Choosing to live with pets adds great joy to life, and cats always make a good companion. There is a common misconception that cats can’t live in apartments, and it’s wrong; you can adopt a cat if you have a small house or even live in a small apartment.
Unlike their canine counterparts or other pet, cats don’t require excessive outdoor walks or exercise. Cats can live indoors contently and comfortably in a home with no garden and access to the outdoors. To make your indoor cat happy, all you need is to make some intelligent adjustments and know the tips on how you can keep your feline friend happy while living indoors.
If you’re currently living in a small flat or apartment and looking to make it better for the cat in your home, you’re also in the right spot. In this article, we have discussed some interesting and valuable tips about “How to make your cat happy,” especially indoor cats, so continue reading, and we are sure that you will learn a lot.
Select The Right Place
This point is critical if you live or contemplate moving into a new apartment or flat; make sure that the management allows keeping pets. Because of the possible damage that cats can cause through teeth, claws, fur, claws, and fluids, landlords would prefer that you keep your pets in a different location, and we wouldn’t support the idea of hiding any roommate regardless of how small.
Select The Right Breed
Although all cats can live indoors happily and comfortably, certain feline breeds can better adapt to the indoor lifestyle. Breeds like American shorthair, British shorthair, ragdolls/ragamuffins, Russian blue, Persian are better fit to live indoors.
Balcony Protection
When you are residing in a flat/apartment (irrespective of you are on the 2nd floor or 22nd floor), there are chances that your cat may fall from the balcony.
Cats love to move around in the balcony, so the balcony should be kept off when you’re not there and when you’re at home, put your cat in a harness, connect the leash to it and tie the leash ends with a secure point. You can also fence around the balcony to make it safe for your indoor cat.
Utilize Vertical Space
Cats are curious animals by nature and like climbing, hiding, playing, hunting, napping, and exploring things. Furthermore, Cats are fond of sitting on a high perch, looking out over their kingdom. You can fulfill their instinct if you wisely use the vertical space of your apartment.
Simple shelves arranged strategically (in a stair-like manner) along the walls will do the business for your cat. This will allow your cat to jump around and see the world from different locations and keep him mentally stimulated. This will also allow your cat to lounge in several areas and let them jump up to ceiling level.
The cat tree is also an excellent option to get maximum advantage of the room’s vertical space and provide more areas to play and rest to your cat.
Place A Window Perch
Cats love to sit in front of windows and can spend hours seeing the random people and birds passing through. It is actually a way to fulfill their instinct to hunt and explore. So never forget to place a perch near the window.
You can also set the water and grains for birds outside the window to increase their traffic. This will keep your indoor cat entertained and mentally stimulated, and your feline friend will feel happier at the end of the day. You can also change the window or height of the perch after a few days to avoid boredom.
Provide Something To Scratch On
Here is another instinct, “scratching,” that you need to look after. Cats scratch to keep their nails healthy and to mark their territory. This is a problem that every cat owner has to face, and not just us living in small spaces.
So if you want to keep your furniture, curtains, bed sheaths, and clothes safe, make sure that scratchers for your indoor cat (like scratchboards, wall scratchers, scratch trees, etc.) are available in every room.
Toys (Keep Things Entertaining)
Keeping your cat busy and active is imperative, as a bored cat can develop different mental issues. So keep a good stock of the variety of toys at home and rotate them to keep your indoor cat entertained and engaged.
Also, place the toys at different locations and let your cat explore and find them. This will keep things lively and exciting and keep your cat mentally stimulated.
Spend Quality Playtime
Irrespective of how well you have customized your apartment for your cat and how many toys you have arranged, the importance of interactive playtime cannot be ignored. It’s crucial to spend quality, interactive playtime with your cat twice daily (at least 15 minutes each). This will provide him with necessary exercise, help burn some calories, and mental stimulation.
Give Private Space
Although cats are very social and gregarious by nature, they still need a different place to rest and spend some time alone.
So you can buy a cat house from a pet store or make your own with cardboard and place it at some suitable place that is comparatively more secure and less noisy than other areas in the apartment.
Litter Box (Selection And Placement)
Many people will think this is pointless, but when discussing “How to make your indoor cat happy,” several factors related to litter boxes must be considered. In flats or apartments, the main issue is odor and mess.
A balcony is an ideal option if it is appropriately protected for your cat. Since it’s aerated, it doesn’t leave a lingering smell. Toilets are the other option (at night or when you are not at home.).
However, these can be stale and chilly. It is therefore essential to purchase high-quality odor-resistant litter. The size of the litter box should also be according to the size of your cat, and it must be large enough that your cat can easily take at least one step in all directions.
Clean Frequently
This applies to feeding bowls, drinking bowls, and litter boxes. To avoid foul odors inside the apartment, clean the utensils and litter box regularly and replace the litter immediately when required.
Don’t Leave Them Alone For Long Duration
If you are going out for a long duration, it’s not enough to ask your friend or neighbor to visit your cat once daily. A lonely cat can quickly get bored, stressed, and develop anxiety or other behavioral issues. So it is advised to take it with you or hire the services of a professional pet sitter.
Follow A Routine
Cats have a strong sense of routine, and any change in the daily routine can make them stressed. So keeping this in mind, you can keep your cat healthy and happy by establishing a daily routine for your indoor cat. Once you have made a routine (for eating, playtime, going out, etc.), stick to it, and your cat will be comfortable with you.
Final Thoughts
If you live in an apartment and own a cat or plan to adopt a cat but are worried, will it be possible to keep your roommate happy, ignore rumors? With the proper care, attention, and patience, you can build an environment that allows you and your pet to stay content, healthy, and in harmony.
We are sure that the above lines have given you an idea of how you can keep your indoor cat happy while living in a limited space.