consistency and stability of their most necessary sources are essential for cats’ wellbeing.
New Africa / Shutterstock
Maintain your house clear and freed from hazards
The saying “curiosity killed the cat” didn’t come out of skinny air — cats are recognized for his or her curiosity, and it’s a pet dad or mum’s job to ensure that curiosity doesn’t result in hazard. Cowl electrical cords, cables, and cellphone chargers so your cat isn’t tempted to chew them, and ensure any crops out within the open are cat-friendly. Be sure you preserve cabinets, particularly any containing cleansing provides, safe, and ensure your home windows are securely closed as effectively.
Cats are additionally very delicate to scent, so whereas holding your house clear is necessary, it’s finest to keep away from sturdy chemical smells (unscented cleansing resolution is finest).
Alicia Magnuson Images / Stocksy
Play along with your cat commonly
Enrichment is essential to holding your cat completely satisfied and wholesome. Each cat is totally different, however most like to play — whether or not with you, with one other cat, with toys, or a mix of all the above. There are countless cat toys on the market, and specialists suggest utilizing them to play along with your cat for at the very least ten to fifteen minutes every single day.
When enjoying along with your cat, strive to not be too aggressive — your cat must also really feel just like the hunter in your play. On that notice, it’s necessary to offer your cat the chance to catch no matter you’re enjoying with to allow them to fulfill their prey instincts.
Even if you’re unable to play, you possibly can present your cat enrichment by creating an indoor play space full of interactive cat toys and puzzles, ripple rugs, and past.
How do I cat-proof my residence to stop accidents?
To cat-proof your home to stop accidents, you’ll need to preserve breakable objects out of attain and anchor unsteady furnishings that might probably fall in case your cat climbs on it. You may additionally need to spend money on a scratch publish so your cat doesn’t scratch your furnishings.
FAQ (Folks Additionally Ask):
What sort of furnishings is cat-friendly?
Cat-friendly furnishings is made out of fabric cats can’t simply scratch, akin to microfiber. Unsteady furnishings that might fall if a cat climbs on it ought to be anchored.
How can I present psychological stimulation for my cat?
You possibly can present your cat with psychological stimulation via play, particularly via interactive cat toys and puzzles.
What sort of bedding and sleeping spots do cats want?
Cats love mushy, heat supplies, akin to blankets and pillows. They could want to sleep in a cat mattress or on elevated surfaces.
References
2022 ISFM/AAFP Cat Pleasant Veterinary Surroundings Tips
Methods to design your house in a beautiful means to your furry good friend
Methods to create a cat-friendly residence
Julie Zeilinger is a NYC-based author and editor whose writing has been revealed in Marie Claire, Vox, HuffPost, Forbes, and different publications. She can also be the writer of two books: School 101: A Woman’s Information to Freshman Yr (2014) and A Little F’d Up: Why Feminism Is Not a Soiled Phrase (2012). She is the mother to Baloo, a two-year-old Bichpoo and foster mother to canine through Badass Animal Rescue.
