What Indoor Cats Need to Be Happy

Posted by Jennifer Copley Jul 28, 2009

Outdoor cats face many deadly hazards, and contrary to popular belief, indoor cats can be happy if they are provided with enriched environments that fulfill their physical, social, and emotional needs. Indoor cats require:

• Companionship – Spend quality time with the cat each day. If adopting, get two cats, preferably littermates or feline friends at a shelter, if no one will be home for a significant portion of each day.
• Personal space and belongings – Each cat should have a bed, a place to hide (a cardboard box is good enough for this purpose), his own food and water bowls, his own litter box, feline-friendly toys, and a scratch post.
• Opportunities for exercise and the fulfillment of chasing and pouncing urges – Simulate hunting activities through play.
• Places to climb and perch – Purchase or build cat trees to provide climbing opportunities and high places to sit.
• Fresh air and interesting views – Provide an enclosed cat window perch or screen in a porch or deck and put something that the cat will enjoy watching outside it, such as a bird feeder.
• Good nutrition – Cats should be fed a high-protein diet.
• Veterinary care – This includes required vaccinations.
• Greenery – Having a few cat-safe plants around can create a more natural environment. In particular, cats should have a pot of cat grass to nibble, and many cats appreciate a little growing catnip as well.
• Safe outdoor excursions – For the best of both worlds, leash train your cat for outdoor walks or purchase or build a cat enclosure.