Maybe you are a first-time pet owner and you have decided you want to welcome a cat, or even better, cats, into your home.
Perhaps you are already the loving fur parent of our feline friends. You buy them the best of everything you can find on the market.
You want your home to be welcoming and friendly to all, and that includes your cats as well.
What’s aesthetically pleasing or harmless to humans in the household may not be that great for cats, however.
If you have cats in your house, or are planning to, here are 8 easy steps for you to make a cat-friendly home for our furry friends.
1. Remove All Items That Are Dangerous To Your Cat
Do a quick check of things in your house that may be harmful to your cat.
Take the time to declutter and keep small items out of reach – you never know what your cat may suddenly put into its mouth.
Items like chocolate, batteries, medicinal pills and even grapes should be out of sight and in refrigerators or cabinets.
Plants like lilies and azalea can be poisonous to cats too, so if you like plants, get the ones that can co-exist peacefully with your cat.
2. If It Breaks Easily, Keep It Out Of Sight
Treat your cat like you would a baby, only that this an agile, four-legged baby who is interested in everything in your house.
Anything that topples over easily, like flower vases, porcelain dolls, or glass photo frames needs to be kept away.
Otherwise, your cat might swipe it away, and worse, hurt itself in the process.
3. Get Serious About Storage
Apart from dangerous and fragile items, secure miscellaneous items like electrical cords, telephone wires, device cables and the like.
If it’s expensive, that’s more reason for you to keep it away.
Consider investing in storage boxes and covers to organize your belongings. This is to ensure that you don’t come home to a big mess i.e. your cat showing interest in the toilet roll by pulling away at it.
4. Get Furniture That’s The Same Colour As Your Cat
For those of you who love cats and cleanliness, you probably already know that cats shed… and they shed a lot of fur.
If you want to keep your home looking clean for as long as possible, consider getting furniture the same colour as your cat.
At the very least, the cat fur will be less noticeable on them.
Instead of getting completely new sofas and cushions, however, why not get fabric slipcovers in your cat’s colour instead?
You don’t have to remodel the entire house to match your cat (unless you want to).
However, if you like your cat’s colouring, there’s nothing stopping you from making life easier by getting matching colours with the cat.
Here is how you can clean and maintain your sofa like a pro, even with cats in the equation.
5. Get Claw-Friendly Furniture
Cats love to scratch for various reasons. When they scratch, they are removing the dead outer layer of their claws.
They are also marking their territory by leaving visual scratch marks and a scent, as cats’ sweat glands are on their paws.
While the best thing to do is to train your cat to know what is acceptable to scratch and what isn’t, your cat probably has ideas of its own.
So, the next best thing to do is to get curtains, drapes, sofas, cushions, chairs and etcetera in fabrics that will not attract your cat.
When cats scratch, it’s all about the texture to them – anything coarse that they can really sink their claws into is attractive, like tweed. Most experts recommend leather as a fabric that cats won’t scratch as well.
Here are the best sofa fabrics for pet owners. For more on how to cat-proof your sofa, read this.
6. Avoid Leaving Windows Open
If you are getting a new cat, it’s best to ensure that your windows and screens are kept shut.
Cats are naturally curious creatures that will explore your house from nook to cranny.
Before they recognize your house as their home, it’s best to keep them indoors at all times.
7. Get An Early Start On Litter Box Training
Cats are creatures of habit, and they would prefer to answer the call of nature in the same regular spot.
Make sure to choose a large litter box for your cat to feel like it has more room. You may even want to get a second litter box to avoid the risk of your cat relieving itself elsewhere because it feels that the previous litter box is too full.
Do make sure to keep the litter box(es) clean, too! Here are five hidden litter boxes for you to consider if you want the litter boxes to be inconspicuous in your home.
8. Set Up A Toy Area For Kitty
Much like how you have areas in your house that are your own personal space – your bedroom, for example – your cat should also have its own personal space.
Scratching posts and cat toys should be in the same area, preferably near the areas where your cat loves to nap.
Scratching posts should be stable and textured, so that your cat can scratch away to its own pleasure without worrying about toppling over – the FEANDREA multi-level scratching tree is an example of a great scratching post.
There should also be a perch or bed for your cat to nap in, preferably somewhere sunny.
Finally, of course, you should also have cat toys for your cats to play with, and for you to entertain them as well.
Consider the classic cat feathers to tease your cat with, and stimulate their hunting instincts. It’s a great way to interact with your cat as well.
Otherwise, if you don’t have time, try this interactive cat toy roller, where your cat can have tons of entertainment by “trying” to get the ball – and in the meantime, get much-needed exercise as well.
In the midst of designing the purrfect living space for you and a furry buddy? Consider making your sofa cat-friendly with our wide selection of sofa slipcovers. Get your fabric samples below: