What Indoor Cats Need

Some suggestions for making changes to enrich the lives of indoor cats

As an owner, one of the most important things you can do for you cat is to educate yourself about feline idiosyncrasies. Research has proven that you can make your cat smarter. There are games and activities, some for every type of owner and every personality of cat, that will get your cat exploring, thinking, and making decisions. Incorporating just a few challenges into your cat's life will spark his brain power and enrich his life. Most importantly, it will help the two of you bond on a whole new level.

Litter Boxes

Provide At least one litter box per cat plus one and clean them daily. Elimination is a basic need for our feline friends. When we house them indoors it is crucial that we provide a place to eliminate that the cat finds attractive. The goal to keep in mind is to provide positive litter box experiences so the cat will continue to use the boxes provided. Cats will avoid anything that has been associated with a negative experience. If your cat has difficulties getting to or into the box, if something startles him while he is using the box, or if he has a negative experience while leaving the box he may avoid that box in the future.

Understanding the natural elimination habits of cats will help prevent problems from developing. Most cats are meticulously clean; they cover their waste and try to eliminate in areas that have not been used before. And although cats eliminate in response to basic biological drives, they also use eliminations to mark their territory. To meet their territorial needs, a good rule to follow is to provide one litter pan per cat plus one in a household.

A litter box also should be located on every level of a multi-level home.

Multiple boxes provide cats with appropriate places to eliminate and mark territory without offending you or other cats in the household.

There are many shapes, sizes and styles of litter boxes on the market.  By taking a little time, considering your cat and your home, you can find ones that work for both of you. Litter boxes need to be big enough for cats to enter and move around in. Larger pans are better because they provide a bigger area for the cat to eliminate in without stepping in the old eliminations. Kittens, older cats and cats with health problems may need accommodations to permit easy entry and exit from the box.

Choosing litter

There are many different types of litter on the market that you may use. Always consider your cat whenever purchasing products. Once you find a litter that your cat likes, stick with it. Abrupt changes can result in the cat not using the litter box. Research has shown that most cats prefer finegrained litters; scoopable litters usually have finer grains than clay litters.

Many cats prefer unscented litters, and are put off by the odor of scented or deodorant litters. This is also a good reason not to place room deodorizers or air fresheners near the box.

Your cat’s health may be a consideration when choosing a litter. Cats with upper respiratory infections, asthma, or other breathing problems will need a dust-free substrate. After surgical procedures, you may need to change the substrate in the litter box for a short period of time if your veterinarian prescribes it.

Location

Litter boxes need to be placed in areas that provide easy access for the cat, while providing some privacy and a clear escape route. They must be located away from appliances and air ducts that could come on unexpectedly, and in an area that another animal or human cannot sneak up on your cat and startle her while she is “doing her business”. If you place the box in an area that has a door, you will need to wedge the door open to prevent the cat from getting trapped in the area.  You may want to place a rug or placemat under the litter pan to avoid scattered litter around the box, to make it easier to keep the area clean.

Cleaning

Litter pans need to be scooped daily. Clean the litter pans once a week with water and a non-scented soap. Weekly cleaning is just a general guideline; if you have more than one cat, or if circumstances dictate, then you may need to clean the boxes more often. Never use ammonia or strong smelling cleaners for this job. A cat’s urine contains ammonia compounds and strong cleaner’s may be toxic to the cat. A thin layer of baking soda placed on the bottom of the box will help absorb odors without repelling your cat between scoopings.

Scratching

You already know that cats like to scratch, but why and how can you encourage "proper" scratching?

Scratching is a natural behavior for cats. Cats scratch to stretch their muscles, shed old cuticles, sharpen their claws, and leave scent marks. Even when declawed, cats retain the instinct to scratch.

Scratching posts provide cats with an outlet for their instinct to scratch while at the same time saving your furniture and carpets! cats prefer scratching posts made out of rough material they can shred. Sisal (a coarse natural fiber) scratching posts are ideal because they are satisfying to scratch and tough enough to stand up to repeated use.  Cats that scratch chair legs or the corners of your couch may prefer a vertical scratching post. Make sure that vertical scratching posts are tall enough so your cat can stretch up while she scratches. Cats that scratch rugs and carpets may prefer a horizontal scratching post or mat. Scratching posts should be stabilized to ensure that they don't move or tip over and scare your cat while she is using them.

Where does your cat scratch?

Cats scratch to leave scent marks that define their territory and tell other cats they have passed through. They will often scratch prominent objects near sleeping areas and room entrances. Therefore, scratching posts should be located in these and other "public" parts of the house that the whole family uses. In multi-cat households there should be several scratching posts, both vertical and horizontal, located throughout the house.

Trimming your cat's nails

Nail trims are an easy, and often overlooked, way to reduce damage from scratching. You can clip off the sharp tips of your cat's claws as often as necessary. There are severatypes of nail trimmers designed especially for cats. These are better than your own nail clippers because they won't crush the nail bed.

Before trimming your cat's claws, accustom her to having her paws handled and squeezed. You can do this by gently petting her legs and paws while giving her a treat to make it a more pleasant experience (it helps to do this before feeding while you’re training her). Gradually increase the pressure so that petting becomes gentle squeezing, as you'll need to do this to extend the claw. Continue with the treats until your cat tolerates having her feet handled.  When she is ready, apply a small amount of pressure to the cat's paw, with your thumb on top of her paw and your index finger underneath, until a claw is extended. Near the cat's nail bed you should be able to see a pink area, called the "quick", which contains small blood vessels. Don't cut into the pink portion of the nail because it will bleed and be painful for the cat. Cut off just the sharp tip to dull the claw.

To begin with, trim just one foot (or nail) each day. As your cat becomes accustomed to having her nails clipped you can trim all four feet at the same time.

Resting Areas

It may seem like all they do is sleep, but there is a method behind cats’ narcoleptic tendencies.

Cats are at their most vulnerable while sleeping, so they prefer to rest in areas where they feel safe and secure. Desirable resting areas typically are quiet, comfortable locations where the cat can get away from other members of the family. Your cat may choose to get out of the way by resting on top of the kitchen cupboards or under the bed, or she may like to sleep curled up in her cat tree or on your bed or sofa.

“I need to know what is going on around me. I am curious. I am a cat. I can hear sounds coming from outside and smell lots of strange things, so I need to see what is happening out there. I want to know that I am safe. If I can hear it and smell it but can’t see it, it might frighten me.”

Perches

Everyone likes a pleasant view, and cats are no exception.

Cats like to climb, so a perch provides a safe and private place to watch the action from above. A perch is anything that allows your cat to lie, sit, sleep or look outside from above. A perch is a must have for your cat.

 More than one perch is great so your cat can look outside at different angles. You can even place a couch, sofa, chair, or sturdy table in front of a window, so your cat can look outside. If you really want to get creative, you can make the scenery more attractive by hanging a bird feeder in the yard and/or plant flowers to attract bees, butterflies, and other insects. This will keep your cat interested and she may sit on her perch for hours looking outside.

Toys - Cats need recreation too!

• Identifying your cat's toy (prey) preference

There are many different kinds of toys for cats that you can buy, or make yourself. Cats like toys that do something. Toys that squeak, chirp, jitter, swing or vibrate remind them of moving meals, enticing them to interact.  Each cat is an individual; some like some toys better than others, so just offer a few and they will show you what they like!Cats also like toys that have a wand or stick with a toy dangling from the end of a string. They make her feel like she’s using her natural quickness and agility to catch something, and it lets her interact with you too. Balls are another great item to use; they provide the cat with chase and capture. Things that move on their own also fascinate them, so balls (like ping pong balls) and furry little mice toys that move are great. They also like toys they can catch, pick up and toss in the air. You can also fill balls with food or treats for your cat to play with; this allows your cat to feel like she can have a hunting and stalking session, and catch her own meal.

There is no set number of toys your cat needs, but variety is key to keep her from getting bored with the toys. It often works best to have a batch of toys that can be rotated a few at a time to keep your cat interested.

You can rotate them in different sequences to make the old toys seem new and exciting. Simple things often make great toys, like crumpled up paper balls, the plastic rings off of milk jugs, the center rolls from toilet paper, lots of things. You can even stuff old cotton socks with cotton balls and a little catnip, then tie a knot in the end. Cats need an assortment of toys they can roll, pounce on, capture and sink their teeth into, carry and chase. As long as it is safe for your cat, then she may use it.