Many families bring cats into their household because they appear to be low maintenance. You throw food at it, add a litterbox in the basement, and you’re done. Unfortunately, those owners are sadly mistaken. Cats are incredibly smart, social, and interactive. They require appropriate outlets for their physical, mental, social, and emotional needs. Not having access to their basic biological needs results in emotional distress and behavior problems. In this article, we’ll explore what you can do to keep your cat happy and some trouble spots.
Climbing, Exploring, Resting
Fun fact: cats know instinctually how to climb up, but actually need help (usually from their mother) to learn how to climb down. This is why so many cats get stuck in trees.
Most cats like climbing and exploring high places. It allows them to feel safe and they can survey the area better. By providing multiple tiers of horizontal surfaces, you increase their real estate. This allows even small apartments to feel larger and more engaging. A really fun book by Jackson Galaxy, called Catification, goes into some unique, but aesthetically pleasing ideas for making your living space more cat friendly. If nothing else, ensure that each cat has its own cat tree, shelf, or perch. Consider placing them by windows so the cat can see outside and enjoy warm sunbeams. Most cats seek warmth, so they enjoy sunbathing and heated blankets or pads. You can also provide multiple artificial “suns” by using heat lamps.
Be sure each cat also have several different resting locations. Depending on their preference, some may prefer very open beds while others will gravitate to cozy little hidey holes. By providing options, we allow each cat some control over their environment and the ability to find their favorite choice.
Scratching Behavior
Scratching is a very normal part of being a cat. Even those that have been declawed will continue to go through the motions of scratching. This is because scratching serves multiple purposes. First, it is part of their normal nail care. Cat nails shed layers like onions. This is in contrast to humans who have their single, flat nail. Scratching allows them to remove those layers and keep their claws sharp.
Next, scratching serves important social communication. There are pheromones in their paws that are used to mark territory. As we’ll explore in the section on affection, smell in the environment is extremely important to cats. You may find that the cat prefers to scratch on preferred surfaces or locations. Try to encourage healthy scratching behavior by providing a few different options and using cat nip to encourage their use. Have a horizontal one, vertical, one with cardboard, carpet, or sisal rope. Have them spread out in a few different places and make note of where and what they use the most. From there, you can further ensure they always have their preferred objects within the home.
Finally, it is good for general body health. Part of scratching is having deep stretches. It help keep their muscles in good shape and prevents strains or soreness.
Toileting Behavior
Cats prefer to dig and bury their excrement. This allows up to very easily litterbox train most cats. As a general rule, cats prefer litterboxes that are uncovered and located near the main living space, but not quite in the main traffic route. They don’t want to travel too far to go to the bathroom, but they also don’t want to be bothered while in there. Cat boxes should be 2-3 times the length of the cat. This ensures enough space to dig, stretch, posture, and eliminate comfortably. This means the average 12-pound cat, who would measure about 12 inches long, needs a litterbox 2-3 feet long! Most pet stores will not carry litterboxes that are appropriately sized – they are always far too small. It is typically best to purchase large, shallow storage boxes and using those for toileting areas instead.
As far as substrate goes, most kitties will prefer clumping, unscented clay litter. Brands like Tidy Cats, Arm and Hammer, and Fresh Step tend to be the most popular with both owners and pets. Be sure to clean every litterbox twice daily. Some cats are more fastidious than others, but it is best to err on the side of cleanliness. Once per week, completely empty the litterbox and wash with a low odor, gentle cleaner such as dish or hand soap. Avoid strong scents, disinfectants, and chemicals. Cat noses are very sensitive. Finally, be sure to completely replace your litter boxes every 6-12 months.
Feeding Behavior
Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they need animal protein to stay healthy. They also function best when provided small, frequent meals and/or opportunities for “hunting.” I the wild, a cat would hunt small prey multiple times per day. Our human concept of “two meals per day” is unnatural and can cause problems with some cats. Instead,
purchase multiple hollow cat feeder toys, put small amounts of kibble in each one, then hide them around the house. The cat then needs to go find, or “hunt” for their meals. Many of these cat toys also require the cat to play with them (smack them around) in order to dispense their food. This approach to feeding prevents boredom, obesity, and feeding related frustration in many cats. Below are some of our favorite feeder toys for cats:
· LickiMat (for canned or soft foods)
You can also make your own toys out of paper towel rolls, cardboard boxes, etc. Sometimes these home made puzzles are the best since you can make it as easy or difficult as your kitty needs to stay engaged but challenged.
When distributing the food for your cat to seek, be sure to make note of where they are so you can change them out periodically. Dry food gets stale and canned food dries out. Be sure to make use of elevated surfaces such as cat treats, dressers, shelves, etc. Consider helping your kitty find their food the first few times to help them get the idea.
Play Behaviors
Cat play is based in their hunting behavior. Given that cats naturally hunt 10+ times
per day, this means your indoor kitty needs plenty of play opportunities as well. Provide at least 2-3 toys that they can play with on their own. These could be little springs, tinkle balls, mouse toys, electronics, or little ball toys. Here are some ideas to get you started:
· PomPoms
It often works best to have multiple toys in stock but rotate them out every week. This keeps their play interesting and novel, ensuring they continue to explore and interact.
In addition to solo-play, cats should have social play with their families at least once per
day. Always use cat toys and avoid using hands or feet. This encourages toy-directed scratching and biting while avoiding hand-directed scratching and biting. Wand toys, string toys, etc. are usually best for social related play. Some families like to use laser pointers as well. Be careful, though: some cats are prone to developing fixation behaviors. If you cat becomes too overstimulated or cannot disengage from a laser pointer, stop using it. Finally, because play mimics hunting, it works best to end play session by giving your cat some food or treats. This allows their brains and bodies to “complete” the hunting ritual.
Physical Affection
Compared to dogs, cats are actually the more social species. Cats often congregate together, raise kittens together, groom each other, and cuddle. Most cats thoroughly enjoy petting and cuddling, though maybe only at certain times of day. Cats tend to be the cuddliest first thing in the morning and at bed time. Note that they way you pet your cat can be stimulating or relaxing. Quick, fast scratches, especially on the rump will often amp cats up. This may result in overstimulation and mouthing/biting. If you want to help your cat calm down and relax, you long, deep strokes.
Petting-induced aggression is a common concern in cats. They may seem to elicit affection, but then growl, swat, or hiss. Note that rubbing up against a person (bunting) is not always a request for petting. Sometimes cats do this to make their people smell like them. They are marking their people. By depositing their smell on you, it makes them happier, and more relaxed. To check whether bunting is a request for cuddles, we can perform a Consent to Pet Test. Reach down and scratch their head of chins for 1-2 seconds, then stop. A “yes,” will produce a happy squint, purring, and leaning into your hand. A “no,” is doing nothing, ignoring the pets and continuing with their bunting, or any type of aggression. The same is true for the cat that rolls over and exposes their belly. This is rarely a request for affection, but you can perform a Consent to Pet just to be sure.
Finally, some cats may prefer you only touch certain parts of their body. The head and chin are usually safe. As you move closer to the tail, however, the risk for disgruntlement increases.
Regardless of your cat’s preferences, it is best to recognize and respect their wishes. Any good, constructive relationship consists of mutual and respectful communication.
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