There are many people who live in a flat or an apartment and who want to live with a cat. Fortunately for them, this is possible, but… (there is always a but) it is very important that all the necessary care is provided.
So, if you are considering adopting a furry one, take note of the advice for cats in apartments that we recommend below.
Tips for the cat to be happy in an apartment or flat
Adapt your apartment to the cat
Yes, I know. It is your name that appears on the papers of the house, but it is very important to make the cat feel as comfortable as possible in the home. For it, We recommend buying one or more scrapers, placing shelves wrapped for example with raffia rope at different heights, and what is going to be more important: reserve a room for him where he can go to de-stress.
Also, and for your own safety, you must put nets for felines (on sale here) on the windows and also on the balcony if you had it. It is often made the mistake of thinking that the cat is very clever and that it will never fall into the void. And yes, they are very clever, but when they see a possible prey they focus only on it, and it is not uncommon for them to suffer accidents. In this article you have more information about it:
Keep it entertained in your absence
If you work outside It is advisable that you buy a Kong type toy for cats (on sale here) with which he can stay entertained while you are away. You have to think that a bored animal will be a furry one that sooner or later could have a behavior that you will not like; in the case of cats, they could scratch and / or bite as a result of frustration and boredom, so it is always better to avoid getting into that situation.
In the event that it was a young and / or nervous cat, and as long as you really wanted and could, it would be interesting to consider the option of adopting another furry to make them feel more comfortable. But, I insist, only if the cat that already lives with you is young, nervous by nature or loves to play. Felines that are adults (over 3 years old), or even older, usually have many problems accepting another companion, especially if they are one of those who like to be the only centers of attention for their humans or, on the contrary, to carry a little lonely life inside the home.
Give him a massage from time to time
The cat is a furry that tolerates the Stress. If you've had a somewhat tense day, for example, if you've had to take him to the vet, give him a massage to calm him down. You can do it with the tips of the index and middle fingers making circular movements exerting a little pressure on him.
Although, of course, another way to get him to relax / unwind is to lie down on the couch or in bed for a while, and let him snuggle up next to you while you caress him.
Play with him
Living in an apartment will require your family to spend a lot of time with it, play with it, and keep it fit. That's why at least three play sessions of about ten minutes each must be spent to keep you as healthy as possible.
If he is young and / or playful, he may need up to an hour or more of play a day. For example, Bicho, one of my cats, is 3 years old at the time of this writing and still has about the same energy as when he was a puppy. Thirty minutes of play / day may suffice, but only if they are intense; that is, only if he spends that time running fast from here to there chasing a ball.
How much space does a cat need?
One of the things that we must consider when adopting a cat is the space we have. Why? Well, for that you have to know that cats need several areas to do their basic needs:
- Bathing area: it will be a quiet room, in which the family hardly lives. Here you must have your sandbox.
- Eating area: it should also be a quiet room. In it we will put your feeder and your drinker.
- Sleeping area: quiet, comfortable and safe. It can be the living room, our bedroom, or any other room. Normally, it will be the cat itself that chooses this area, but we can help you decide by putting its bed where we want, although that does not mean that it will sleep there 😉.
- Play and exercise area: In nature, it would be called a 'hunting area', but since it will live with humans, it does not need to spend energy catching prey ... but it does have toys. This room must be the most spacious of all, with some furniture.
If the available space is not very wide, you can have the eating area and the sleeping area in the same room, as long as the feeder is placed as far away as possible from your food.
In addition, if we want to have two cats, we must bear in mind that each one will need its own areas, apart from those they share.
But How much space does each dog need? Well, the truth is that I do not know how to tell you a number of meters because it really will depend on each cat, the characteristics of each one, and where it was raised (those that have never been out on the street do not need so much space as those who have).
What I will tell you is that As long as there is enough space in the house to house the four areas you need, it will not matter how many meters you have.
Is a cat happy in a flat?
It can be, without a doubt. The human family must try to take care of him, attend him, give him affection and be patient with him.
Thus, sooner rather than later your trust will be gained.
With these tips, your cat will feel very comfortable living in an apartment, for sure 🙂.
One question if you have a cat does the name matter is that we are thinking of having a cat
Hi samuel.
Matter… well, not much. When you love a cat, you give it a name to call it from time to time, but in the end it ends up having more than one name. For example, one of my cats is called Bug. That is its official name. But I also call him "dwarf" (because when he came to the family he was a ball of hair that could fit in one hand).
Regards!