Many people think that flats don't offer enough space for cats to roam. However, with some clever furniture arrangement and the proper attention, you can keep your cat happy and safe in your flat.
“Cats can be perfectly happy in small spaces,'' says cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy. “It's not about the size of the space. It's what you do with it.” Your home's square footage is not at all the key to the question of pet housing.
Take the time to take proper care. “Cats are happy in apartments as long as they are being well taken care of, they have all their needs and they are being trained to what their environment looks like every day,” says Zac Yap from Top Cat Breeds.
Some cats are “innies” and some our “outties”. Some have the best of both worlds. But for those that are housed exclusively indoors, boredom can set in if their environment lacks enrichment.
Is it cruel to have an indoor cat? As long as your cat has the space and resources to express all of their natural behaviours and isn't frustrated when they can't go outside, there's no reason they can't live a perfectly happy life as a house cat.
While most veterinarians acknowledge that cats are much safer without going outside where they risk exposure to disease or trauma, there are some cats who may resist being indoors only. AHS encourages leash-training kitties who incessantly beg to be outdoors. It's easier than you think!
The bottom line is most cats can be totally happy living indoors – but owners need to put in the effort to provide for their environmental and behavioural needs.
Most felines will be perfectly content being left alone for up to 8 hours while you're at work. As long as fresh water is available, some cats can be left alone for up to 24 hours. However, longer or more frequent periods of time away, such as full days or nights away from home can be more disruptive.
While experts say that it's unlikely that cats will deliberately leap from a dangerously high window or terrace, injuries from an accidental fall are quite common.
Most cats will adjust within one to two weeks.
In addition, when a cat that is used to having access to the outdoors moves to an apartment where they can't go outside, they can become depressed.
Cons of Indoor Cats
Some indoor cats also experience depression and separation anxiety.
If your cat doesn't enjoy being petted, respect her desire not to be touched much. "Cats are like people—some enjoy a lot of physical contact with others, and some enjoy only a little," Nigbur says. Cats typically don't like being petted on their tummy, legs/feet, or tail.
Always supervise your pet while they are out on the balcony and never leave them shut them out there alone. Ensure they have access to clean, fresh water at all times. If you own a cat and you want them to use the balcony, we recommend having a 'catio' installed professionally.
But it is generally thought that a cat requires an absolute minimum of 18 sq. feet of total living space. However it is important to consider that cats have a huge need for vertical climbing and hiding space as well as floor space.
Cats are naturally solitary animals and are often happy without the company of their own species. They are territorial animals who don't like conflict with other cats. Introducing a new cat to an existing cat in the household takes time and patience – but don't worry, we have advice for this!
If you are just looking to get one cat, your future feline pet will not be severely deprived if you do not get another with it. A cat can live a happy life as the only cat in the house. At the same time, cats are more social than we may have at one time believed.
Cats in a single cat household may get bored and lonely if you don't provide proper enrichment, mental stimulation, and spend quality time together.
One important component of feline life missing for indoor pets is the ability to run, play, stalk and hunt more freely. As cats age, most adapt well to the calmer environments of indoor living. However, some have the energy of a kitten well into their adult years.
Yes! Studies have shown that cats experience higher levels of physical stress symptoms in the body when they can't be near their human, and those levels decrease significantly when they are with their human family once again.
It's estimated that cats spend 12 – 16 hours a day sleeping, and as indoor cats, my two love lounging around. They have several different preferred snoozing spots depending on the time of day. As the sun streams into the lounge room, they can be found having a kip by the window on their cat tower.