Cat & FAMILY
The shift in North America to keep cats indoors has been a positive one. A cat kept indoors is protected with the average lifespan of an indoor cat being between 12 to 15 years compared to the indoor/outdoor cat, whose lifespan is between two to five years. Due to modern veterinary care it is not unusual for an indoor cat to live over 20 years. However, an indoor cat needs much more than just food, water and a litter box. They require an enriched environment that includes companionship and mental stimulation. It helps prevent boredom, obesity, obsessive compulsive disorders, stress reduction and behavioural issues. Understanding feline behaviour and providing an environment that mimics
the cat’s natural environment is the key to creating a happy feline and improving the lives of indoor cats.
THE RECLUSE
Provide a space the cat can call his own, in addition to eventually
allowing it to have access to the complete home. This room should include a place for food and water, a bed, a litter box, a place to scratch, climbing areas and a “perch”—ideally by a window.
THE HUNTER
Cats need toys that mimic the hunt in order to be stimulated. Cats have preferences for what they hunt, which means they have toy preferences.
THE VOYEUR
Cats love watching over their environment. Indoor cats love watching the outside world. Furniture or perches near windows provide hours of entertainment.
THE SOCIALITE
Although cats are solitary hunters, they are social and require companionship. It is ideal to adopt a pair of kittens or a mother and kitten. Owners who are away a great deal of the time should consider adopting a companion cat. Owners should gently stroke their feline housemates several times a day. Some cats prefer only a few pats at a
time, others love being combed and stroked for ages. The more the owner interacts with their cats, the more enjoyable their lives are and the more rewarding the relationship is. By bringing a bit of the outdoor experience inside one can improve the lives of indoor cats.
THE PLAYER
Try a number of toys in order to decipher your cat’s preferences.
• Toys that squeak, chirp or vibrate remind a cat of a moving meal. For a cat that enjoys catnip, it can be included in many of their toys. Fifty percent of cats have a genetic predisposition to be able
to enjoy the effects of catnip.
• Toys on a string allow the cat owner to interact and enjoy playing with the cat and can mimic prey.
• Ping pong balls, toy mice, crumpled pieces of paper, tissue paper and
gift bags to hide in all are great play diversions.
• Scratching posts, vertical and horizontal allow cats to exercise
this innate behaviour.
The shift in North America to keep cats indoors has been a positive one. A cat kept indoors is protected with the average lifespan of an indoor cat being between 12 to 15 years compared to the indoor/outdoor cat, whose lifespan is between two to five years. Due to modern veterinary care it is not unusual for an indoor cat to live over 20 years. However, an indoor cat needs much more than just food, water and a litter box. They require an enriched environment that includes companionship and mental stimulation. It helps prevent boredom, obesity, obsessive compulsive disorders, stress reduction and behavioural issues. Understanding feline behaviour and providing an environment that mimics
the cat’s natural environment is the key to creating a happy feline and improving the lives of indoor cats.