Cat Friendly Homes

When we bring cats into our homes, it's important that we do all we can to ensure they are suitable places for them. Even if our cats go outdoors (and I'll cover the indoor vs outdoor cat debate in another post), they will all spend at least some time in the house with us. So it helps to learn to think like a cat, in order to make sure that your home is as cat friendly as it can be.

In particular, they like lots of places they can go and be by themselves, hiding away, but still keeping a good eye on what's going on. We all know how much they like to sleep, and they like to know they have a number of different sleeping places. And they need to stretch and keep their claws sharp and cleaned, so things to scratch on too - we don't want them ruining the furniture. Finally, some things to play with, and for us to play with them with too. They are hunters and this instinct is always with them. It helps to create a very strong bond between us and them, and keeps them very happy.

My house is only small, but as I was thinking about this, I was amazed to realise quite how many "beds" Bella and Dylan have. I think the kitchen is their favourite room. There is the table (long ago taken over by Bella) with her food on, but also a towel and a great place to stretch out when the sun hits it. There are two chairs, both with pillows and rugs on, and this is where they sleep at night - and oftentimes during the day, especially the one beside the radiator. But both again have a great view out into the garden, so dozing is often done with one eye slightly open.......

That's not it though. There are two scratch boxes that are often used as beds, as is the mat by the patio door - again a great place to catch the sun. Then for Bella - as Dylan doesn't jump or climb, so she has two special places of her own where he can't get her. There's a warm rug on top of the fridge freezer (again a great view into the garden), and then she adopted a basket right on top of the kitchen cupboards that I used to store spare pouches in. That now has a towel in it for her to feel comfy and warm on. If I don't see her anywhere, that's where she is.

Into the lounge, and there are two sofas. They are great at taking one each. There's the pouffe in the corner, although that's been out of favour for a while now, and Dylan is quite happy to stretch out on the rug in the middle of the floor. The top of the fish tank was always Bella's favourite place, as it was warm and vibrated gently. But now taken over by Dylan.

Upstairs - actually not quite yet, as many of the stairs make great beds too. Dylan will happily lie on the landing floor, and likes the bit in the doorway to my bedroom. The pipes run underneath and it's a warm spot. There are two bedrooms, each with a bed, and of course, these also work well as cat beds. More Dylan than Bella these days, as he won't give her any peace if they're on the same bed. That's why she spends most of her time in the kitchen where he can't get her. But when Bella does sleep on a bed, she's always at the top by the pillows, yet Dylan always lies at the foot. No idea why. Will have to ask.

Ever since Dylan had his Christmas Day scare with the bag and hid for the rest of the day under the spare bed, he realised that that space also made a great bed. He's a bit of a scaredy cat where people are concerned, and tends to make a run for it if someone comes to the door. Used to lie on the landing until they'd gone, but now will make for the under-bed area. He'll often be lying on the bed while I'm working, but can often be found under the bed, and nothing scary going on at the time - but it's right by the warm radiator.

Talking of warm, another great sunbathing/sleeping spot is on my desk, under the lamp. It gets very hot, too hot for me, but they both love it. Bella's the jumping, climbing one - very nimble - and sometimes jumps from the desk up onto the printer, then onto the top of my bookshelf. Again a high spot that keeps her away from Dylan, but not to be encouraged as when she jumps back down, her first landing spot is the printer!! Can't be doing it any good! Of course the window sill is a great place to watch the world go by and both can spend hours there.

The bathroom is out of bounds. Bella's fine in there, but there's too much fun to be had for Dylan. He thinks he's the Andrex puppy and also likes to get into the sink to pull all the stuff from the shelf above down.

And finally my bedroom. The window sill is Bella's as Dylan can't jump up there himself - but he does like it, so I'll often lift him up onto it. That's south facing, so often catches the sun. And if Louis (neighbour's cat) sneaks in, that's where I'll find him too. Strangely, for the only real dedicated bedroom in the house, it has the fewest cat sleeping places. Just the window sill and the bed.