In this article on our site we are going to explain how to adapt your house to a cat Whether we are going to live with an adult cat or With a kitten, we can follow a series of general recommendations that will help us make our home a comfortable space for our new companion.
When adapting a house for the arrival of a kitten, keep in mind that cats, unlike dogs, live vertically, that is, they can climb to considerable heights, which forces us to consider that dimension when preparing your new home. Read on to discover how to adapt a house to cats
Ensure a safe environment for your cat
If we want to know how to adapt our house to cats, the first thing we have to think about is their safety. To do this, we must take into account the following aspects:
- If we live at a certain height all our windows should have mosquito nets to prevent the cat from falling. The one known as parachuting cat syndrome is very common, since felines often lose their balance when walking on the windowsill or they may even jump without having account the height. That is why it is essential to have this protection.
- As they are capable of climbing furniture and reaching great heights, we should not leave objects that could fall and break within their reach so that accidents do not occur. Thus, it is preferable to keep the vases or porcelain figures in showcases or heights to which we have verified that the cat does not reach.
- As for plants, they may be tempted to nibble on them, so make sure they are non-toxic to them or leave them out of your reach. Other cats may be attracted to potting soil and use it as a litter box. Check out our "Toxic Plants for Cats" article.
- Although cats are not usually very likely to ingest any object or substance, they could swallow threads or become intoxicated if they stain their fur with a product and lick it to clean it. Therefore, we must also keep cleaning products, medicines, sewing kits or even food in a safe place, since not all of them are suitable for cats.
- Also, cats tend to be very quiet and have a tendency to look for places to hideThus, it is easy for them to look for holes in cabinets, under beds, in the washing machine or behind furniture. It is a good idea to keep those areas clear and the cabinets closed, to prevent them from getting trapped inside in our absence. It is also advisable to check the washing machine before doing the laundry and the balconies or terraces before leaving to make sure that the cat is not isolated there.
The essential accessories for cats
Within how to adapt the house for a cat we must also take into account the basic accessories that it will need, such as the following:
- Feeder and drinker, which should be easy to clean. We can put them in the kitchen or on some height, always looking for the comfort of the cat.
- Sandbox and shovel, also easy to clean, and sand. It is very important that we place it in a quiet place, away from traffic and noise, with good ventilation, such as a balcony or a bathroom.
- Trasportín for trips that, at least, we will need to go to the vet. It can be plastic or fabric. Some cats use it to sleep and it may be a good idea to leave it within their reach so that it doesn't seem strange when they need to use it.
- Bed for strategic places, since, although cats sleep where they please, they do not usually refuse to sleep in a good place, such as near a radiator. In the market we will find a wide variety of models, such as those offered by the new collection of products for pets from Maisons du Monde The baskets are very versatile, as they can be scratched, they can function as hanging beds and the cat can hide inside. They should be easy to wash.
- Blanket for the bed, the carrier or to protect sofas from fur.
- Scraper, essential for the cat to mark. Currently there are all kinds of models from simple bars to scratching posts of various heights that include beds and games, the latter being the most recommended.
- Toiletries such as nail clippers, brush or shampoo, as well as a first-aid kit with the essentials, such as a thermometer, disposable gloves, gauze, tweezers, etc.
- We will talk about toys in the next section.
Provides an enriched environment for your cat
To prevent our feline from getting fat or bored, if we talk about how to adapt the house for our cat, it is essential that we take into account what is known as environmental enrichment, which consists of offering an environment where the cat can carry out physical and intellectual activity to avoid problems of being overweight or stressed. Some ideas to achieve this environment are as follows:
- We can find a wide variety of toys for sale or even make our own. Those that can be filled with food are interesting, so that the cat has to manipulate them to get out. It is also important that we spend a few minutes each day playing with it.
- Offering them different places to hide or explore is essential. We are offered the possibility of resorting to boxes, drawers or igloo-type beds.
- Cats love heights so it is essential that we offer them the possibility of climbing, for which we can use scratchers of different heights, furniture or shelves arranged as a circuit along the wall.
- Some felines love catnip. It is possible for us to give it directly or through toys scented with it.
- Finally, if our cat has adaptation difficulties, it is highly recommended to consult an expert.
A poor or unenriched environment can cause the animal to become bored or stressed, which triggers unwanted behaviors such as scratching furniture or throwing objects on the floor. For this reason, when we prepare a house for a cat, we must also bear in mind that it is an animal that is very susceptible to change, so any modification in its routine or in the environment must be done progressively. Likewise, if despite enjoying an enriched environment the cat scratches the furniture, we advise you to check its nails or use synthetic pheromones. For more details on this, do not miss our article "Tricks so that your cat does not scratch the furniture".
