WHAT DOES A CAT NEED TO FEEL CONTENT?
A safe environment and an area specially for them: Their "refuge" where they can sleep, scratch and unleash their natural instincts.
Food that is suitable for their age and their characteristics, as well as rigorous hygiene and regular cleaning of their litter tray.
Spending time with you. Cats are very independent but also need your love and affection. This will be real positive reinforcement for them!
Keep their regular visits to the vet up to date, ensuring you follow the schedule for their necessary vaccination and antiparasitic treatments.
A SAFE AND COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT
Adapting your cat's environment is fundamental to them not feeling stressed and they need to roam freely without feeling fearful or anxious. Here are a few tips on how to create separate areas for each thing.
HYGIENE AREA
Have you ever watched cats clean themselves? It's quite a ritual! Hygiene is very important to cats so it’s good to help them with some small (but important) actions:
- Choose a litter tray that is suitable for your cat's size.
- Try to place the litter tray in a quiet area, away from their food.
- Keep it clean by changing the litter often.
- And the most important thing? Brush their coat regularly. This will also help to prevent the formation of hairballs.
DINING AREA
Cats prefer to eat and drink if you pay attention to certain things. So here are a few tips!
- Ensure that all their bowls are clean and distributed across various points in your home. It is also important that their food bowl is kept well away from their litter tray.
- Ensure that their drinking bowls are full of water. They love it!
- There are cats that prefer to drink running water, such as from the taps or even hoses. In this case, you can install a water fountain for cats, which will entertain them and encourage them to drink.
SOCIAL AREA
Physical and mental stimulation are absolutely essential for the healthy development of your cat. The most sociable cats are those who have been in contact with human beings since they were very young. For this reason, it is important that your kitten socialises before it's 4 months old.
Cats retain their instincts; their nature makes them want to climb and scratch trees: Adapt your home to this by providing items for them to scratch, climb and sharpen their claws. This way, they'll have a great time without damaging your furniture! They are also very curious! Arrange items at different heights, such as shelves or areas near the window where they can climb and observe everything that is going on in the room or in the street.
It is said that cats are independent, but this does not mean they don't love getting your attention. Spending time with you is very beneficial for strengthening your bond. Learn to communicate and play with your cat: You can play "catch me if you can" with a fishing rod with a feather attached to the end, throw a ball in the air so they can catch it, get them a cat tunnel or even hide a few ribbons between cushions for them to “hunt”.
And ensure that your cat has toys available when they are left alone in your home.
REST AREA
Did you know that cats spend around 70% of their time sleeping? Just imagine how important a good sleeping area is! Let them choose where to sleep, as well as identifying a few more spaces yourself. If it's a warm area, that's even better. There's nothing quite like a cat nap in the sun!
Also try to have a rest area solely for your cat. This can be a particular room, a basket, a wardrobe left ajar or simply a cardboard box. This area will become a hiding place for your cat: they can see everything without being seen.