Tips for Cats: How to Keep Your House Cat Happy
Whether you're adopting an adult cat or caring for a new kitten, cats are amazing.
These hysterical little creatures, that can so gently paw your face as they lie with you at naptime, then the very next second bite your chin with their tiny, sharp teeth to make certain you know just how much they love you, are actually quite simple to entertain and keep content.
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Happy cat, happy life!
Cat trees, cat toys, scratching posts and window perches are definitely a few allies for keeping your cat happy. Let’s get down on a cat’s eye view and explore the world of keeping a happy cat
Cat Stands & Cat Perches
If you have a cat climbing shelves, remember, cats LOVE to climb.
As a kitten, climbing is among the first things they’ll do. As they grow, they realize, it’s just plain fun! If you have multiple cats, having extra space to climb higher, such as cat trees, will also help reduce cat conflicts.
Cat window perch – generally a simple platform that attaches to a window frame, though there are also some available that hang via suction cups.
Cat tree – options are near endless, they usually have multiple levels, boxes with openings, stairs, hanging toys and more.
Cat window hammock or hanging hammock – these can be a stand-alone, come with its own frame, and attach to a ceiling, window, or wall.
Scratching Posts - Protect Your Furniture
Is your cat scratching furniture? Cats have a natural urge to scratch. Scratching helps to remove old material to sharpen their claws and also allows them to mark their territory with the scent glands found in their paws. Many cat trees incorporate cat scratching posts into their design, but regardless of whether it’s built within a cat tree or as a standalone one, a scratching post allows them the freedom to scratch away while keeping your own furniture safe from getting shredded.
Cat trees and cat scratching posts mean giving your cats places they can confidently claim as their own.
Cat Toys & Cat Playtime
Our purr babies need and love their playtime. They’re agile and strong and the perfect jumping, pouncing and dashing machines. Cats are most active when kittens, yet even as they get older, cats still love playtime. They tend to decide when playtime happens, so it’s good to have safe, fun cat toys on hand.
Some cats love long stringy toys, some love cat tunnels, some are happy with just attacking your hands like they’re the king of the jungle. As you get to know your cat, start with one or two different types of toys, then as you see what he’s drawn to, add to the collection to keep the environment stimulating.
Interactive toys are also a great way to help exhaust your cat, battery operated toys can involve random laser dot generation for chasing, swing long dangly things to encourage chase and pounce behavior, even move on their own and dispense treats.
DIY Cat Toys
There are a variety of ways you can entertain your cat.
Hunt & Eat: Take a toilet paper roll and pinch one end closed tightly (You can use a little water and flour mixed as a 'glue' to make it more challenging. Let dry completely.) and put in a few treats or bits of kibble and do the same for the other end. You can hide these in their cat stand, in pet safe places around a room etc. Then let your cat 'discover' their treasures.
Cardboard Boxes: After all, cat's made the phrase 'If I Sits I Fits'. Sometimes a couple of small cardboard boxes can entertain your cats for hours. The same is true of paper bags but make sure they're plain brown paper.
Puzzle Boxes: Any old shoebox can be repurposed. Cut a few holes in the top, throw in some toys and use a couple of pieces of tape to make it more challenging then let your cat go wild.
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It doesn’t take too much effort to keep happy indoor cats. And in return, your cat will thank you with many purrs, snuggles and a long, healthy, happy life!
