We’ve always been a nation of cat lovers — in fact, over a quarter of us (26%) have at least one cat in our homes (Cats Protection), so it’s important we all know how to make our living spaces appealing to them.

Give them their own furniture

What better way to make your cat feel at home than by giving them their own furniture? They may appreciate a bed (if they use one) and a scratching post, but you may also want to consider something like a cat tree or tower. These come with hidey holes, additional scratching posts, raised platforms, and other fun features that allow your cat to climb, scratch, observe, and catnap up high, all of which is instinctive behaviour that they enjoy.

Provide plenty of toys

It goes without saying that toys equal fun, and the more stimulating options you can provide, the better. Cats are very intelligent and often have quite discerning tastes, so provide them with plenty of cat toys to choose from with an array of textures and moving parts to explore. You’ll soon find out whether your cat has a preference for a particular type of cat toy, and whether they need more encouragement to enjoy other kinds — to really pay attention to this, consider installing a pet camera in your home. That way, you can easily keep track of what is and isn't working for them in their living space.

Encourage them to stay healthy

A healthy cat is a happy cat, so while fun and games are important, so is encouraging healthy behaviour. The good news is that keeping your cat active through playing with them or providing cat toys is great exercise and will make a big improvement to their physical and mental wellbeing. Nutrition is important too, and just like we feel sluggish after junk food and snacks, so can your cat. Look for healthy, natural food and treats and serve them through slow feeders and treat puzzles — these will get your cat’s brain working, satisfy their hunting instincts, and allow them to savour their food and treats instead of eating them all in one go.

Every cat is different, but they all deserve to live somewhere fun and exciting. These are just a few of the ways you can make your home environment more engaging for your pet, keeping them happy and healthy in the process. 

Thank you to Catit for your ongoing support!