Hi everyone, I’m excited to tell you that the fabulous cat product company Catit have written an informative and helpful guest blog for me this month. At the end of this post there is a link to use to sign up to their newsletter and get 10% off your first order of Catit products. Myself and Mr Ringo hope you enjoy reading the post. xx
With pet ownership increasing across the UK, many people are looking for ways to ‘catify’ their home space and create the perfect environment for their furry friend. Here, Paul Trott — UK Marketing Manager at the cat care experts Catit — shares his top tips on how to create a more cat-friendly home.
As of 2021/22, pet ownership has reached 62% of households in the UK, a big jump from 2017/18 and the preceding years where this figure hovered at 45 – 47% (Statista). With this rise in pet ownership, more and more people have been searching for how to ‘catify’ their homes and make them more hospitable for their feline friends (Pinterest Trend Report 2022). So, how can you create the perfect environment for your cat?
There are many ways you can add some cat-friendly elements to your home, depending on how much time you want to spend on it and how enthusiastic you are about DIY. Here, we’ll take you through lots of different ideas so that you can get started.
A comfy bed
The first thing that can always have a little makeover is your cat’s sleeping (or napping!) space. Having a comfy bed is very important for our four-legged friends, especially as cats sleep in smaller cycles throughout the day and will often need lots of naps, spending a lot of time in their bed. In fact, some cats sleep over 15 hours per day (Pet MD). Check that their bed is comfortable, and consider adding some other soft space, such as a cocoon, or even a little cat hammock.
If your cat enjoys burrowing into the laundry basket, you might want to consider placing a basket or container near their bed with their own blanket in it, to keep them cosy — and out of your clean laundry!
Multiple water stations
Encouraging cats to drink water can often feel like a real undertaking, as many felines are fussy about what they drink from and when. One way to ensure that your cat stays hydrated is by keeping multiple water stations around your home that your cat can choose from. Cats often prefer running water to having still water, so investing in a cat water fountain for at least one of your rooms is a great option, especially if your kitty doesn’t tend to drink enough water throughout the day.
Remember to keep all the water stations away from your cat’s food, as they usually don’t enjoy drinking water that is directly by their food bowls. With multiple sources of water to drink from, your cat should stay well hydrated, and be happier for it.
Climbing space
If you are serious about ‘catifying’ your space, then you’ll want to include some climbing areas or furniture for your feline friends. You could also create one of the increasingly popular ‘superhighways’ for your cat — a long walkway attached to the wall that allows your cat to run the entire length of the room, potentially jumping off onto other corners or furniture.
While constructing climbing space can be a bit of a challenge , it’s also extremely fun and can really add something special to your spare room, living space, or conservatory. If you are considering this addition to your home, take the time to measure the space accurately if you’re building it yourself. You should also take the time to watch your cat, and see where their preferred haunts are, as this will give you a clue about where to install any climbing shelves.
Coordinated décor
As well as being fun for your cat, it’s important that your home is comfortable and stylish for you as well. So, make sure that you don’t get carried away and add things that turn into clutter, or detract from the look you’ve been cultivating in your house. Instead, pause to think about what will easily fit with the décor that you already have in the house.
This might mean that you install climbing shelves and walkways for your feline friend, but build them in a certain wood or colour that coordinates with the existing colour scheme or furniture selection in the room. Or, it might mean that when you choose your comfy array of bedding items for your cat, they fit with the colour palette of the living room so that you and your kitty can both be comfortable and stylish.
Keep it playful
The last thing to keep in mind is that cats are naturally playful creatures — they enjoy exploring, trying new toys, and generally being mischievous! So, add some toys around your house, so that your cats will always have something to play with. You can also add scratching posts in the corners of different rooms, which will give your cat something to occupy their paws , and serve the dual purpose of keeping them away from your furniture.
If you want to make more extensive changes to your home, you might also consider adding small hiding places around the home. This might be underneath countertops, or behind a sofa. Whatever you choose, make sure to place a toy or blanket inside when first showing your cat their new area.
Making your home as comfortable for your beloved cat as possible can be a fun exercise that allows you to make their accessories part of your décor. So, use these tips to get started and catify your home to make it into a perfect habitat for your feline friend. You can also sign up to Catit’s newsletter and get 10% off your first order using this link, giving you a head start on creating the perfect cat-appropriate home.
