Becoming a cat owner can be exciting, yet overwhelming. You’ll finally have a furry friend to cuddle and play with; however, there are many things to keep in mind in order to properly take care of your cat. For instance, if you have an indoor cat, you have to fully understand how to care for your cat so it lives a happy, healthy life.
In this article, you’ll learn the main benefits and issues when it comes to owning an indoor cat. Then, you’ll learn about the top 7 tips to care for your indoor cat to be a responsible cat owner.
Can You Keep Your Cat Indoors?
Although you may want a cat, you may feel guilty about the lack of outdoor activity and exposure that comes with owning an indoor cat. Yet, it’s important to note that owning an indoor cat doesn’t mean you are depriving your cat of a lack of outdoor activity. If anything, you are saving your cat from a variety of health concerns, including:
- Disease
- Parasites
- Wild Animals
- Cars
As long as you follow the tips below for caring for an indoor cat, you can most certainly keep your cat indoors as this will protect them from the variety of outdoor dangers listed above.
Benefits of Keeping Your Cat Indoors
As briefly discussed above, the main benefit of keeping a cat indoors is protecting them from the outdoors. There are so many unpredictable factors that come with having an outdoor cat. An outdoor cat can easily be exposed to harmful parasites (fleas, ticks, ringworm) which puts both you and your cat at risk. Likewise, the unknown of cars, wild animals, and how other people may treat your cat put your cat at an increased safety risk.
Common Issues You May Face With An Indoor Cat
Although you do provide safety for an indoor cat, one cannot discount the issues that come with owning an indoor cat. This includes your indoor cat potentially damaging your belongings such as scratching furniture. Likewise, your cat could develop aggressive or anxious tendencies as a result of being indoors. And, your cat if you don’t have the right litter box and supplies could go to the bathroom in your house and not where they are supposed to in the litter box.
How To Keep Your Indoor Cat Happy
Now that you know all about the benefits of keeping your cat indoors and the common issues many owners face with an indoor cat, it’s time to learn the top 7 tips on how to care for your indoor cat to keep your cat happy and healthy indoors.
- Toys/Entertainment
An indoor cat needs to be mentally stimulated. This is because cats are very curious animals that need some form of entertainment to pass the time. Although cats are known to be able to be alone, that doesn’t mean they don’t get bored while home alone.
That’s why it’s important to invest in some interactive toys to entertain your cat. Toys can vary from regular toys that they can play with or throw around for your cat to get. Or, laser pointer toys are another favorite cat toy. There are even plenty of puzzles and intricate cat toys to keep your indoor cat entertained.
- Litter Box & Location
Another essential when it comes to caring for your indoor cat is providing enough space for your indoor cat, especially when it comes to where you place their litter box. This is because cats like having a quiet/low-traffic part of your home to do their business. So instead of putting your cat’s litter box in a common area of your household, consider putting it in a large bathroom or laundry room that is both well-lit and quiet for them to do their business.
- Quality Food & Feeding Times
Providing your feline with high-quality food is another must when it comes to caring for your indoor cat. This is because what you feed your indoor cat will impact them to maintain their healthy weight. A raw cat food diet is the optimal way to feed your feline friend regardless is they are an indoor or outdoor cat. It offers numerous health benefits and provides a nutritient-dense diet.
- Cat Collar
Many may assume that if you own an indoor cat, there is no need for your cat to have a collar. However, this is untrue as many indoor cats may try and escape. And, if your cat doesn’t have a collar on, this can be detrimental to catching your escaped cat. Therefore, when it comes to owning an indoor cat, make sure you have a collar that also has tags on the collar that has important personal information like your contact information. This is because, in the event that your cat does escape, someone who finds your cat can contact you.
- Allow Your Pet To Climb
Cats are curious and love to explore. This is especially true when it comes to cats climbing and exploring elevated surfaces. Therefore, you should consider getting your indoor cat something to easily climb on and scratch to keep entertained like a scratching post or tower/ structure they can safely climb.
- Catio
Another thing to consider for your indoor cat is building a sort of “catio”. A catio is a type of patio for cats that allows them to experience the outside without entirely having the ability to roam the outdoors all on their own. This way your indoor cat gets the best of both worlds in terms of getting some fresh air while staying safe.
- Love & Cuddle Your Cat
Last but not least, make sure when you are home that you give your indoor cat plenty of love, playtime, and cuddles. Just like humans, cats don’t love being alone for extended periods of time. Therefore, when you have time at home, truly spend quality time and attention with your indoor cat to make them feel loved and cherished.
Bio: Melissa Smith is a former dog trainer but forever pet lover on a constant rotation of foster cats and dogs. With a love for all animals great and small, she’s a freelance writer and resident pet wellbeing advocate at Raw & Fresh.