Cats make great pets, but they can be high maintenance at times. The way you care for them will be very different from the way you care for other pets, which is why you have to use different techniques to maintain your cat’s happiness and contentment.
This article will explore different cat care methods and cat products to ensure your cat remains healthy and happy when they live indoors.
Improve the Indoor Environment
Some cats may have gotten used to living outdoors, so living indoors with you (especially if you live in an apartment) can be a challenging transition for them. This is why it’s important to enhance the indoors to make them feel safe and at home inside.
There are several ways you can do so. First of all, consider how you can enlarge the area. Your cat may have gotten used to a large space, so the more they can roam about in your place, the better.
If your space is limited, you can purchase perches or toys that your cats can use to climb around. This also prevents them from getting bored as easily and will appeal to their love of heights.
Your cats may love being exposed to the sunlight, so make sure you give them a lot of opportunities to experience the sun from inside. This can include having perches or shelves that they can climb near the window or allowing a lot of natural light into your place.
To provide fresh air, you can leave the windows open when the weather is accommodating. In this case, however, you have to make sure that your window is still secure so that your cat won’t fall or jump and hurt themselves.
Adding some greens into the space will also improve their ability to transition from living outdoors to living with you.
Take Them Out on Walks
Do you live near a park, or is your neighborhood accommodating to taking your cat on a walk every now and then? If so, definitely make a habit out of encouraging them to go outside. Make sure that the places you visit will not have too many dogs or will not involve distressing surroundings.
You will have to use a harness and a leash to take them out on safe walks, but this may be a difficult thing for your cat to get used to. It will take a lot of patience and training to eventually make a routine out of going on walks, but it’s worth the effort.
Some cats can have a lot of energy, so tiring them out is a good way to make sure they are enjoying their time. Otherwise, they may feel cooped up and start getting bored.
Provide Opportunities for Bird Viewing
Cats like to watch birds go by! More than that, even domesticated cats enjoy killing birds or small animals, because they are their natural prey. You can make sure you provide this attraction by having a bird viewing station for them.
You can achieve this by installing a perch by the window, and having a bird feeder right outside. This will ensure that your cat can spend a lot of time watching the wildlife without causing them any harm.
Give Your Cats a Space to Scratch
Your cats will have a natural desire to stretch their claws or scratch surfaces. Cats scratch for plenty of important reasons. This includes removing the dead outer layer of their claws, marking their territory, and simply to stretch.
To accommodate this need, you will have to give your cats a space to scratch. This can involve you purchasing a scratching post for them to use. At the same time, you don’t want them to damage your furniture, so you will have to train them to only scratch the post.
Provide Cat Toys
Who doesn’t love a cute, furry toy? Cats in general highly enjoy having toys as well, which is why you should consider providing a variety of them for your cat’s pleasure. They will always make great cat lover gifts, too!
There are a range of cat toys you can purchase, with some famous ones being the laser pointer, stuffed dolls, and prey toys. If you notice that your cat is getting bored with their toys, go ahead and purchase another (but don’t go overboard!). This is a great way to constantly keep them occupied and excited.
It also provides an opportunity for your cat to exercise more, which will prevent the possibility of more rebellious behaviors or of them becoming obese.
Make Your Cats Work for Food
Following the last point, obesity is a serious issue for felines. To keep your cat healthy, come up with a fun way for your cats to work for food instead of just providing them with a meal every few hours.
You can do this by using food toys or by hiding the cat’s food, so that they will have to hunt around to find their meal. Working for food can keep your cat engaged and excited while also ensuring they get enough physical exercise.
Make Sure to Have Play Time Often
While your schedule may not be very accommodating, cats will feel a lot happier if their owners spend time playing with them. As much as possible, try to schedule some play time with them every day. You can take out 15 to 30 minutes of your day just to engage with them.
As soon as they get tired, pack up their toys so that they don’t get injured by over-exerting themselves. When you don’t have time, you can leave their toys out for them to exercise alone.
Not only is having play time great for your cats, but it also gives you a space to relax and destress.
Consider Adopting Another Cat
While owning one cat can already seem like a handful, it’s important to note that cats are happiest when they come in pairs. They need the company and the playmate to ensure they don’t get bored.
At the same time, it’s important to do what you can to ensure that both cats get along well. Otherwise, your effort would backfire and cause your cat more stress than contentment.
If you are not open to adopting another cat, you can try to visit parks more often where there are other cats for them to play with.
Stock Up on Cat Medications
Your cat may face a whole range of health issues throughout their time with you, and having preventative medicines is much better than having to wait for something bad to happen.
Some of the most important treatments include having medication that prevents fleas, ticks, mites or heartworms for your cats. Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how strict your rules are about where your cat can go – they can still experience these uncomfortable occurrences.
Keeping your cat parasite-free will enhance cat happiness and overall health!
When in Doubt, Visit the Vet
Having a pet means that sometimes, communication of illnesses or pain is very difficult. Your cat may not be exhibiting much symptoms but may be suffering from something serious. The rule of thumb is that whenever you are in a position of doubt, you should visit or call the vet.
It’s always better to be safe than sorry, and this applies for a whole range of situations.
For example, what should you do when your cat eats some plastic wrapping? What happens if another animal bites them?
The best way to be certain that your cat is doing well is to consult medical professionals. They will be able to provide advice and medications that will suit your pet, and will help you learn to understand your cats better in the future.
It’s also important to make sure your cat is up to date with their vaccinations. This will prevent the possibility that your cat will suddenly get seriously ill.
How to Enhance Your Cat’s Happiness at Home
Having cats as pets can be highly rewarding and challenging. They operate differently from other pets and therefore will need different living conditions to truly feel comfortable somewhere.
To enhance your cat’s happiness, you will need to ensure they have enough space, toys and wildlife attraction to keep themselves engaged. Cats are energetic creatures, so make sure to spend time to play with them!
At the same time, you will have to maintain their health by preventing obesity, stocking up on preventative medication, and by visiting the vet.
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