Catify Your Home

As a cat parent, you want to make sure that your feline friend is happy and comfortable in your home. Fortunately, creating a cat-friendly environment doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your own sense of style. By incorporating some simple interior design and home decor strategies, you can create a space that both you and your cat will love.

Here are some tips to make your home more cat-friendly:

Create vertical spaces

Cats are natural climbers, so creating vertical spaces in your home is a great way to give them more room to explore and play. This can be as simple as adding a few wall-mounted shelves or as complex as building a custom cat tree. By creating high-up spaces for your cat to climb and perch, you’ll be providing them with a sense of security and comfort. There are more options than ever before for color, style and design for wall-mounted cat shelves and cat trees, so you can easily find something that complements your home’s current decor. Plus, don’t forget that items you already have in your home, such as bookshelves, can make great vertical space options for cats as well (just make sure you don’t have breakable items the cats can easily knock off!). 

Give them cozy spots to relax and look outside

Whether it’s a sunny windowsill or a warm bed, your cat needs a cozy space to curl up. Make sure your cat has comfortable places to rest and hang out that are all their own. Cat bed, hammocks, and wall and door shelves can be great options. And don’t forget to give them spaces that allow them to look out the window. Windows with interesting views can be a great source of visual enrichment for cats. A study by Melissa Shyan-Norwal that included 577 cats found that 84 percent spent time looking out the window each day, with two hours being the median time spent. Appropriately placed bird baths or feeders can be ideal for enhancing your cat’s window view. 

Provide them with scratching surfaces

Cats need to scratch to keep their claws healthy and to mark their territory. By providing your cat with scratching surfaces, you’ll be providing areas for appropriate scratching, which can help protect your furniture while also providing them with an outlet for their natural behaviors. There are a variety of scratching posts and pads available, so find one that suits your cat’s preferences (and your home’s color palette and design style) and place it in a visible location. When choosing a good scratching post, keep this advice from PurrfectPost in mind: The main characteristics your cat is searching for in a good cat scratching post are height and sturdiness, good material for scratching and shredding, vertical and horizontal surfaces, and a variety of materials and surfaces.

Give them their own safe space to hide

Cats love to hide and feel safe and secure in small spaces. Provide your cat with a cozy hiding spot, whether it’s a covered cat bed, basket, cardboard box, or tunnel. This will give them a sense of security and privacy while also encouraging them to explore and play. A pile of old clothes put in a closet, secluded corner or quiet room can also be a great option, as cats will feel safer surrounded by your scent and will love the coziness of the clothes. Some cats may prefer their hiding spaces on the ground while others prefer higher-up spaces, so keep your cat’s preferences in mind when creating safe spots for them. Don’t forget the cat carrier should also be a safe space. Keep it in a space that is accessible to your cat, as you don’t want it to only be associated with vet visits!

Hide your cat’s litter box – or not

The litter box is one of the most important aspects of your cat’s environment, so it goes without saying that your cat’s comfort takes precedence over your design preferences. Cats need options, so the general rule to determine how many litter boxes you need is adding one to your number of cats. Make sure your cat has easy access to a clean, comfortable litter box that’s located in a quiet, private location. The litter box should be large enough to provide ample space. Whether or not the cat is a kicker or sprayer - or if the cat has mobility issues –will help determine which litter box height is most ideal for your cats; and while some cats like a covered box, others may not. So be in tune with your cat’s preferences. With that said, there are still ways to incorporate litter boxes into your home decor in a way that both you and your cats can appreciate.

A good option may be a litter box cabinet–a cabinet with doors but no drawers can be the easiest to convert into a litter box cabinet by adding a cat door entrance. Other options include placing the litter box under an end table or bench you already have in your home, and then hiding it using decorative curtains or panels–which keeps the litter box out of view, while also giving  your cat privacy. Need inspiration? Pinterest is a great place to search “hidden litter box” for more ideas.

Consider “catios” and safe outdoor spaces

Cats don’t necessarily need a catio as long as you are providing sufficient stimulation, toys and other indoor enrichment, but if you have the space, a catio is something to consider to make your home even more cat-friendly. What exactly is a catio? A catio is simply a “patio for cats” and is usually built right outside a door or your cat’s preferred window. Catios can provide enrichment for cats by giving them the opportunity to explore the sights and sounds outdoors, while keeping them safely confined and away from dangers (that free-roaming cats are susceptible to) while also ensuring your cats can’t harm birds and other outside animals. 

Other tips to keep in mind

When working to create a more cat-friendly home, don’t forget safety. When choosing materials for your cat-friendly home, make sure to use non-toxic materials that are safe for your cat to be around. Cleaning products with cat-toxic ingredients are one hazard, but also be mindful of other common, but potentially toxic household items, such as potpourri and essential oils. While your priority when creating a more cat-friendly home should be ensuring your cat is healthy and safe, remember you can also have fun with designing or decorating your home! You don’t have to sacrifice your own sense of style to create a cat-friendly home. Incorporate cat-friendly decor into your space, such as a cat-themed artwork or decorative cat bowls. This will add a playful touch to your decor while also showing your love for your furry friend.