Over time, people have moved to live more and more in the city than in the countryside, and in the city context the most popular and widespread housing solutions are certainly apartments …

So is it forbidden to adopt a cat for those who live in an apartment ? The answer is: absolutely not !

But we need some extra attention and commitment on our part if we want to welcome a kitten into the house, especially if space is limited. Cats , in fact, are animals that adapt very easily and, with the right precautions, they can get to live peacefully even in the apartment.

In the meantime, it is essential to say that, if we intend to let a cat live with us in an apartment, it will be important to get a puppy , so that it has not already matured habits and can adapt more easily to life at home.

It must also be said that the character of the feline is also very important in question: there are those who, by their nature, are shy and fearful, and will therefore be happy to adapt to life in an apartment, away from stress, noise and other animals, who on the contrary, even if used as a child, will always find life indoors is a bit stressful …

WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE THE LIFE OF THE CAT IN THE APARTMENT PLEASANT?

First of all , the cat is an animal that has a constant need for stimuli . If he does not live outside, where he could find them himself, then it will be necessary for us to get them.

Like? It is very important to provide numerous and varied opportunities and game modes . In this way, the animal is more likely to incur stress or behavioral disturbances, because it will be able to give vent to its instincts , stay in motion and feel stimulated mentally and physically.

In this case, in addition to the classic scratch-puller , we can offer the cat numerous ideas for fun such as empty cardboard boxes of all sizes, paper bags , bouncing balls , fabric animals to bite, throw and chase, toy mice , balls of yarn wool , etc.

However, let us remember that the cat cannot always be “abandoned” at home: even if it had all the games in the world available, but had little consideration on our part, it would be an unhappy animal. It is therefore necessary to be aware that we will often have to pay attention to him and dedicate him companions to, both for play and for cuddling. Great then, if you can take two puppies together, so that they can keep each other company and stimulate each other.

In addition to this, the house must be made cat-friendly . The ideal would be to dedicate an area of the house to our cat, and equip it with all its objects. Among these we find:

  • The kennel
  • The litter box
  • Bowls and dispensers for water and food
  • Various games : scratch-pullers, tubes, balls, etc.

Very well then if in the “cat area” there is also a window that gives outwards, so that the animal can also benefit from the visual stimuli of the outside world.

To find out how to best equip the house for your cat, click here .

To facilitate coexistence, we can also implement measures to educate the cat to stay at home ( read here to find out more ).

A CAT-PROOF SAFE APARTMENT

But, in addition to creating an environment that meets the needs and requirements of our cat, it is also important to arrange the house so that it can be a safe place for the cat.

Let’s see what are the most important aspects to pay attention to in order to create a safe and cat-proof home environment:

  • If the apartment has terraces or balconies it is important to secure them with dense metal nets (those that are also used for courtyard animals or in gardens as partitions) in order to avoid accidental falls of the animal.
  • If we have plants in the house, let’s find out about their type and, if they are poisonous to the animal, it will be appropriate to give them away . A striking example of a plant that is very common in apartments but toxic to dogs and cats is the Christmas star, just to give an example.
  • Keep out of the reach of our cat are all the chemicals that are normally present in the house: from detergents to personal hygiene products to medicines.
  • Some cats like to bite, so it’s important to secure and cover all electrical wiring in your home.

Another aspect we recommend paying attention to are the hiding places that cats know how to find at home, in the most unusual and disparate places . There are those who love to take refuge in the wardrobe , some in some drawer , some in the kitchen door , and some still in the porthole of the washing machine !

So be careful not to leave the poor kitten locked inside these ravines! We always check before leaving the house or closing the doors …

ADVANTAGES OF KEEPING THE CAT IN THE APARTMENT

The advantages, for us and for the animal, of living in an apartment are:

  • The cat is less likely to get sick , contract infectious diseases, parasites, fleas, etc.
  • The cat is more affectionate and cuddly with their humans
  • The animal does not risk getting into fights with other animals
  • The cat is not in danger of getting lost
  • There is no risk of the animal being hit by the machines

DISADVANTAGES OF KEEPING THE CAT IN THE APARTMENT

However, there may also be disadvantages to keeping the cat in an apartment, many of which can be solved with due care. Let’s see what they are:

  • The animal could feel frustrated or stressed if not entertained with the right stimuli, and then unable to give vent to its instincts.
  • If the cat is not very stimulated, it will also do little physical activity and this leads to obesity problems but also diabetes or joint problems . ( How to find out if your cat is overweight ).
  • Obviously, if the animal lives indoors, it depends more on our care than a cat who lives outside.
  • Sometimes, despite our attentions, the feline could show intolerance to the home environment and also develop problems from a behavioral point of view .

In any case, it is good to consider that cats, like people, are all different and what may be optimal for one is not necessarily the case for another …

In any case, if our cat is used to feeling safe, protected and pampered since he was a puppy, it is very likely that he can live happy and peaceful even in a few meters of the apartment! In short: a lot also depends on us!