A cat can live their whole life in a flat and feel very good there. On one condition: that their home lets them do what they would do outdoors, that is hunt, climb, watch, hide and sleep in peace. Here is how to organise it, room by room, without turning your living room upside down.
What an indoor cat needs
For a cat, a good territory is judged by its resources: places to eat, drink, use the litter, sleep, scratch, perch and play. The more numerous and well placed these resources are, the bigger the flat seems to them.
Walk round your home with this list in mind:
- A high spot from which they can see the room and the outside.
- A hiding place where nobody comes to disturb them.
- A stable scratching post, near where they spend the most time.
- A clean litter tray, away from their bowl.
- Fresh water, in a spot separate from the food.
- Play every day, with you.
If one of these is missing, that is often where problems begin: scratches on the sofa, accidents outside the tray, night-time wake-ups.
Giving height
A cat feels safe when they overlook their surroundings. A clear top of a wardrobe, a sturdy wall shelf or a cat tree near a window is enough. Think in terms of a route: from the floor to the armchair, from the armchair to the shelf, from the shelf to the top of the unit. Your cat gains space without you losing any on the floor.
To choose a stable model and place it well, see our guide Cat Tree: How to Choose It and Where to Put It.
Windows, yes, but made safe
Looking outside keeps a cat busy for hours. But falls from a window or balcony are common, even among careful cats. Fit a net or a sturdy insect screen before leaving a window open. Be wary of tilt-and-turn windows too: a cat can get trapped in them while trying to get through.
Playing as if hunting
Play replaces hunting. An indoor cat who does not play builds up energy, and often burns it off at night or on your ankles. Two or three short sessions a day are better than one long session at the weekend.
- Take a feather wand or a toy on the end of a string.
- Make it move like prey: it hides, stops, sets off again, moves away from the cat.
- Let your cat catch it several times.
- Finish with one last catch, then give them their meal or a treat.
This ending matters. It completes the hunting sequence and helps the cat calm down. Then put the string toy away out of reach, because they could swallow the string. You will find more ideas in Keeping an Indoor Cat Busy: Games, Height and Routines.
Corners just for them
A cat needs to be able to withdraw. A box laid on its side, the space under a bed, an alcove in a low piece of furniture: they will choose for themselves, but the option must exist. When they take refuge there, leave them in peace, and explain this to children and guests.
They also like soft, warm textiles, especially where they can watch you go about your life. A folded blanket on a corner of the sofa or at the foot of an armchair often becomes their spot. Cats like to settle on our alpaca blankets, in alpaca and wool, designed in Estonia and made in Peru. Regular brushing removes the hair, and dry cleaning is enough when needed.
Keeping meals, water and litter apart
In the wild, a cat does not eat where they relieve themselves, and often drinks away from their prey. In a flat, keep this logic:
- the litter tray in a quiet spot, away from the bowl;
- water a few metres from the food, or even in several places;
- the bowl out of busy routes, where they can eat without being jostled.
A cat who drinks enough and always finds a clean tray has fewer reasons to go elsewhere.
A routine that reassures
A cat likes to know what is going to happen. Meals at regular times, a play session before your bedtime, the same rituals when you get back from work: these markers reduce their stress. When a change is coming (a move, new furniture, the arrival of a baby or another animal), make it gradually and keep their resting places and litter tray untouched.
Signs that should alert you
Some behaviours show that a cat is not well. They can come from boredom or stress, but also from illness. See your vet first if you notice:
- toilet needs outside the litter tray;
- excessive grooming, with bald patches;
- a cat who hides all the time or becomes aggressive for no apparent reason;
- a drop in appetite, unusual thirst or repeated vomiting.
Once a medical cause is ruled out, review their environment point by point with the list at the start.
In short
- Think in terms of resources: height, hiding place, scratching post, litter, water, play.
- Make windows and balconies safe before opening them.
- Play two or three times a day, and finish with a catch then a meal.
- Keep bowl, water and litter apart.
- A change in behaviour goes to the vet first.