4 Tips to Make Your Feline Friend Feel Right at Home
When it comes to our feline companions, we want them to be their most playful and vivacious selves. Since cats are territorial creatures by nature, much of their mood is determined by their environment and the relationship with their pet parents.
An unhappy environment is going to lead to one unhappy kitty.
So, how do we as pet parents make our homes welcoming and stimulating for our four-legged feline friends? Do we buy them a bunch of toys and let them go nuts?
Not exactly. Cats are complex creatures that have a variety of needs. They’re not unlike humans in that regard.
To ensure that you’re covering all the bases, here are the top four tips to follow to ensure your place is cat friendly.
#1 – Clutter & Camouflage
Cats intrinsically like to hide and prefer spaces that offer plenty of cover. They do well in homes that have clutter with several nooks and crannies for them to find shelter in. Homes with plenty of houseplants, small pieces of furniture, cat condos, and other items that allow them to blend into their environment are a huge plus.
The thing you want to avoid is giving a cat big empty rooms with little to nothing going on in terms of cover. They will feel exposed and anxious.
#2 – Food & Water
Although it may seem like a good idea to put your cat’s food and water in the same location for the sake of convenience, this actually goes against their natural instincts. Since cats search for food and water on separate occasions, having these two items next to each other may serve as a deterrent to some of them.
Place the food and water bowls separately from each other in different parts of your home. This is a rewarding experience for your cat because they will have to hunt down food and water sources when they’re hungry or thirsty.
Additionally, when it comes to serving water to your cat, try to do so in a bowl that is wide enough to where their whiskers won’t touch the sides. Cats also like having the water bowl full to the brim because it means they can lap at it without putting their head into the bowl.
Trust us, they’re not being divas about it. This is just how they’re wired.
#3 – A Room with a View
If you’ve been around cats for any length of time, then you already know they love a high perch. It’s like that scene out of The Lion King; a cat wants to be able to survey their kingdom. That’s why we recommend implementing at least a couple high posts and perches into your interior design. Your feline will appreciate the climb not to mention the wonderful view.
#4 – Litter Trays
Just like us humans, cats prefer to have a little privacy when they’re doing their business. This means that the placement of their litter tray should be strategic in nature. Make sure to position the tray in a place that is discreet, low traffic, and quiet. Bathroom time is when a cat feels most vulnerable, so you’ll want to do your best to ensure that they feel safe while doing it.
Some other best practices to keep in mind about litter trays:
- Make sure the tray is never placed close to food or water
- Always provide at least one tray per cat
- Remove feces and urine-soaked litter once per day
- Deep clean the litter tray at least once per week
Caring About Your Cat Means Making Sure They’re Covered
Introducing your cat to a new environment means that there will be accidents. There will be the occasional tumble. There will be times where they eat something they’re not supposed to. In the event that your cat gets injured or falls ill, it benefits both of you to have medical coverage in place.
The best way to do that is by setting them up with a cat health insurance plan. Similar to health insurance for humans, a pet health insurance plan offsets the cost of veterinary bills when your cat is in need of healthcare services. Finding the best pet health insurance for your cat is a matter of determining a budget you can afford along with what you expect their vet bills to be for the year.
You may have to get a few quotes before landing on a plan that works for you and your feline pal, but what we can say for sure is this…having some coverage is better than having no coverage at all.
