Keeping an indoor cat happy in a small flat

A practical guide for HubCage readers, written from everyday experience.

Cats in flats need height, hiding places and hunting more than floor space. A tall scratching post by a window, a shelf or two to climb, a box to hide in and a daily session with a wand toy cover most of a cat's needs. Feeding part of the daily food from a puzzle feeder turns mealtime into the hunt that a bored cat is missing.

Keep the litter tray far from the food, scoop it daily and provide one tray per cat plus one spare. Secure windows and balconies with mesh so fresh air is safe. A second cat is not always the answer to loneliness; many cats prefer being the only one. Ten minutes of play twice a day does more for behaviour than any toy left on the floor.