10 Jun Feline Friendly Environment – Top Tips to “Catification”

It’s not hard to see why cats can quickly become a treasured family member when you get to know their fun and affectionate personalities. So it makes sense that many cat owners who visit Central Pet Care are always on the lookout for new ways to make their feline family members feel happy and comfortable in their home. If you’re one of the many cat owners out there who are looking for a way to create a cat-friendly environment in your home without sacrificing the comfort of your family or your interior design, we’ve got a few simple ideas to help you get the ball of yarn rolling.

Feline Friendly Environment – Top Tips to “Catification“

Design the Perfect Lookout

Cats love living in a vertical world and you can easily create the perfect cat hang out spot in your home by encouraging their need to climb. Use cat trees, shelving, cabinet tops and other furniture to give your cats their very own “superhighway” to explore. Cats will love climbing from surface to surface and might even pick a comfy sleeping spot up above the rest of the house. Be sure to provide plenty of entrance/exit spots, comfy pillows or blankets in certain areas and make sure there are no dead ends for cats to get trapped in.

Special Hiding Spots

Some cats prefer to spend their downtime “hiding” away from the hustle and bustle in the house. Observe your cat to see if they like to nap away in closets or under the bed and if they do, invest in a cozy place that is meant just for them. Many cat trees provide comfortable, lined boxes where cats can hide away. On the other hand, if you notice that your cat feels stressed or afraid while hiding away, be sure to block these areas off from their use and try to redirect them to a safe place to relax.

Let Them Scratch

Ask any cat lover at Central Pet Care and they’ll tell you how important it is for your cat to have a safe, non-destructive space where they can scratch their nails. Cats need safe places to scratch in the home in order to help condition their nails and mark their territory. Different cats like different scratching surfaces, so be sure to try everything from cardboard to carpet and wood. Your kitty may also prefer to scratch horizontally, vertically or on an inclined surface. Be prepared for a bit of trial and error but know that once you find the sweet spot, you don’t have to worry about your cat scratching on items their not supposed to.

Comfortable Cats are Happy Cats

At Central Pet Care, we believe that by catering to your cat’s natural needs to climb, hunt, scratch, play and rest in their own spaces you can create the perfect cat-friendly environment without sacrificing your home. With a few simple design tricks and by paying close attention to your cat’s needs, it’s easy to make sure your feline family member is happy and healthy.

Appropriate Facilities

Just like us, Cats like to have bathroom facilities close and easily accessible. You will need one more litter box than the number of cats. So if you have two lovable felines, then you will need at least four litter boxes. Additionally, if you have a multi-story home, you will need extra boxes on each floor. Having a sufficient number of litter boxes will help alleviate a multitude of feline behavior issues along with keeping your kitty stress free.

Exercise

It is important that you have toys and activities that help your cat stay physically active and healthy. Toys that they can chase or interact with on their terms are great. Also, the classic “Feather on a Stick” toys will allow you to interact with your cat while relaxing on the couch or catching up on your favorite T.V. shows. Physical exercise is just as important to our feline friends as it is to our dogs and even humans. Healthy cats are happy cats!

Another way to show them that you love them is to treat them to a SPAW DAY!