Indoor Cats: How to Make Your Cat Happy

Your cat can still be happy without setting foot outside!

Cats that stay indoors are at lower risk of getting injuries that are associated with the outdoor environment. Not only that, but they are also at far less risk of contracting infections and parasites. Ideally, all cats should be allowed to go outside to express their natural behavior; however, some cats need to be confined to the indoors.

When deciding whether to keep your cat indoors or not, you should assess your cat- Its personality, health, previous experience, home, local outside environment, and your own preferences. If it is to be kept entirely inside, your cat should be provided with ways to express its natural behaviors, to ensure its welfare, reduce its dependency on you and avoid undesirable behaviors.

Here is how to make your indoor cats happy.

1- Keep them active and occupied.

It is important and advised to allow your cat to exhibit its natural hunting behavior. Such behaviors keep them mentally stimulated and release the feel-good hormones called endorphins. Without these hormones, your cat may suffer from behavioral issues such as scratching, spraying, aggression, over-grooming, house soiling, and depression.

Moving toys which attract their attention such as fishing rod toys can often trigger their hunting behavior. Depending on the age of the cat and its degree of mobility, it is best to play with them for one to two minutes, five to ten times per day. You can also keep your indoor cats amused and occupied with other toys, climbing towers or activity centers. You can also create interest at mealtimes by hiding biscuits in puzzle balls or enrichment toys to give part, or all, of their daily ration. However, it is best to introduce these techniques gradually so as to ensure that they have enough to eat and don’t become frustrated. Swap them regularly to keep things interesting for them.

In spite of all this, how you are going to keep it occupied 24 hours a day is one of the most important considerations when deciding to keep your cat indoors.

2- Safe places

Prepare a special place for your cat where it can get some alone time. When you keep your cat entirely indoors, it will be unable to escape some of the disturbances that can occur in the home such as building work, renovations, visitors or other pets. This can give it stress and mental disturbances. That is why it is important to always provide your cat with an easily accessible place where it can hide which will help them feel safe and secure.

A hiding place for your cat can be something as simple as a cardboard box with large holes for air, access and a blanket. Alternatively, you could create some space under a bed or in a wardrobe provided the door will be left ajar. Bear in mind that your cat should not be disturbed when it is hiding.

Cats feel safer and secure if they can view their environment and surroundings from a height. Creating extra vertical spaces that they can use will increase their territory and help them feel secure. This is a common useful coping method for indoor cats that feel anxious or fearful. 

On average, cats spend around 16 hours intermittently sleeping throughout the day. As such, they prefer warm, comfortable and safe places to rest.

3- Feeding

Cats prefer to eat and drink away from their litter tray, as this is more hygienic. However, what many people don’t realize is that cats also like to have each of their food and water bowls in separate places too. This takes root back to the cats’ evolutionary past when they used to eat in a different area to avoid contaminating their drinking source with the decaying remains of their prey.

Try placing the bowls slightly away from the wall, where they can sit facing their surroundings because eating and drinking can be vulnerable activities for your indoor cats. 

4- Indoor risks

It is important to always remember to keep cupboards, washing machines, tumble dryers and toilet lids closed to avoid any risk of cat injury or drowning. Indoor cats are very susceptible to poisons and a number of household items such as some plants and flowers are toxic, and these should be kept safely away or out of the house. It is advised to always check to see if your plants are feline friendly before bringing them into your house.

Any potential escape routes through which the cat can escape, should be fenced over with a strong wire mesh or screen or simply kept closed. It is recommended that you insert a microchip into your cat, even if they live indoors, so that you increase the chance of them being reunited with you if they escape and go missing. 

You cat should be vaccinated and neutered.

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