Interior design for your cat
What should you pay most attention to when optimising the environment for your cat?
Choices, choices, choices
As solitary hunters, cats need options throughout their living space, so that at any moment they can make the best choice to keep themselves safe. That's why we need to spread their resources such as food, water, litter boxes and hiding places throughout their environment.
The right amount
Throughout the environment, provide 'your number of cats + 1' locations for all life resources. So that is 1 location for each cat + a spare location. Cats can only behave tolerantly towards each other when there is a general feeling of abundance. Even a cat that lives alone needs several locations.
Territory is flexible
Because we don't know what our cats like to use most of all, it's best to provide a 'supermarket phase' with extra options for 8 weeks, and let your cats choose. That way they can show you what their preferences are.
Safe locations
You can recognise the places a cat finds safe by looking at where she sleeps. These places can change suddenly, and you need to anticipate that. In safe places (hidden, not in passageways) you place food bowls, water bowls and litter boxes.
Unsafe places
Unsafe places are often places in passageways, at doors and transitions. There cats feel the need to process stress. They do this by scratching on horizontal surfaces, hiding away in a shelter box or going up high.
Cats think in 3D
Cats perceive a space in 3D. That means you can optimise existing spaces by freeing up and creating heights, so that your cat can go up high to sleep, hide and keep watch. You can also place resources there such as water, food and hammocks.
