I have put in a lot of on-the-job-training, internet research and book reading in my effort to learn how to create a secure and happy environment for the incredible rescued cats I have been privileged to care for.
Cats are intelligent, thoughtful, personable animals. They are capable of creating a real bond with us. Of course this is partly because we do things for them, but that is what you would expect with animals and humans. If you treat others well, so shall you be treated.
So it is with cats. Provide for them, take care of them, and you will have a grateful and gracious companion.
“A cat doesn’t care if you are smart or dumb, give him your heart and he will give you his”.
Abraham Lincoln
There are things you can do for your cat that your pet will very much appreciate.
There is more to see and learn on my blog home page Great Cat Info
Even though I have spent a fair amount of time around cats, I cannot guarantee that your cat will love all the things I suggest to you here, but I can say they probably will. I would be willing to bet on it.
Let me share with you some things your cat will love. Probably.
A List of Things You Can Do to Give Your Cat a Happy Life
- Give them a cat tree to climb on.
- Help them to hydrate with a water fountain.
- Provide a litter box that is easy for them to use.
- Use litter that feels right to them.
- Keep their litter box clean.
- Have lots of toys for them to play with.
- Serve them on cat-approved dinnerware
- Provide some nice cat beds.
- Get them a carrier kennel they don’t hate.
- Give them something to help them relax
- Let them have a window to look out of.
- Give them love and attention.
For details on each item on this list please continue…..
1. Give Them a Cat Tree to Climb On
I think we can all agree that cats like to jump, climb, and hang out in high places.
I will guess that you have seen your cat getting up somewhere high and just lounging there doing their best noble jungle cat impression.
Cats seem to love jumping from one elevation to another, whether it be upon refrigerators or kitchen counters or bookcases. Their grace and agility is something to behold, but it can be a little unnerving.
Maybe a cat tree would be a good idea. It might distract them from going up to places in your home you would rather they not go, and since the tree doubles as a scratching post, maybe they will scratch the tree rather than the furniture.
A cat tree that satisfies some of your cat’s natural instincts might serve to reduce any stress your cat may be experiencing. A cat tree could be a great thing for your cat. To help you choose one, I wrote about some great cat trees in my blog post How to Choose a Cat Tree
2. Help Them Hydrate with a Water Fountain
As you know, staying hydrated is important for humans and cats.
Because domestic cats tend to have a low thirst drive, they often need to be encouraged to drink water.
Your cat’s low thirst drive may be attributed to the generally accepted theory that domestic cats are descendants of North African Wildcats that inhabited areas where water sources were scarce.
Our cat’s ancestors may have had to adapt to doing without much water. However, our pet’s reluctance to drink is not good for them.
A source of hydration for cats is the food they eat, but our domestic cats are not eating the prey food that their ancestors did.
I looked at a lot of cat food labels and found this about the moisture content of cat food:
- Dry cat food, also known as kibble, typically has a moisture content between 8 and 12%.
- Canned cat food, also known as wet cat food, typically has a moisture content between 75 and 85%.
You can check this yourself by looking at the label ingredient list of various brands of dry and canned cat food. Look for a section labeled “INGREDIENTS”, followed by a section labeled “GUARANTEED ANALYSIS” under which you will find “Moisture” expressed as a percentage.
If your cat’s diet includes dry cat food, there will less moisture available from food.
If your cat’s diet is exclusively wet food, that is good. However, you may still want to provide access to a water source they are attracted to.
For examples of some really good fountains, visit my blog post How to Choose a Cat Water Fountain
3. Provide a Litter Box That is Easy for Them to Use
The litter box is important…..
For your cat’s peace of mind:
- Your cat needs to know it has a place that is reserved for them to go when they need “to go”.
- It will satisfy their native instinct to go to the bathroom on a sandy-like surface and cover it up
For your peace of mind:
- You will be happy knowing your cat is using the litter box and not your floor or sofa
- It will allow you to monitor their health by observing that everything looks as is should
To learn about how to find a litter box that is easy for you to clean and easy for your cat to use, you may wish to visit my blog post How to Choose a Litter Box
4. Use Litter That Feels Right to Them
Important factors to consider when choosing litter include:
- texture – Cat paws are sensitive. The litter should have a surface that your cat can stand on without experiencing discomfort.
- absorbency – It will not be pleasant for you or your cat if the litter does not do its job of encapsulating the poop and urine in a way that makes it easy to be scooped and removed.
- smell – Because they have a highly developed sense of smell, the litter should not emit an odor that may seem strange to your cat, so look for unscented litter.
For more about litter, including a simple explanation about clumping and non-clumping litter and which is best for you, please see my blog post How to Choose Cat Litter
5. Keep the Litter Box Clean for Them
Back in the old days, gas station billboards often included the phrase “Clean Restrooms”.
We all want our restrooms to be clean. Cats too.
We will all do a better job of keeping our cat’s litter box clean if we make it convenient for us to keep our cat’s litter box clean.
I have a blog post about how to make litter box cleaning quick and easy. You may not enjoy cleaning the litter box, but it could be much less a chore after you visit How to Set Up Your Cat Litter Box
6. Have Lots of Toys for Them to Play With
Cats can get bored. They sleep a lot, but when they are awake they can be very active and looking for something to do. Play acts as a replacement for their basic instincts as a predator.
Toys do not have to be complicated. I know a cat named Sarah who has a fluffy little ball that she just loves. She will carry it around from room to room, then suddenly drop it and start batting it around and chasing it.
Get them some stuff to play with. That way they do not have to resort to the pull-cord on the table lamp or the figurine sitting on the shelf.
When you go online or to the store to shop for cat toys, you will find a zillion of them. You will find help sorting through the multitude of cat toys when you visit my blog post How to Choose Cat Toys
7. Serve Them on Cat-Approved Dinnerware
This food bowl thing does not have to be complicated or expensive.
I would avoid lightweight plastic or paper dishes that can slide around when they are trying to eat.
Human dinnerware ceramic bowls and plates that you find at your favorite discount store will do just fine.
Be aware that some artisan and brightly colored glazed ceramics can have unacceptable levels of lead. If you go with a plain white ceramic you probably do not have to worry about that.
It is important to wash the dinnerware after every meal, just as you do for yourself.
You will find examples of simple cat bowls on my blog post How to Choose Cat Bowls.
8. Provide Some Nice Cat Beds
I have seen many a cat curl up in a soft bed and sleep like a baby. They seem to really like round beds that offer a little warmth.
As you know, cats spend a fair amount of time sleeping. A nice place to do that would be appreciated.
For five tips on what to avoid, visit my blog post How to Choose a Cat Bed
9. Get Them a Carrier Kennel They Don’t Hate
You may or may not travel with your cat, but sooner or later your pet will need to go see a veterinarian.
Just as humans are not crazy about going to the doctor, animals seem to really hate going to the vet. So let’s make that experience as safe and comfortable as we can.
One way to do that is by transporting them in a carrier kennel that is safe and comfortable. This is not so much about making them happy as it is about making them less unhappy.
For tips on achieving that, visit my blog post How to Choose a Cat Carrier
10. Give Them Something to Help Them Relax
All of those things we list above will have a great effect on your cat’s outlook on life. Sometimes they may still feel a little anxious about things.
Perhaps a treat with a calming formula or a little cat music could help.
For some suggestions, visit my blog post How to Relax Your Cat
11. Let Them Have a Window to Look Out Of
The world is full of portraits and photographs of cats in windows. They love gazing at all that is out there. Perhaps it is the call of the wild. Maybe they just like to people watch….or squirrel watch….or bird watch.
If you have a bird feeder or animal feeder in your yard, placing those where your cat can see them out the window will occupy your kitty for long periods of time.
If you have a cat tree, a great place for it would be next to a window. If there is a table at or near a window, maybe clear a space for them. Anything you can do to give them safe access to a view.
Since your kitty is capable of dislodging a window screen and perhaps tumbling to an injury or running away, it is best if the window is closed.
12. Give Them Love and Attention
Some people seem to have the idea that cats are aloof and detached. This has not been my experience.
They really do have their own unique personalities which they express in their relationship with us.
These are real-life descriptions of some cat friends of mine:
- Jack loves chin rubs, forehead rubs, and back rubs.
- Maxie loves touching foreheads with you and curling up on your lap.
- Miss Kitty loves brushing against your leg and curling up at your feet
Cats are beautiful old souls. Love them and they will love you back. With some cats their expression of that love may be subtle, but it is there. That I can guarantee.