Mary Allen
Anyone who decides to buy one or more cats is inevitably faced with the question of whether the new roommate should live as an indoor cat or an outdoor cat. In cities where there is often heavy traffic and you don’t have your own garden, keeping them indoors is particularly popular.
In the best-case scenario, as a future cat owner, you will deal in advance with how you can best meet the requirements of an indoor cat within your own four walls. The following is an overview of the most frequently asked questions about keeping an indoor cat.
The Demands of an Indoor Cat
Indoor cats need even more attention than outdoor cats. Before buying one, you should honestly ask yourself whether you have enough time to meet the cat’s needs and are ready to make adjustments to the home.
The Right Environment: Cat-Friendly Habitat
The life of the cat in the apartment can be divided into four areas of life:
- the feeding place
- the quiet zone
- the play zone
- the area of the litter box
It is important that the apartment can be divided into precisely these clear areas. Cats are very clean animals and do not like it when the litter box is close to where they can eat and sleep. Therefore, if possible, it should be in another quiet room that is accessible at all times. Make sure that the litter box is always clean and that each cat has at least one separate litter box. Another important area is a clearly defined feeding place and a rest zone. The indoor cat’s largest area of life must be suitable for playing, climbing, and scratching.
Hiding Places for Indoor Cats
A cat-friendly apartment is important so that the cat can feel comfortable in the apartment. An important criterion for this is that several hiding and retreat options are available at different heights within the apartment. Places under beds, sofas, on shelves, baskets, and cardboard boxes are particularly popular with indoor cats. Even with small means such as overhangs over sofas and beds, cleared shelves, or cozy cat baskets, the room quality for the cat can be increased – even in smaller rooms.
Cats love raised berths, for example on cupboards, from which they can watch everything. However, these must of course be cat-proof. Your four-legged friend should always be able to reach his berth without danger. A special highlight is warm sunbathing areas on heaters or in the sunshine. Clear out large flower pots and decorations from the windowsill and instead give your cat a cozy lookout spot by the window. Make sure to include the environment in the cat’s field of vision and observation, because everything that moves is interesting for cats. If the view is rather monotonous, you can make it more interesting:
- Position plants in front of the window in the cat’s field of vision, which move in the wind and can be observed with great interest.
- Put a bird feeder in the garden. The lively comings and goings are not only popular with cats.
- Hang wind chimes or mobiles in the outdoor area, which also provide variety.
If you have a balcony, let your cat get some fresh air or sunbathe there. Cat grass can also be planted here, which most indoor cats prefer to eat. With a simple cat protection net, you can get in
By the way, avoid falling from the balcony. A four-legged friend without any other free space will appreciate the variety on the balcony.
Second Cat: Indoor Cats Need a Company
Cats love to play with fellow cats, they seek other cats’ bodies and groom each other. Contact with other four-legged friends is a basic need for many cats. Acquiring a second cat can therefore make sense, depending on the situation, because if their owners are absent during the day, the cats can keep each other busy. Together they are more balanced and less bored. By the way: Contrary to popular belief, it is quite possible to keep dogs and cats together. Sometimes they get along splendidly.
The Optimal Food: What do Indoor Cats Eat?
Indoor cats have special needs. In order to ensure your health and well-being, it is important to combine species-appropriate husbandry and an appropriate diet. A cat who lives exclusively in the home spends a lot of time sleeping, eating, and grooming.
Due to the lower physical activity, the energy requirement of indoor cats is rather moderate compared to outdoor cats. A lack of exercise can lead to slower bowel movements in indoor cats. In addition to being overweight, possible consequences include digestive problems, which can lead to soft stool and an unpleasant stool odor. In addition, an indoor cat devotes around 3-4 hours a day to grooming itself. This favors the swallowing of hair and the formation of hairballs in the stomach and intestines. So make sure you choose a food that is tailored to your cat’s needs when it comes to nutrition.