WHAT DO INDOOR CATS NEED? 11 ESSENTIAL THINGS
What do indoor cats need? If you have an indoor cat, you may wonder what they need to stay healthy and be happy. Cats do not need much attention or accessories to be satisfied, but they still need basic things and some enrichment.
Indoor cats need fundamental things like food, water, litter, bed, and toys. In addition, they may need some enrichment in their environment to be mentally and physically stimulated, such as cat trees, scratching posts, sophisticated toys, outdoor catios, brushes, collars, and more.
Let’s see what indoor cats need and how to provide them with the best products and accessories.
WHAT DO INDOOR CATS NEED TO BE HAPPY?
Cats are simple and easy animals to care for. Their independent personality makes it easy for humans to provide the basic needs required. Ultimately, they need food, water, and litter. But that is just the minimum a cat should have.
In the wild, cats hunt, are stimulated by many moving things, and keep their curiosity very active. You can’t expect your cat to eat and sleep all day. Cats are cute but are not an ornament. They are alive and require attention and love.
Cats to be happy need all their basic needs covered, but also need your attention, love, entertainment, physical activity, mental stimulation, and companionship. So cats owners have to make sure their cats exercise and keep mentally in shape.
Here are all that cats need to have to be happy:
1. LOVE AND AFFECTION
The first thing that cats need is your attention. You should spend some time playing with them, petting them, and even cuddling. Cats need to feel they are not alone and that you are there when necessary.
Suppose you leave them alone too much and do not spend some time with them. In that case, they will develop unwanted behaviors such as litter box issues, destructive behavior such as destroying furniture, aggression, and more.
2. LITTER BOX AND LITTER
Litter and litter box is necessary for all cats. You should try to use a suitable quality litter with little or no tracking and is hygienic for your cat and the house. There are new types of natural litter for sales, such as made with vegetable components like corn, pine, cedar, sawdust, wheat, soybean, and recycled paper.
It is better to use a litter that can clump and allows you to clean the dirty parts and leave the clean one there. It is good because you can economize and because it absorbs your cat’s urine and is more hygienic to use.
Whatever you choose, try to get a quality product for your cat’s health and hygiene. Here is some idea of a suitable cat litter:
3. CAT FOOD
Food should be of good quality and as natural as possible. Unfortunately, cheap cat food is full of colorants and additives. Your cat will pay the consequences of bad food in the long run, becoming sick, and you will have to pay unnecessary vet bills.
Good cat food is slightly more expensive but worth it. Here is how to locate good cat food:
- No colorants
- No preservatives
- Avoid cat food that contain ” meat derivates” always buy those that specify which meat
- Choose food with little or one ingredient
- Look for natural food
Your cat will thank you. Avoid too many treats, and buy natural treats as well.
4. WATER
Cats are not famous for drinking a lot of water. You should help them drink as much as possible. If you use water bowls, make sure to change the water often to keep it clean. If possible, get some water fountains. Cats are attracted by the moving water and will drink more.
Here are some excellent water fountains to use:
Check the quality of tap water in your area, but if you do not drink it, do not give it to your cat as a general rule of thumb. Instead, give him the water you drink. One cat can consume half a bottle a day ( will not drink it all anyway), but you can fill his water bowl every day, so the water stays clean.
Typically, you have to buy one bottle for your cat, which lasts two days.
5. CAT TOYS
Toys are necessary to keep your cat active and interested in the environment. Indoor cats do not have a lot of chances to run and hunt preys unless a bug decides to enter your house. Therefore, you should provide some balls, things to chew, moving toys, and more.
Find out what he likes. Most cats toys are inexpensive.
6. CATS TREES
If you want your cat to exercise a bit more, you can get a cat tree. It is a bit more expensive than the other things listed so far, but cats love to go to high places and climb. It is a good idea to enrich your cat’s environment.
7. GROOMING ITEMS
You may need tools to keep your cat perfectly groomed, such as brushes, combs, hair removers, cat shampoo, wipes, and more. If your cat is long-haired, you need some of those items to care for him properly.
Here are some ideas for cat grooming kits:
8. SCRATCHING POSTS
A scratching post can be a necessity for you and your cat. If you teach your cat to use a scratching post earlier, you can save your couch and the house furniture.
Cats need to sharpen their claws. If you do not have a scratching post, they will find some other object to use.
9. CAT’S BEDS
If you want your cat to sleep in a specific place or have his sleeping area, you could get him a comfy cat bed. There are plenty of funny, fluffy, and warm beds. Cats do not always use the beds you provide, but it is good for them to feel they have a private space.
In winter, they may appreciate a cat cave or a fluffy-covered bed.
10. SAFE AND QUITE ENVIRONMENT
Cats love to have a safe and quiet environment, which means no high volume sounds, no changes in the house arrangement, and no new people or pets coming in constantly. Best if they have their hiding places.
The environment needs to be safe, meaning that you have to remove cables and any object that can be dangerous for your cat. Cats have the habit of getting into everything and can get injured if you don’t secure or remove possible dangers from your house.
11. PROVIDE YOUR CAT A PLACE TO LOOK OUTSIDE
Leave a window opened or provide a place where your cat can go to watch birds, moving people, cars, and other animals. Cats can spend the entire day watching outside. It is part of their nature. Try to figure out a way to let them do it.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do indoor cats get depressed?
Indoor cats can get depressed if they do not get enough attention or do not have the chance to get a rich environment or someone to play with. Although cats are independent, they still need love and a lot of attention.
What do indoor cats do all day?
Indoor cats spend their day sleeping, eating, playing, exploring, and trying to find new challenges. In addition, they spend a lot of time grooming themselves.
How do I know if my indoor cat is bored?
You know that your cat is bored because you will see him sleeping a lot and showing no interest in play, toys, yourself, and the environment. You can see that he is sad and need an injection of life.
I am completely a dog person. Cats to me are very mysterious, almost like ghosts. I have been told that cats are not that affectionate or loyal like dogs.