Kitties may very well be the purrfect little pets. They’re small, but have loads of personality and character, and keep us smiling with their adorable quirks and playful antics. Fluffy is also a pretty easy keeper. However, we do recommend keeping cats indoors. It’s much safer for them! In this article, a local Ashland WI vet answers some questions about ways to keep your feline pal content.

How Can I Keep My Indoor Cat Happy?

Good food, a clean litterbox, and proper veterinary care will see to the basics. However, it does take a bit more than that to keep that little motor going. You’ll need to provide entertainment, stimulation, and other kitty comforts.

Here are some suggestions: 

Talk To Your Cat

We may never figure out exactly how much of our language kitties understand, though we’re pretty sure that Fluffy understands ‘Get out of there’ and ‘What are you doing in there?’ pretty well. Talking to your pet is a great way to bond with her. She may not know what you’re saying (which makes her a great confidante), but she will understand and appreciate the fact that you are making an effort to communicate with her.

You may also find your furry buddy responding in her own way. Chatty cats may actually meow back at you. Fluffy may also flick her tail, slowly blink at you, or ‘head bonk’ you.

Play With Your Cat

Toys and playtime are very important for your furry pal’s happiness and well-being. Your cute, cuddly little pet is actually a lion at heart. Kitties are hunters by nature, so they are born with an innate instinct to pounce, jump, and scratch. These things would help them survive in the wild. It’s important for Fluffy to be able to unleash her inner tigress now and then. 

Playing isn’t only a good way to let your kitty indulge her predatory instincts. It’s also great for bonding. Taking a few minutes to hold a laser pointer for your cute pet can really go a long way toward building that bond and making your pet feel loved. If you have more than one kitty, playing with them together can also help them become buddies.

Aside from that, kitty playtime can also help a timid cat gain more confidence. And if your pet is a bit cantankerous, it’s a great release for that cattitude.

Keep in mind that all pets have their own tastes when it comes to toys. One kitty may like chasing that elusive red dot from a laser pointer, while another may prefer ‘catching’ catnip mice. Try different things, and see what your furball likes best.

Kitty Furniture

Our feline overlords aren’t exactly shy about ‘borrowing’ our beds, sofas, tables, chairs, and laps when they need napping spots. However, Fluffy will both appreciate and benefit from having a few things of her own. 

The cat tower is, of course, the gold standard here. This is actually a multi-purrpose piece. It offers your kitty a lookout point. That is important: kitties don’t have much of a view from ground level, so they like getting to high spots. This not only gives them a good vantage, it also allows them the chance to look down on their kingdoms and subjects (that would be you) with a look of smug superiority cats do so well.

Cat towers also provide your cute pet with a nail care station. This will both allow your feline buddy to fulfill her instinctive need to keep her paw daggers sharp and spare your furniture. Fluffy will also gain a few napping spots and a jungle gym. Plus, if you have a dog, it gives her vertical space, which she may appreciate. (We’ll get into Fluffy and Fido’s relationship in another post.)

You don’t have to break the bank to get a tower. You can repurpose an old stepladder or shelf system. Just add wooden planks to make kitty lounging spots. Then, cover it in sisal rope or carpet. Voila!

Napping Spots

Our feline buddies are extremely sleepy, and can spend up to 20 hours a day napping. Fluff will appreciate having lots of spots to choose from. Store-bought beds are great, and we would suggest picking up at least one or two. You can also put folded blankets on footstools, storage trunks, or ottomans.

Window Seat

We always recommend keeping kitties indoors. It’s much safer for them! As soon as your pet sets her cute little paws outside, she is exposed to a variety of threats, such as cars, weather, wild animals, stray cats, chemicals, and, sadly, some humans. Kitties that are allowed out are also at much greater risk of contracting parasites and/or getting lost, hurt, or even killed than indoor cats.

That all said, cats really do love watching birds and squirrels, and generally just observing what’s  going on outdoors. Make sure Fluffy has at least one comfy window seat with a good view. If you put a bird feeder up in her line of sight, you’ll basically be providing her with live entertainment … and helping local wildlife to boot.

Plants

Plants not only help filter the air, but they can also make any home look inviting. Plus, your furry pal will enjoy having something to nibble on. Fluffy is also fond of peeking out from behind green leaves and pretending she is a vicious predator. Just be sure to stick to safe options. You can find a full list of both toxic and non-toxic plants on the ASPCA website here. (Note: Avoid lilies: they are extremely dangerous to cats.)

Of course, your furry friend probably won’t mind some catnip. You can grow your own, so you’ll always have a fresh supply. (Tip: If your pet doesn’t care for it, try offering her honeysuckle cat toys.)

Love

Last but not least, make sure your feline pal feels loved. Talk to Fluffy, pet her, and play with her. You can also offer lap space and ear scritches to keep that motor going. 

At the end of the day, cats want what we all want: to feel loved, comfy, and safe. While it’s important to provide your pet with toys, furniture, and all of the other things we’ve mentioned, what’s really most important to her mental and physical health is building that special bond we have with our pets. Pay lots of attention to your furry pal! While you should never force attention on a kitty, Fluffy will definitely appreciate it if you take the time to talk to her, pet her, and just hang out with her. This can be as simple as giving her a quick forehead pat as you walk past her, or letting her snooze on your lap.

Visit Your Ashland WI Animal Clinic Regularly

Given the option, our feline buddies would no doubt rather stay home and take a nap rather than visit our Ashland WI pet hospital. However, proper veterinary care is crucial to Fluffy’s health. 

We advise that all cats be microchipped, spayed or neutered, and kept current on exams, vaccines, and parasite control. In between visits, keep a close eye out for signs of sickness, such as vomiting, unkempt fur, hiding, respiratory issues, changes in appetite, weight gain or loss, fever, diarrhea, and litterbox woes. Contact us right away if you notice anything off.

Do you have questions about your cat’s health or care? Contact us, your Ashland WI pet hospital, today!