Originally published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, “Meeting the Physical and Emotional Needs of Indoor Cats” outlines a comprehensive framework to support the wellbeing of cats living exclusively indoors.

While indoor living reduces exposure to many physical dangers, the statement emphasises that safety alone is not enough — emotional and behavioral needs must be prioritised equally.

Meeting the essential environmental needs of each cat will reduce their distress and the likelihood of behavioural disorders and stress-related medical issues. Central to a cat’s needs are five essential pillars:

The Position Statement serves as a resource for veterinarians to guide client conversations, behaviour consultations, and environmental enrichment plans. For cat caregivers, it offers an accessible way to evaluate whether their indoor cat’s needs are truly being met.

“Indoor-only cats are often assumed to be the safest, but it is more challenging to meet their needs, impacting their physical and emotional health and resulting in more caregiver concerns about behaviour,” said Ilona Rodan, DVM, DABVP (Feline), AdvCertFB, Chair of the FelineVMA Feline Welfare Committee. “This Position Statement helps caregivers and veterinary practices recognise the essential daily needs of cats who are often physically and emotionally underserved.”

– Source: FelineVMA

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And now we’ve created it!

Introducing Big&Strong cat pads.

You can use them loose on the floor or on furniture.

It’s a cat magnet!

Or attach them vertically to a wall or door.

Or how about using them as a platform, step or bridge? We have this one over our ranch slider as a bridge so the cats can get from the climbing post to their special hideaway above the kitchen cabinets!

53cm cat scratch pad installed as a bridge over a door

The cat pads are fully carpeted in your choice of beige or grey.

They are 20cm wide and available in two standard lengths of 53cm or 92cm (approximately). Custom orders are welcome too.

Naturally, they are made in New Zealand and available exclusively from CATFENCE.NZ

» How to buy

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You may wonder why your cat is doing this and how to stop it. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind this behavior and provide some tips on how to prevent it.

Why do cats scratch furniture?

Scratching is a natural and instinctive behavior for cats. They scratch to stretch their muscles, mark their territory, and sharpen their claws. In the wild, cats scratch trees or other rough surfaces to remove the outer layer of their claws and keep them healthy. Indoor cats may not have access to suitable scratching surfaces, so they may resort to furniture, carpets, or curtains instead.

How to stop your cat from scratching furniture

There are several ways to prevent your cat from scratching furniture. Here are some tips to try:

1. Provide suitable scratching posts

Invest in a few scratching posts that are tall enough for your cat to stretch out and sturdy enough to withstand vigorous scratching. (We recommend Big & Strong cat climbing posts.) Place them in areas where your cat spends most of their time, and encourage them to use them by sprinkling catnip or treats on them.

2. Trim your cat’s claws

Regularly trimming your cat’s claws can help reduce the damage they can do to furniture. It is best to start this when they are kittens so they can get used to it. We trim our cats’ claws every three weeks. If you’re unsure how to do it, ask your veterinarian or a professional groomer for advice.

3. Deter your cat from scratching furniture

There are several ways to deter your cat from scratching furniture, including:

• Applying double-sided tape or aluminium foil to the areas they scratch. Some cats don’t like the texture or sound of these materials and will avoid them.
• Using a citrus-scented spray or a spray that contains a bittering agent, which will discourage your cat from scratching.
• Placing a scratching post in front of the furniture they usually scratch.

4. Provide outdoor activities for your cat

Although some cats seem perfectly happy indoors, others will constantly remind their owners that they prefer the outdoor life.

Outdoor activities can be a great way to keep cats active and stimulated, which can help reduce their desire to scratch furniture. Consider installing a cat fence system to keep your cat safe and secure while they explore the outdoors.

Conclusion

Scratching is a natural behavior for cats, but it can be destructive to furniture. Providing your cat with appropriate scratching posts, trimming their claws, and using deterrents can help prevent this behavior. Additionally, providing outdoor activities for your cat can help reduce their desire to scratch furniture. With patience and persistence, you can train your cat to scratch appropriate surfaces only, and you’ll enjoy a harmonious relationship with your furry friend.

Image by Александр Смирнов from Pixabay

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Writing in a recent issue, Molly Kelsey looks at the best ways to keep your cat safely in your garden (while keeping other cats out).

Molly, aka the Cat Counsellor, shares our belief that contained cats are happiest when they have a rich environment including the things they enjoy. As she says:

• Cats love mint, honeysuckle and catnip. Plant some in a soil bed away from plants you don’t want dug up or slept on.
• Solid A-frame plant trellises can make great climbing structures for cats. Make sure they are stable, with no loose nails, and won’t tip over.
• Consider added hiding places such as crates that can be hidden with ground cover plants overtop.
• Ensure there is a nice sunny spot for sunbathing and other important jobs. Some cats will appreciate a dedicated outdoor litterbox – this can help reduce them using your garden beds.

Thanks Molly for a timely and useful article – and for helping let cat owners know that cats can be safe and happy at home (with help from catfence.nz). 🙂

The post Cat-proof gardens in Kiwi Gardener magazine appeared first on CATFENCE.

1. a secure area from which your cat cannot escape,

2. lots of things for your cat to do so that they get exercise, get social interaction and don’t get bored

Fortunately, neither of these things is hard to do.

The first one, can be addressed through a cat containment system, such as Oscillot®.

For the second, there are many things you can do, and we’ll talk about a few ideas over the coming weeks.

The simplest idea is something called “Cat TV” – and you don’t even have to plug it in!

Just create an area where your cats can watch the world outside – from a safe distance.

Ingrid King has a great blog post about this called Birdwatching: Environmental Enrichment for Indoor Cats. That’s her video above too.

[4 Jan 2018]

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