How can indoor cats stay active and healthy. What are the best exercises for indoor cats. Why is exercise important for indoor felines. Which toys and activities promote physical activity for house cats. How to create an enriching environment for indoor cat exercise.

The Importance of Exercise for Indoor Cats

Indoor cats face unique challenges when it comes to staying physically active and mentally stimulated. Without access to the great outdoors, these felines can quickly become sedentary, leading to a host of health issues. Regular exercise is crucial for maintaining a healthy weight, promoting cardiovascular health, and preventing behavioral problems that can arise from boredom and pent-up energy.

Indoor cats require daily physical activity to mimic the natural behaviors they would engage in outdoors, such as hunting, climbing, and exploring. By providing opportunities for exercise, cat owners can ensure their feline companions live happy, healthy lives within the confines of their homes.

Creating an Enriching Indoor Environment

One of the most effective ways to encourage exercise in indoor cats is to create an environment that stimulates their natural instincts and provides ample opportunities for physical activity. This can be achieved through a combination of vertical spaces, interactive toys, and strategically placed play areas.

Vertical Spaces and Cat Trees

Cats are natural climbers, and providing vertical spaces can significantly increase their activity levels. Cat trees, wall-mounted shelves, and window perches offer opportunities for climbing, jumping, and observing their surroundings. These elevated spaces not only provide exercise but also satisfy a cat’s instinctual need for high vantage points.

Interactive Toys and Puzzles

Engaging your cat’s mind is just as important as physical exercise. Interactive toys and puzzle feeders can provide mental stimulation while encouraging movement. These toys can range from simple feather wands to more complex food-dispensing puzzles that require problem-solving skills.

Playtime Techniques for Indoor Cats

Regular play sessions are essential for keeping indoor cats active and engaged. These sessions should mimic natural hunting behaviors and provide both physical and mental stimulation.

Laser Pointer Play

Laser pointers can be an excellent tool for encouraging quick bursts of activity in cats. The small, moving light taps into their predatory instincts, prompting them to chase and pounce. However, it’s important to end laser play sessions with a physical toy that cats can “catch” to avoid frustration.

Wand Toys and Teaser Games

Wand toys with feathers, strings, or small toys attached can simulate the movement of prey, encouraging cats to leap, run, and swat. These interactive toys allow owners to control the movement, making play sessions more engaging and tailored to each cat’s preferences.

Incorporating Exercise into Feeding Routines

Mealtime can be an excellent opportunity to incorporate exercise into your indoor cat’s daily routine. By making cats work for their food, you can stimulate both their minds and bodies.

Food Puzzles and Slow Feeders

Food puzzles and slow feeders require cats to problem-solve and work to access their meals. This not only provides mental stimulation but also encourages physical activity as cats manipulate the puzzles to retrieve their food.

Hide and Seek with Treats

Hiding small portions of food or treats around the house encourages cats to use their sense of smell and explore their environment. This activity mimics the natural foraging behavior of cats in the wild and provides both mental and physical exercise.

Safe Outdoor Experiences for Indoor Cats

While keeping cats indoors is often the safest option, providing controlled outdoor experiences can greatly enrich their lives and provide additional exercise opportunities.

Catio Spaces

A catio, or cat patio, is an enclosed outdoor space that allows cats to experience fresh air and sunshine while remaining safe from outdoor hazards. These spaces can be customized with perches, scratching posts, and plants to create an engaging environment that encourages exploration and activity.

Harness Training and Supervised Walks

Some cats can be trained to walk on a harness, allowing for supervised outdoor excursions. This provides an opportunity for cats to explore new environments, engage their senses, and get additional exercise. Harness training requires patience and should be introduced gradually to ensure a positive experience for the cat.

Encouraging Natural Behaviors for Exercise

Indoor cats benefit from opportunities to engage in natural behaviors that provide both physical and mental stimulation. By creating an environment that allows for these behaviors, cat owners can promote overall well-being and increase activity levels.

Scratching Posts and Surfaces

Scratching is a natural behavior for cats that serves multiple purposes, including exercise and claw maintenance. Providing a variety of scratching surfaces, such as vertical posts, horizontal pads, and different textures, encourages this behavior and the associated stretching and muscle use.

Hunting Simulations

Simulating hunting experiences can be an excellent form of exercise for indoor cats. This can be achieved through the use of toy mice, small balls, or even automated toys that move unpredictably. These activities tap into a cat’s natural hunting instincts, promoting physical activity and mental engagement.

Tailoring Exercise to Your Cat’s Age and Health

It’s important to consider your cat’s individual needs when developing an exercise routine. Factors such as age, health conditions, and personal preferences should all be taken into account to ensure safe and enjoyable physical activity.

Exercises for Senior Cats

Older cats may have reduced mobility or joint issues, but they still benefit from regular exercise. Gentle play sessions, low-impact activities, and exercises that focus on flexibility and mental stimulation are ideal for senior felines. Consult with a veterinarian to develop an appropriate exercise plan for older cats.

Adapting Activities for Cats with Health Issues

Cats with health conditions such as obesity, arthritis, or heart problems may require modified exercise routines. Work closely with your veterinarian to create a safe and effective exercise plan that addresses your cat’s specific health needs while promoting physical activity.

Monitoring and Maintaining Your Cat’s Exercise Routine

Establishing a consistent exercise routine is crucial for maintaining your indoor cat’s health and well-being. Regular monitoring and adjustments can help ensure that your cat remains engaged and active over time.

Tracking Activity Levels

Keep a log of your cat’s daily activities and play sessions to monitor their exercise levels. This can help you identify patterns, preferences, and any changes in activity that may warrant attention. Some pet activity monitors are available that can provide more detailed insights into your cat’s movement throughout the day.

Rotating Toys and Activities

To prevent boredom and maintain interest, regularly rotate your cat’s toys and introduce new activities. This variety helps keep exercise sessions fresh and exciting for your feline friend. Pay attention to which toys and games your cat prefers and use this information to guide future purchases and activity plans.

By implementing a combination of these exercise strategies and tailoring them to your cat’s individual needs, you can help ensure that your indoor feline companion remains healthy, happy, and physically active. Remember that consistency is key, and even short play sessions throughout the day can significantly impact your cat’s overall well-being. With creativity and dedication, you can provide your indoor cat with a fulfilling and active lifestyle that mimics the natural behaviors they would experience in the wild.

How to exercise an indoor cat

You might decide to keep your cat indoors for many different reasons, whether it’s to keep them safe from outdoor hazards, protect native wildlife, or stop them passing on infectious diseases like FIV. It’s extra important for indoor-only cats to get plenty of exercise to keep them healthy and happy, as they’re not burning off steam running around outdoors.

There are plenty of ways you can help your indoor cat to keep active. We have put together a few suggestions.

Controlled access to the outdoors

Although your cat needs to stay inside, they can still enjoy the outdoors in a secure environment. Building a ‘catio’ (cat patio) may be a solution to give your pet access to the outdoors while still making sure they stay at home. A ‘catio’ is a secure, fenced enclosure, usually attached to an owner’s house that your cat can freely come and go from. If that’s not possible, you could also have it be a separate area that you regularly take your cat out to. It allows your cat to enjoy being outside while keeping them safe, secure and close to your house.

Another option might be to train them to walk with a harness, so you can let them enjoy the outdoors without any of the hazards. Walking a cat is quite different to walking a dog, so don’t expect to be able to take them for a jog or lead the way – it’s more like following your cat with a very loose leash as they explore and guiding or moving them away from potential hazards, with the lead as a back-up in case of emergency.

Plenty of toys and playtime

It’s really important to play with any cat as much as possible, but even more so with indoor cats. Without free access to outside to hunt and chase, they can miss out on a lot of their natural behaviours. By playing with them, you’ll be helping them to get it all out of their system and they’ll be less likely to claw your sofa or attack your socks! Make sure you regularly change and rotate your indoor cat’s toys to keep things interesting for them.

Cats hunt and chase in short bursts, so play in five or ten minute sessions with pauses for your cat to catch their breath. Plan in plenty of sessions per day. Feed your cat right after a play session to make them feel like they’ve “worked” for their food.

Lots to scratch

Cats love to scratch, whether they’re inside or outside. It’s something they need to do to keep their claws in good condition. Indoor cats may need a few extra scratching options around the house. You can get different types of cat scratchers aside from the traditional ‘scratching post’ to make it more interesting for your cat. Look for different surfaces to scratch as well – sisal, wood, cardboard and carpet are all options. Every cat will have a different preference so figure out what your cat loves to dig their claws into.

Different things to explore

You can also introduce loads of places for them to explore – you can even buy special cat furniture but many cats may even find fun in cardboard boxes.

Make sure they have different levels to play on. You can get large cat climbers or trees that also have places for them to hide and to be up high. You could even install shelves or runways on the walls for your cat to make full use of your space.

Puzzle feeders

Puzzle feeders are great to combine food with exercise. It will help your indoor cat to practice their hunting and use their brain, plus they’ll get a tasty reward. Remember it’s important to not only keep your cat physically active but also mentally active to stop them getting bored.

Looking for the perfect exercise for your feline friend? Read our top tips to get even the most reluctant cat moving.

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15 Ways to Exercise Your Indoor Cat (And Why It’s so Important) – Cat Amazing

Exercise your cat. We know, that seems almost an oxymoron! Cats are naturally energetic, curious creatures, however, when they spend their days indoors, they can get a bit (or a lot) lazy. As you likely know, it is not recommended to let your cat explore the outdoors on their own. Though this is how they would normally keep fit, there are plenty of ways to get your indoor cat the exercise she needs.

Check out these 15 ways to exercise your indoor cat- one or more of them is bound to become your kitty new favorite activity! 

15. Consider a Catio

Whether you buy one or build it yourself, what is known as a catio, is a great way to get your indoor cat some exercise as well as some much-needed sunlight.

14. Make it a Routine

By making exercise a part of their daily routines, cats are more likely to adapt to it. Try to always give at least an hour before and after eating, before beginning exercise. 

13. Kitty Cat Pinata

Oh yeah, it is a pinata. for. your. cat. and it is filled with catnip! Fluffy is not only going to have a blast with one of these, but it will also help her exercise and stretch her muscles.

12. Present Him with an Empty Box

An empty box is literally the cat equivalent of the PS4. Seriously, he will find hours of fun within the confines of those four cardboard walls all the while getting some kitty exercise as well. Make him the coolest cat on the block by upgrading to a Cat Amazing. It doesn’t get much better than a box with holes ready for his favorite toys and treats!

11. Use a Puzzle Feeder

There is no shame in making a lazy, house cat work a bit for his dinner. There are plenty of types to choose from, including our popular Cat Amazing Sliders. A puzzle feeder is also great for slowing down fast eaters for healthier digestion and weight control!

10. Change It Up

To keep your cats’ interest piqued in his exercise routine, you should switch it up a bit as they can get bored fairly easily. And not unlike humans, when they are bored, they tend to eat more.

9. Build an Indoor Kitty Recreation Center

You can use a number of different things, most that are already lying around the house, to make a cool indoor kitty recreation center.

8. Get a Large Outdoor Enclosure

Many experts recommend keeping cats indoors due to the dangers outside, cars, people, other animals, etc. Luckily, there are options that make it possible for your kitty to come in contact with the fresh air of the great outdoors, safely.

7. Leash Training + Walks

Yes! Cats can absolutely be leash trained. These are cats we are talking about so they might not be too thrilled with the concept, at least in the beginning. This is why there are several different styles available, including a harness.

6. Offer Some Incentive

When all else fails, bribe him. Cats, like dogs, learn by conditioning. Basically, they see things in a cause-and-effect type of light. “If I do this, then Mom gives me a yummy treat”. Associate the exercise routine with positives.

5. Interactive Toys

There are dozens of different interactive toys for cats. The majority of these toys are made specifically to encourage physical movements, such as puzzle toys and wands. Get a variety to mix it up and keep it interesting. Cat Amazing Sliders is a shifting interactive treat maze that is sure to keep kitty entertained for hours.

4. Hide and Seek with Treats

If you have a chunky butt in the household, you sometimes have to get creative. My friends cat pawsitively adore her kitty treats, however, it can be a challenge getting her to actually work for it. This does not bode well for her figure so we decided to make a game of it. Hide your cats’ favorite treats around the house and let them run around. It’s also great entertainment during quarantine!

3. Make a Game of It

Laser pointers are fantastic for this purpose. Your cat will naturally find the urge to chase that little red dot, keeping him entertained while also providing a decent amount of kitty exercise. Be sure to get him moving!

2. Create a Kitty Exercise Station

The exercise station is going to be different than the kitty recreation center, as it is focused more around staying active, as opposed to strictly for entertainment purposes. Get a cat wheel, a climbing tree, there are so many options and combinations. Get creative with it.

1. Adopt a Playmate

One of the very best ways to ensure that your indoor cat is getting enough exercise is to pair him with a like-minded playmate. Always make the introduction slowly and do not leave them alone for long periods until they are fully acquainted.

The majority of overweight cats will not live as long as they would have, had they been at a healthy weight. Weight gain is the cause of many serious medical conditions like heart disease and diabetes (among other things). It can also cause breathing difficulties, as well as put undue stress and strain on hips, joints, and knees. Bottom line, being overweight greatly reduces the quality of life, and the life expectancy, of your pet.

While you have made the right decision by keeping your beloved feline indoors, it is imperative that he gets the appropriate amount of daily exercise. We want our pets to be by our side for as long as possible. We can ensure a long, happy, life simply by keeping them active.

Domestic cats 🐱 pet quality – ProPlan.ru

The cat is one of the most popular pets, which is not surprising. She belongs to companion animals, is not too whimsical in care and is quite clean.

The history of cat domestication

The history of cat domestication dates back about 10 thousand years. It is believed that it was then in the Sumerian Kingdom, on the territory of modern Iran and Syria, that the mutually beneficial coexistence of man and the wild steppe cat began.

People at that time began to live settled, were engaged in agriculture and had to protect their crops from rodents. Most likely, cats came to people themselves and began to live in the neighborhood. Wild cats caught rodents, and man gave them shelter.

Scientists believe that it was from the territory of the Middle East that cats then came to Cyprus and Egypt. A joint burial of a man and a cat, found on the island of Cyprus, dates back to 7500 BC.

In ancient Egypt there was a real cult of cats. The ancient Greek historian Herodotus (c. 484 – c. 425 BC) described it as a very special and amazing phenomenon. He argued that the position of cats was exceptionally privileged: during a fire, people first of all saved cats, in the event of a cat’s death, the family was in mourning for a long time, and the bodies of these sacred animals were embalmed and buried with honors. During the period of the Middle and New Kingdoms in Egypt, servants even relied on cats.

Egyptian civilization left many artifacts that confirm the special role of the cat. In modern museums, you can admire cat figurines made by skilled Egyptian craftsmen. Stones, papyri, sarcophagi depicting cats have also been preserved.

But in the Middle Ages, for some reason, people took up arms against cats and began to consider them the offspring of the devil.

Many animals, especially black and red, were destroyed or died at the stake along with their mistresses. After that, the number of rats and mice increased significantly and an epidemic of plague began.

Mariners took cats on their ships to fight rats. Thus, domestic cats spread throughout the world. In Russia, they began to appear about a thousand years ago. Cats in Rus’ were revered and protected by law. It is known that Peter the Great had a beloved cat Vasily, and his daughter Elizaveta Petrovna in 1745 ordered 30 rat-catchers to be bought in Kazan and brought to the palace: it was believed that the most talented hunters live in Kazan. Catherine the Second initiated the tradition of guarding art galleries by cats (rodents did not disdain painting and spoiled paintings), and to this day rat-catchers are kept in the Hermitage in St. Petersburg.

Despite all the vicissitudes of history, cats have forever settled next to humans. Interestingly, the process of domestication in cats has not gone as far as in dogs. Cats still easily survive in the wild without an owner. Kittens born on the street and not socialized get used to humans very poorly and remain semi-wild. Some scientists generally believe that there is no domestication of cats. In their opinion, cats live in a mutually beneficial symbiosis with humans. Opponents of this theory argue that the process of domestication of a cat exists because the animal is able to show love and affection to a person, unlike its wild relatives.

Selection of breeds of domestic cats began only in the 19th century, the first cat show was held in Great Britain in 1871. Many breeds were finally formed only by the end of the 20th century. In the world at the moment there are about 200 breeds of cats. These are the most common companion animals.

General characteristics of cats

According to the types of wool, long-haired, semi-long-haired, short-haired, curly and hairless (without hair) cats are distinguished. Moreover, within the same breed there can be cats with different types of wool. Mestizos (ordinary domestic cats) in central Russia are usually short-haired or semi-long-haired.

Size variation among cat breeds is not as great as among dogs. But there are large cats – Maine Coons, Norwegian Forest, Siberian, and there are miniature ones – Munchkin, Burmese. The average weight of a cat is 3.5-6 kilograms, however, at home, especially after sterilization, animals may be prone to obesity.

Cats live at home on average 14-16 years, but can be up to 20-22 years. There is evidence that feral cats living on the street die on average at the age of about 5 years. Rarely a wild cat lives up to 10 years. This is caused by injury and infection.

Care of domestic cats

Domestic cats are unpretentious and easy to keep.

Grooming

For longhaired and semi-longhaired domestic cats, grooming becomes the owner’s concern. Some long-haired cats do not manage hygiene on their own, and tangles can accumulate in places where the coat is thin and fluffy. To prevent the formation of tangles, some breeds of cats need to be combed out regularly with a special brush. You can buy a spray or powder in pet stores to prevent tangling.

Cats with long hair can be sheared. The coat of a smooth domestic cat does not require special care. It is not necessary to wash cats unnecessarily, since bathing is usually a lot of stress for them, blocking the benefits of the hygiene procedure itself.

Simply combing a longhaired or semi-longhaired domestic cat will help reduce the amount of hair on the floor, but if you take a kitten into your apartment, you should be prepared for the fact that trouble can be added anyway. Shedding in a domestic cat that does not go outside continues all year round without pronounced seasonality. In winter, it can be even more intense if the batteries are working at home.

If the air in the apartment is very dry, the cat’s coat can also accumulate static electricity. In this case, humidifiers can be used.

It is recommended to pay attention if the pet, which was carefully licked and looked after its coat, suddenly stopped doing it and tangles began to form. Perhaps the cat is in pain and needs to be seen by a doctor.

Nail care

A cat’s nails are constantly growing; Therefore, the house should have scratching posts that the cat can scratch. Place the scratching posts high enough so that the cat can stretch at full length while standing on its hind legs.

It is recommended that you cut your cat’s nails yourself about once every two weeks. You need to carefully consider the cat’s claws, for this you need to lightly press on the fingertip – the claw will come out. A blood vessel passes inside the claw, but it ends up to a sharp tip. If the claws of the pet are transparent, it will be easy to notice, but if the claws are pigmented, then the vessel may not be visible. Often, in domestic cats, some of the nails are transparent, while others are pigmented. It is necessary to “aim” at the transparent claw in order to understand how much to cut off and not hurt the cat.

Nails should be cut with special nail clippers, which are sold in pet stores. Human tweezers or nail scissors are not suitable because cat claws are round in cross section.

Dental care

A cat’s teeth are the teeth of a real predator. Cats do not have a single tooth with a chewing surface, they all have a sharp edge and are designed to kill the victim and tear off a piece from it that can be swallowed. Cats, both wild and domestic, are exclusively carnivores and their teeth are not designed for chewing or grinding food.

Healthy teeth in cats are white, strong, gums are pink, without signs of inflammation. To prevent plaque from accumulating on the teeth, the indoor cat should be fed solid food, such as dry food. By biting through the granules, deposits are regularly removed from the teeth and tartar is not formed. However, diseases of the teeth and gums are not uncommon in cats, so it is recommended to look into the pet’s mouth and contact the veterinarian in time.

What to feed a domestic cat

The usual diet of a predator is its prey, that is, small rodents, birds. Wild cats eat prey whole: this is how they get substances that are not synthesized in their body. For example, cats have a limited ability to digest carbohydrates, but they are needed to maintain normal bowel function on a protein diet. The grains in the intestines of the prey are already slightly digested by enzymes, so the wild cat is able to digest them.

However, modern domestic cats rarely hunt. For domestic cats, diets have been created that take into account the peculiarities of their digestion. These are dry and wet foods that contain all the right nutrients in the right amount and ratio.

For active, playful cats that go outside, you can use PRO PLAN® ORIGINAL ADULT for adult cats, with chicken.

Sterilized pets can be fed PRO PLAN® STERILISED with rabbit. This food is less caloric, aimed at maintaining a normal weight and healthy urinary system.

For older pets, PRO PLAN® ORIGINAL 7+ with salmon is best. The LONGEVIS® complex, which is part of the feed, prolongs the active years of a cat’s life, ensures the health of the skin and coat of an elderly animal. Of course, 7 years for a cat is far from the limit, but scientists believe that it is from this age that the gradual aging of the body begins and special support is required.

You can combine wet and dry food in a ratio of 30 to 70. Wet food comes in the form of pieces, pastes, similar to minced meat. You should choose the shape that the cat likes. Wet food allows you to maintain water balance, because cats come from hot countries. They are accustomed to conserve water in the body and drink little. At home, this can lead to kidney problems. Therefore, it is important that the cat drinks water, especially if she eats dry food.

Water consumption

Water must be in the bowl at all times. The cat will prefer fresh water, so it is recommended to change it as often as possible. Drinking water should be used. If tap water contains too much iron or has an unpleasant odor, it is not recommended for cats to use it at home. In this case, a good way out is bottled or boiled water.

If there is a dog in the house, it is better to place the cat’s bowls on a raised platform where the dog cannot reach them. For example, on the windowsill. A dog can eat cat food, and leave its saliva in a bowl of water, which will not please proud and clean animals.

Health characteristics of domestic cats

Health characteristics of cats are related to their origin.

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A very common disease in the second half of life of cats living at home is chronic kidney disease. Unfortunately, the symptoms of this disease appear only when 75% of the kidney cells are no longer working. Therefore, it is recommended to regularly undergo a medical examination with a pet with blood and urine tests, especially for cats over 7 years old.

Cystitis is a big problem in young animals, most often it is associated with stress. Domestic cats are very gentle animals and are more stressed than dogs. Moreover, stress in a cat can cause an event that is insignificant from the point of view of the owner.

For example, the arrival of guests, a noisy child, loud music, furniture rearrangement, renovation, new filler. All this can be an impetus for the development of cystitis. Urolithiasis also occurs, it proceeds with symptoms similar to cystitis (difficulty urinating) and sometimes requires surgical intervention.

Oddly enough, even a cat kept in an apartment can have fleas. Cats are often allergic to substances found in flea saliva. And even with a slight infection, such animals become covered with crusts and experience severe itching and anxiety.

Cats have specific infectious diseases – respiratory and intestinal infections. There are especially dangerous incurable infections that are contracted in fights, through sexual contact or from parents. Infection with protozoa and worms can cause problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

Do I need to organize walks

Do domestic cats need walks – a big question. On the one hand, in the fresh air, cats can actively move, realize their hunting instinct, and communicate with relatives. On the other hand, many dangers lie in wait for a cat on the street. Therefore, it is up to the owner to decide whether to let the cat out on the street. A domestic cat may well be happy without walks.

How to toilet train

A very important question that arises when a person takes a kitten or an adult cat into the house is how to toilet train the animal. If you take a kitten from a family older than 3-4 months, most likely he is already familiar with the tray. Usually, by this age, the mother cat teaches the basic hygiene rules to kittens. In other cases, you will have to spend some time training your pet.

It is recommended to buy a cat litter tray from a pet store. They come in different forms, but all perform the same function. There are trays with a lattice, for such toilets a filler is not needed. Trays in the form of a house are more aesthetic, but rather bulky. Trays with high sides, like houses, allow you to dig the filler and not scatter it on the floor.

There are cats who aren’t too picky about their litter box and litter, and there are those who will have to find these accessories by trial and error. Fillers are wood in the form of sawdust or granules, there is bentonite chips, silica gel pebbles, clumping or not – there is a huge selection in pet stores.

After you have finished organizing the toilet, you should show it to the kitten. It is necessary to take the kitten and put it on the tray after eating, after sleeping, after playing and after a period of activity. You need to watch the pet: if he is worried, spinning in place, trampling, perhaps he needs to go to the toilet. If he made a puddle in the wrong place, it is not recommended to scold him. Urine should be removed with toilet paper and put in a tray so that the smell remains there.

Usually kittens easily and quickly get used to the tray, but sometimes it can be difficult. You need to make sure that the tray is accessible, not too far for the kitten, there are no obstacles in the way.

You may need an extra tray at first. When the kitten understands what is required of him, he can be removed. If the owner leaves the house, he must limit the territory available to the kitten – close the doors to the rooms so that only the toilet and the kitchen, where there are bowls of food and water, remain at his disposal.

Cats are clean and fastidious animals, so it is better to clean the tray every day. If there are several cats in the house, the generally accepted formula for the number of trays is n + 1, where n is the number of pets. Competition for the litter box can lead to unwanted behavior and even illness.

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Domestic cat: everything you need to know

Cats are prepared for life on the street. But heavy traffic, illness, potential conflicts with other animals – all this makes the owners wary. We figure out what lifestyle is best for our pets.

How to determine if the cat wants to go outside

If the pet continuously meows at the door, he wants to go for a walk. And maybe even try to escape through the gap! Elderly or sick animals feel safer at home. And some are simply afraid of the street because of loud noises and new smells.

Benefits of living at home

• Being outdoors is a risk. A pet can get hit by a car or poisoned by garbage. Nothing threatens him at home.
• A domestic cat is unlikely to bring a dead bird or mouse to your pillow.
• With increasing housing density, cats are forced to share their territory with other animals. And because of this, they fight. A pet is unlikely to receive a combat injury.
• It is more difficult for a pet to catch an infection or a viral disease.

Disadvantages of keeping cats at home

• Some pets get bored at home and develop behavioral problems. Such pets can sit on the windowsill all day and look out into the street with hope.
• Domestic cats have fewer opportunities for physical activity. This leads to overweight.
• There are a lot of toxic items in the house: medicines, cleaning products, etc. And also – dangerous plants, for example, aloe vera.
• A lonely animal becomes dependent on a person. If you have two pets, fights can happen between them.

Checklist: How to make your indoor cat happy

• Prepare a suitable sized litter box and place it in a quiet, safe place. Also, clean up on time.
• Give your pet as much space as possible to explore – make high stands, get a play area and do not restrict him in his movements.
• Prepare as many rest areas as possible.
• Get a scratching post – several are better.