What are indoor cats

These are kittens and cats that have been bought up inside the home. This could be due to several factors

• Flat cats
• Home environments without suitable garden or outdoor access.
• Living near an area that isn’t a safe outside environment, near a busy or main road
• Specific reasons why owners wish to keep pets indoors
• Cats that have been injured and now require an indoor home to keep them safe.
• Elderly cats
• Cats with health problems

What do indoor cats need?

When a cat is an indoor cat, your home now becomes their environment, for day and nighttime activities. It’s essential that your home is set up to ensure that the cats health and wellbeing is catered for in your home environment.

This is vital for your cat to be happy and live a good life. It’s of the upmost importance that your indoor cat is both mentally and physically stimulated to ensure mental and physical wellbeing and keeping your cat fit and healthy.

Cats have natural behaviours and these need to be allowed inside your home as they would be outside. Giving your pets the resources to thrive indoors will enrich their lives. Before we explore these the most important thing for your indoor kitty will always be the adequate veterinary care.

Neutering - indoor cats need to be neutered

Vaccinations- yes they require these even as indoor kittens and cats

Flea and worming - yes they require these even as indoor cats

Playtime

It’s advertised that cats require playtime on average of 20 to 60 minutes a day. This is usually broken down into 10 or 15 minute sessions. Cats cat get bored easily so short burst of play keeps your kitty engaged and entertained.

Cats can also get overstimulated and become irritable, so short sessions ensures a balanced playtime with rest.

Space

It’s vital!

Cats like their own space - well don’t we all! It’s so important that you cat has this to promote a healthy environment for your kitty. Its a good idea to look at how much space you have in your home to how many cats you should realistically have. If adequate space is not given to each cat this will create conflict and an unhappy home environment.

Claws and paws

Cats like to give themselves a good mani, pedi. Whilst this might come at the cost of a sofa, chair, carpet or even walls it’s simply just their nature. Putting lots of different products in your home offers your furry friend a variety of choices and hopefully saves your home furnishings.

To name just a few: 

• Scratching post
• Scratching boxes
• Sofa scratching pads
• Jute or rug scratching products
• Jute rugs
• Climbing

Cats love to climb, so giving them adequate platforms to do so keeps them active and healthy. Cats like areas that are high up as sometimes this makes them feel safe and secure were they have a excellent watch post, we call this a safe space. Please note it’s important cats can access these safety without falling.

• Floor to ceiling scratching posts
• Wall mounted cat climbing activities
• Shelves
• Tops of your wardrobe

Resting

Cats love nothing more that to rest or just watch the world go by. When snoozing cats like to feel secure and know that they won’t be disturbed by any predators. These might be high up spaces where cats feel more secure. On top of wardrobes or even shelves. So looking at all the areas in your home and popping a nice warm furry blanked or an enclosed igloo in a safe space will help your kitty to relax and feel at home.

Litter Trays

Please read the litter tray advice for all information  It’s important to note with indoor cats that litter trays are their only option, so it’s vital that these steps are followed to ensure your kitty is completely happy. Simply put you cat will become stressed if they don’t have a clean and quite place or environment to go to the loo.

• They must be keeper clean at all times
• In a quite area of your home
• Multiple litter trays
• Not near food and water
• Not placed near toilets in bathrooms

Eating

Whilst an outside cat will go out and enjoy hunting we need to ensure we can entertain the indoor cats on this level. Feeding your cat and giving them mental situation will keep them hunting for a good wee while.

Puzzle feeders are great. They will use their mouth and paws to get their food and it’s much more stimulating that just putting down a bowl. There are many styles of puzzle feeders that will hold wet and dry food. Whilst this might mean your feeding area gets somewhat messy they will definitely have had a stimulating time!

Roll around treat balls- these are excellent to keep your cat entertained whilst the fight for the dreamies takes place. These can also be used to put dry food in as part of their daily allowance.

Food

With an indoor cat it’s vital to understand that due to not going outside they won’t be burning off nearly as many calories as an outdoor cat. Whilst they have play an understanding of the correct food for an indoor cat is vital.

An indoor only food is great for indoor cats. Indoor food tend to have less calories, which can help them maintain a healthy body weight. Indoor cats are at risk of obesity which may lead to other health conditions. We always advise speaking with you vet to get them on the right food requirements.

Warning Signs

Anxiety and stress with indoor cats. Indoor cats mainly do not cope well with any change within their home environment. It’s important to think of these before any changes are made.

Indoor cats can’t go outside to escape if they aren’t happy or feel stressed. The addition of a new pet or baby can therefore unsettle an indoor cat more that an outdoor cat. This will then manifest in your cat showing you they are not happy. The most common way they do this is weeing outside the litter box and on beds. It’s a short, sharp way of them showing you they are unhappy.

Indoor cats also bond stronger with their owners due to you being the constant companion in the lives. This might result in your cat becoming very clingy and getting stressed when your away for a long period of time or go on holiday. It’s always a good idea to introduce your cat to family and friends so when you do go away they feel safe and secure with their new butler.

Please be mindful towards your pet before changing anything in your home environment.