How to Make Your Home Cat Friendly

Most homes aren't set up for cats. Cats climb, hide, scratch and stalk, and when they can't, they get bored, stressed or overweight. A few changes cover most of what an indoor cat needs.

What cats need from a home

• Height. Cats feel safer when they can watch the room from above.
• Hiding places. They need somewhere to retreat when they're stressed or just want to be left alone.
• Hunting. Even a well-fed cat wants to stalk, chase and pounce.
• Territory. Cats mark their space by scent and scratching, and they like to control who comes near their food, litter tray and bed.

Height and cat trees

Give your cat several places to sit up high: a cat tree, a sturdy shelf, the top of a wardrobe.

• Pick a stable tree. A wobbly one won't get used.
• Make sure the beds on the tree are big enough for your cat to lie down comfortably.
• Put a tree near a window, or in the room where the family spends time.
• Check that your cat can get down easily, especially an older cat. A halfway platform helps.
• In a small flat, wall-mounted shelves add height without using floor space. Use a non-slip surface, since bare wood is slippery.

Hiding places and beds

Cats spend most of the day asleep, so give them a choice of beds: warm, sunny, quiet and in the middle of things. Raised beds are often preferred because many cats feel exposed on the floor.

Space under the bed, a cupboard with the door left open or a cardboard box all work as hiding spots. Don't disturb a cat that's using one unless you think it's unwell.

Scratching

Cats scratch to keep their claws in shape and to leave scent marks. If they don't have a good place to do it, they'll use your sofa.

• Offer more than one post, in different rooms.
• Make at least one tall enough for a full stretch. A panel fixed to the wall works if floor space is tight.
• Try vertical and horizontal surfaces and different materials (sisal, cardboard, carpet) to see what your cat prefers.

Play and hunting

Wand toys that move like prey are the best way to play with your cat. Toys that lie still get boring quickly, so keep a few put away and swap them every few days. Puzzle feeders turn mealtime into a small hunt. Catnip works for some cats and not for others. Cardboard boxes and paper bags cost nothing and are usually a hit. Offer new things now and then, because a never-changing home gets dull.

Litter trays

• One tray per cat, plus one extra, in different quiet spots.
• Keep them away from food, water, external doors and busy walkways.
• Remove soiled litter at least twice a day and clean the whole tray weekly with a mild cleaner.
• Avoid scented litter. Most cats dislike it.
• A kitten or an older cat may need a tray with low sides.

More than one cat

Put food bowls, water bowls, scratching posts, beds and trays in several places, at least one more than the number of cats. That way no cat can block access to everything. Feed each cat out of sight of the others, since cats are solitary eaters. Give them high and low routes through the home so they can avoid each other.

Safety at home

Plants

Lilies are the most dangerous. Every part of a true lily (Lilium) or daylily (Hemerocallis) can cause kidney failure in a cat, including the pollen and the water in the vase. A cat that licks pollen off its fur can be poisoned. Leave lilies out of the home altogether, and ask for a different bouquet if someone gives you one. Pollen-free lilies are not safe.

Other plants that can make cats ill include pothos (devil's ivy), philodendron, sago palm, azalea, tulip and daffodil. Spider plants, Boston ferns and African violets are listed as non-toxic to cats.

If your cat has eaten a lily or any plant you're unsure about, call a vet straight away. During opening hours, Monday, Thursday and Friday 10:00 to 16:00, and Tuesday and Wednesday 09:00 to 17:00, you can call us at MyPeterinarian. Outside those hours, go to an emergency vet clinic. Don't wait for symptoms.

Windows, balconies and small objects

• Don't leave windows open without a secure screen or grille. Cats fall.
• If you want outdoor access, a balcony enclosure or a catio is safer than an open balcony.
• String, ribbon, tinsel, hair ties and rubber bands can be swallowed and block the gut. Keep them put away.
• Tidy away electrical cords and keep cleaning products in a closed cupboard.

Signs it's working

Your cat uses the scratching posts and not the furniture. It climbs and explores, looks relaxed, eats and sleeps normally, and plays. If your cat is peeing outside the tray, hiding more, or has gone off its food, book a check-up. These can be signs of illness as well as stress.

Need advice?

If you have questions about your cat's health or behaviour at home, our veterinary service can help during opening hours, or contact the clinic. If you're away, a visit at home from a sitter keeps your cat in its own surroundings: see pet sitting.