Indoor cats are slowly becoming the norm. This is partly due to concerns surrounding road safety but with pet theft on the increase since the start of lockdown 2020, pet owners are becoming more aware of the risks of free-roaming felines. But how can you keep your house cat happy?
Is Indoors Best?
Cats come with a beautiful array of different personalities. Some like the peace and quiet of their home away from neighbouring cats and outdoor noises. More outgoing cats like to explore and hunt. Once you understand your own cat’s personality you’re in a better position to decide what’s best for them.
There are many benefits to keeping your cat in the home:
- No risk of injury from road traffic incidents.
- No risk of theft from unscrupulous individuals, whether to be kept, bred, or sold.
- Less likely to be scrapping with neighbouring felines.
- Pet insurance premiums may be reduced.
- Prevention of unwanted pregnancy (cats should be spayed / neutered from 8 weeks old but there may be circumstances where that isn’t possible).
- No risk of dead birds arriving on the pillow in the early hours.
However, there’s still down sides to keeping your cat indoors:
- Housecats are prone to being overweight.
- They will become bored or stressed if they’re not stimulated and able to explore.
- Litter trays in the home will need daily changing and can get a little whiffy.
- Housecats shed. A lot.
- Without suitable toys and scratch posts, furniture in the home can be damaged.
Is Your House Cat Happy?
While it’s recommended by animal welfare organisations that cats be allowed to freely explore, there may be circumstances where that isn’t possible due to illness and / or disabilities.
If you need to keep your cat indoors you should be aware of signs that they’re unhappy, such as a change in appetite, low energy levels, a lack of self-grooming, and in some cases increased aggression.
Signs of a happy house cat:
- Kneading their paws whilst purring.
- Healthy appetite.
- Maintaining personal grooming and using their litter box.
- Exploring their environment.
- Playing with toys.
- Showing affection.
How To Keep Your House Cat Happy
- Make sure they have spaces to hide for some quiet time.
- Provide plenty of space for them throughout the home. Blocking their access to certain rooms may prevent shedding on beloved furniture and bedding, but it could make for a very miserable cat.
- Invest in some high level cubby holes and beds to mirror their behaviour sitting in trees and on top of fences.
- Boredom buster toys, such as balls and fishing rods, are sure to keep your cat entertained. They don’t need to be expensive. Throwing screwed up paper to chase across a laminate floor kept mine entertained while I was working at home during lockdown.
- Put treat and titbits inside treat balls.
- Ensure they have access to a clean litter box in a quiet area of the home away from their food.
- Provide your furry friend with plenty of scratch posts, in different rooms. Much cheaper than buying a new sofa.
- Enjoy lots of cuddles with your cat, if they’ll allow it.
- It’s not just dogs that get separation anxiety. Try not to leave your cat alone for too long during the day.
- Take time to brush your cat, even short haired breeds. This cuts down on shedding and provides quality time for yourself and your furry friend.
- Consider installing a catio outside that your cat can access via a cat flap.
Shop Cat Toys on Preloved
If you’re looking for some boredom busting treats for your furry friend, check out what’s available in your area, without breaking the bank.
But remember, cats will always prefer the box their new toy comes in.