Creating a Feline Haven

Tips to Make Your Home Cat-friendly

- Dr. Irfan Ahmed

When a cat is introduced in a human house, the residents should make sure that it will be happy and safe. The human parent should think of the cat’s/kitten’s needs to be physically and mentally healthy. However, as cat parents, it is your responsibility to make sure that your feline friend does not come into contact with hazards that could be easily avoided. Overall, if you want to make your home cat-friendly, look at the space from your cat's perspective and make changes that will improve and enrich its life in the future.

A cat needs a space of its own. If you want to make your home cat-friendly, then you need to give your cat some special area to call its own. This includes a cat bed or cat house, where the cat can head when it just needs to relax on its own.

A cat house can be especially helpful for a cat that is adjusting to a new home and is afraid and anxious. When you bring a new cat home, allow it to hide away in its cat house until it comes out on its own. Providing this safe space will be an important part of its adjustment to new surroundings.

If you have multiple cats, or other pets, it's very important to have a variety of spaces where your cat or cats can get alone time. In a house with both cats and dogs, there should be some spaces provided which allow the cat(s) to get physical distance from the dog(s).

In order to keep your feline occupied, you need to stimulate your cat's mind. Provide toys that are exciting and fun for your cat to play with. Interactive toys of various types can give your cat something to explore and enjoy while you are away or otherwise engaged.

Part of stimulating your cat's mind is giving it new and exciting things to do on a regular basis. Don't assume that your cat will be happy with the same old toys forever. Introduce new ones every now and then to get rid of monotony and boredom.