Tips on Keeping a Happy Cat

No matter what type, size or temperament of cat you have, keeping your pet feline happy can be a chore. Although cats are generally considered low-maintenance pets, there are a number of things you should consider to make your cat as happy as possible. The biggest challenges with cats often come from cats who are kept indoors. However, there are a number of ways to keep cats happy within their home.

  1. Creating a Cat-Friendly Environment

    • Whether your cat primarily lives indoors or outdoors, creating a cat-friendly environment for your feline is of the utmost importance. If your cat lives outside, make sure you provide adequate shelter and comfort for your pet in the form of a cat house or a bed. If your cat lives indoors, make sure your cat has access to an area in the house where it has room to run around as well as access to a window where it can enjoy sunshine and look outside. If it is in an environment where it is challenged by another animal it doesn't get along with, make sure it has a safe place to hide and call its own.

    Toys

    • A big part of keeping your cat happy is making sure it has adequate toys and treats to keep it happy and healthy. Make sure to play with your cat each day. Cats love to chase and pounce on toys, so playing with it can help ensure it is staying active and healthy. Also leave some toys, such as balls, out for your cat to play with on its own. Make sure to rotate your cat's toys every few months, so it doesn't get bored with its toys.

    Affection

    • Even though cats are sometimes considered to be fairly reserved animals, giving them human affection on a daily basis ensures your cats are happy, well-trained and comfortable around humans. If cats are not constantly given human attention, they can become nervous or scared around people, which can cause stress and anxiety in their lives. Affection also helps your cat feel loved and comfortable in its house or environment.

    Litter Boxes

    • A proper litter box is one of the main keys to keeping an indoor cat happy. Make sure its litter box stays clean and well-maintained. This includes keeping the box and lining clean and orderly, having feces removed from the litter daily and keeping the area around the box neat and tidy. Litter boxes also should be located in a safe area away from lots of traffic, such as a bathroom or a laundry room, where cats can have some privacy and safety while they use their bathroom. This makes cats more comfortable in their surroundings and lead to happier, more settled cats.

    Give Cats the Best of Both Worlds

    • If you have an indoor cat, make sure you take your pet outside from time to time. Either let the cat roam in a fenced-in yard, enjoy a screened-in porch or teach it to walk on a leash and take it outside every once in awhile. You also can purchase a portable fence to put your cat in outside for some exploration time. This gives your cat the ability to be outdoors without exposing it to the dangers of roaming around outdoors alone. If you have a cat that primarily lives outdoors, make sure to bring it inside your house or a garage in poor or dangerous weather conditions or to keep it safe from wild animals.