Go beyond the catio to create a feline-centric oasis for your furry friend
You don’t have to be a cat-lover to see that they (and the people who love them) often get the short end of the stick when it comes to options for customizing spaces for their needs. While dogs have inside barkitecture, dog-scaped backyards, and custom sleeping spaces, cat owners typically don’t have quite as many interior design options at their disposal for their feline friends.
While your home may never be the wild jungle of their big-cat ancestor's dreams, there are plenty of ways to make your cat’s everyday living space as comfortable and enjoyable as they deserve.
If your cat shares a home with any canine or human siblings, it’s likely that parts of your house are closed off to prevent other pets or baby humans from making messes or getting hurt. Perhaps you have bedrooms closed off to keep the dog off the bed, or a baby gate blocking the staircase, but your cat shouldn't be limited by their sibling’s constraints. They should be able to roam the stairs and bedrooms freely.
Adding kitty doors will help them move easily through spaces that are restricted by baby gates or closed doors and remind them who the real king or queen of the castle is.
Cats are natural climbers, and if you don’t make it easy and enjoyable for them to explore, you’ll likely find they do so in ways that make your life more difficult (say goodbye to your nice curtains).
Instead of taking up valuable floor space with portable cat towers or climbing posts, consider how you can use built-in options to meet your cat's needs. Consider adding zig-zagging built-in shelving along your walls to serve as their personal staircase and a near-ceiling height perch or catwalk from which they can watch the world below go by.
Most cats love nothing more than a good nap in a sunny spot. Instead of asking your cat to rest its head wherever the sun’s rays happen to hit, create a window seat just for them.
Choose the window in your home that gets sun for the longest period of time throughout the day, and add a large, sturdy perch with soft padding. If you want to go above and beyond, short walls can also create a safe, boxed-in feeling. Make sure your cat can access this spot easily and, for good measure, add a treat every now and then.
Cats don’t just need high-up perches to be happy though—ground-level hiding spots also make it easy for them to sneak in a cat nap or two.
Whether your kitty prefers sneaking away to nap or slinking away to find a perfect pouncing place, ground-level hiding spots are a must. Consider hollowing out a miniature cave in the side of your staircase, cutting a circular doorway into the bottom level or your cabinetry, or looking for furniture that has easy-to-slide-under sides for your next purchase. If you don’t feel comfortable cutting holes into your walls, think about hiring a local handyman to help with making your cats home even more special.
While most indoor cats are content to laze inside the palace they call home, the wild animal in them usually appreciates a little bit of nature making its way indoors. While not all plants are cat-friendly, surrounding them with those that are can help create a soothing, positive environment. Some cat-friendly plants to consider keeping around the house are Catnip, Prayer Plants, and Boston Ferns.
Whether they show it or not, most cats are playful animals at heart. Help them bring play into their lives every day by making toys easily accessible. Create a permanent toy storage spot in an area they can access by adding an open-lidded basket to one of their hiding spots or consider adding toys to the built architecture of your home. Hang ribbons and bells from one of their climbing shelves, add pom-poms to your regular door stoppers, or mount an exercise wheel to one of your walls.
Whether you’re welcoming a new cat into your life or just want to upgrade your space for the cat (or cats) you already love, you can help them feel at home with just a few simple home modifications. Once your home is cat-optimized, you can expect extra cuddles and lots of purring in thanks!
