Catify Your Home

Anyone who has had a cat knows that they can get up to all sorts of mischief when left alone, so making your home a cat friendly home can help to alleviate some or all of that boredom. Yes, cats do get bored, especially when left at home alone. 

A cat is a cat is a cat, and cats naturally like to do certain things, like climb trees, hide under bushes where they can be concealed but still see everything that’s going on, they like to chase things, hunt and scratch surfaces. These are part of the cat’s natural behaviour, so having things inside your home that can substitute for these outdoor activities can help to make for a happy indoor cat, and we all know that a happy cat is a happy household.

Catifying your home does not mean that it needs to look like a junk yard either. Get creative. Add shelves and cubby holes, scratching posts and trees that will blend with the decor of your home. Save your furniture by building cat friendly add-ons. 

Scratching and pulling claws on furniture is a common complaint from humans, but it is a very natural and important part of the cat’s grooming. Before you add your scratching post, pay attention to the type of surface that your cat seems to like, and whether it prefers a vertical or horizontal surface. Include your observations into your scratching post. Ideally, have several different surfaces and at different angles. This will keep your present cat happy and accommodate any additional cats that you may add in the future.

Cats like to sit up high and survey their kingdom - they love kitchen countertops and even on top the kitchen cupboards. So maybe a cat shelf in the kitchen will help to keep him or her off the counters - they can still see what you’re doing and be part of the process. A cubby hole somewhere that the cat can hide in when it wants quiet time or just to hide from you because you’re going away is a good and easy thing to add.

The internet is full of ideas and ready made bits and pieces to accommodate every cat’s taste, including adding little outdoor spaces from windows, balconies and patios. A little input from you can help to make your cat’s life (and therefore yours) much happier.