Avoiding stress with cats

More and more cats are kept inside the house. After all there are many dangers for the cats outside. Only think of the traffic: the chance that a car knocks down a cat is considerable. Also clashes and fights between cats with wounds and abscesses as consequence are factors which contribute in an owner’s decision to keep the cat inside. But it is not only the danger which keeps the cat inside the house: Research shows that also neighborhood squarrels are important: a cat answers nature’s call in the neighbor’s garden or digs in his flower garden or vegetable garden….

Keeping a cat inside the house isn’t a problem, but you should give the cat enough space. Many people think that the cat, since it is a small animal, only needs a small space. Wrong. The animal’s size doesn’t determine the amount of space it needs. Much more important is that the animal can lose his energy. The cat certainly needs space for that. If a cat cannot lose his energy the cat gets stressed. And a stressed cat expresses bad behavior: urinate outside the cat’s box, scratching wall-paper, destroying plants, aggression etc…It is also important that the cat can withdraw himself from other housemates (people, dogs, other cats). In other words: The room for living should at least have two separate rooms, otherwise the cat gets stressed. Besides, it is necessary for the cat’s health and psyche that he can hide himself in one room and observes everything that happens in the other room, just like he does in nature.

The absolute minimal space for a cat is two rooms. Everything which is bigger is more than welcome of course. Keep in mind that keeping a cat in a small space doesn’t only negatively affect the cat’s psyche but also the owner’s psyche. The cat must enjoy himself in that small room, the owner therefore must allow him to jump on the couches and tables. After all, the cat needs exercise in order to lose his energy. If the owner would forbid this, it will immediately lead to above mentioned behavior problems.

On the contrary, if the cat can make use of the house unhampered, the owner, under the condition that the cat is well-raised, can make certain places and objects in the house “taboo places” for the cat (bed, table, counter etc..)

A second factor which plays an important factor in a small room is the quality of that room. With a few simple means the owner can do a lot himself. For example: A cat loves to hide in a cardboard box or shopping basket, so let him enjoy this. Make it even more exciting by regularly placing that object on a different spot. Also make sure that your cat has enough toys. Those toys aren’t usually the expensive fake mice or sophisticated plastic things (nice for the owner, not interesting for the cat) but normal balls of paper (preferably mica paper): this rustles. Or normal balls (filled with cat’s grass): The smell and the fact that it rolls away stimulate the cat and he can practice chasing. Regularly purchase new toys or place them on other spots, so that the cat remains curious.

It is also important that the cat can sit on the window-ledge so that he can look outside: there is always action on the street which he can enjoy. In case the window-ledge is too narrow for the cat, you can make a plateau on it so that he can easily jump on it.

Don’t let your cat play alone always. Take some time every day to play with him. The cat needs it to chase now and then. In the house there isn’t much to chase except for some flies. A nice toy for example is a ball of paper on a string. You withdraw the string or you dangle the string in front of his nose. Your cat will surely chase it. After all, the cat loves chasing something which moves. A popular variation is the following: Move your hand or a stick below the paper or some blankets: the cat will definitely try to catch this by jumping on it. Just some simple examples to give the cat a life without stress in a limited space. You can invent numerous games for the cat and keep him busy in a “cattery” way.