Keeping an indoor cat happy and active
A cat living in a flat needs hunting games, play, high places and somewhere to hide. Easy, cheap ideas that fill its day and cut down on scratching and boredom.
Most cats in Egypt live in flats, which keeps them safer from cars, disease and falls. But cats are natural hunters, and with nothing to do they can get bored and overweight, and start scratching furniture, biting or toileting outside the litter box. Two feline vets' associations, the AAFP and ISFM, set out five basics for a cat-friendly home.
1. A safe place to hide
- A box with a hole, a covered bed or a high shelf.
- With more than one cat, have at least as many hiding places as cats, each with more than one way out.
2. Key resources, kept apart
- Food, water, litter box, scratching post and bed, each in its own place.
- Food away from the litter box, and water can be away from the food too.
- With several cats, each needs its own. See litter box basics.
3. Play that feels like hunting
- Play every day in short sessions of 5 to 10 minutes, with a feather or string on a wand.
- Make the toy move like prey: hide, dart and freeze. At the end, let your cat catch it so it doesn't get frustrated.
- Put some of its food in a food puzzle or hide it in a box, so it works for it.
- Rotate toys every few days to keep them interesting.
- Put away string and hair ties after play. Cats can swallow them, which is dangerous.
4. Calm, predictable contact
- Most cats prefer frequent, gentle contact, not long cuddles or being carried.
- Let your cat come to you. Signs it's relaxed: slow blinks, purring, rubbing its face on you.
- Regular times for meals and play help it feel secure.
5. Respect its sense of smell
- Strong cleaners and perfumes bother cats, so use mild products near their spots.
- A scratching post is where a cat leaves its scent, so put it somewhere central, not hidden in a corner. See why cats scratch and bite.
High places and a view
- Cats love looking down from above. A shelf by a window or a tall cat tree makes a big difference.
- Put netting on windows and balconies before letting your cat look out. Falls from high floors are among the commonest accidents for flat cats.