How to create a cat-friendly home

Updated 15/11/2024

If you’re thinking about adopting a cat or you feel you need to make your home more suited to your feline friend, stick with us as we dive into how to create a cat-friendly home. 

From removing toxic items to building the perfect vertical space and investing in environmental enrichment for cats, sit tight and explore our ultimate guide to creating the perfect home for your feline friend.

How to create a cat-friendly home

1. Remove toxic items
2. Store hazards out of reach
3. Create safe spaces
4. Build vertical spaces
5. Provide environmental enrichment
6. Use synthetic cat pheromones
7. Maintain a comfortable temperature 
8. Encourage playtime 
9. Food, water and litter boxes
10. Be prepared for your vacation

Remove toxic items 

The first step in creating a cat-friendly home is removing any toxic plants, flowers, foods and cleaning products. Take a look below at common household items that are toxic to cats, so that you can create the perfect cat-safe space.

Common household items that are toxic to cats:

• Cheese plants
• Sago palm
• Daffodils
• Aloe vera plants
• Lilies
• Non-natural, chemical cleaning products
• Bleach
• Antifreeze (according to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, cats find this appealing because of its sweet taste, but just a few drops can cause fatal kidney damage) 
• Garlic 
• Onions
• Grapes, raisins and currants
• Alcohol and caffeinated drinks

There are countless plants that are toxic to cats, according to the ASPCA, so check your garden and indoor pots before welcoming a cat into your home.

Store hazards out of reach

To create a cat-friendly home, you’ll also need to consider physical hazards, like items that pose a choking risk, such as string, curtain cords, elastic bands, and cables.

Living with cats also means putting breakable ornaments out of reach, as cats (sometimes intentionally) knock things off surfaces, creating shards of glass and china.

As many human foods are toxic to cats, it’s also important to avoid leaving any dirty dishes laying around. 

Create safe spaces

Cats are independent creatures, and appreciate time away from loud noises and other pets. To give your cat the alone time she craves, create a cozy space complete with a bed or cushion, blankets, toys and a pheromone diffuser.

And whether you’re creating a bedroom for cats or just decorating with cats in mind and kitting out your living room, it’s worth noting not to wash your cat’s blankets or bed too often. 

Cats are scent-driven creatures, so keeping their pheromones on their bedding increases feelings of security and comfort.

Build vertical spaces

When you’re learning how to create a cat-friendly home, one thing you’ll need to consider is your cat’s vertical spaces. Cats are natural climbers, and being up high - on a perch or cat-friendly bookcase - gives them a sense of security.

Cats love to be able to see out because it helps them to view other predators or rivals below, and gives them an opportunity to climb.

A study published by Companion Animal Psychology observed cat behavior with and without a vertical screen. Researcher Emma Desforges at Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition et al found that when the screen was taken away, unfriendly behaviors between the cats increased. 

So, if you want to prevent behavioral issues in your cats keep any vertical spaces intact!

Provide environmental enrichment 

Cats are often seen as lower maintenance pets than dogs - which in many ways, they are. With that said, it’s important for cat owners to provide environmental enrichment for cats, as felines require mental and physical stimulation too. Find a few ideas on keeping your feline entertained below.

• Scratching post. Scratching is a natural instinct for your cat. It’s a way of marking their territory, keeping their claws in good shape and it’s good physical stimulation.
• Perch. Cats love to watch out of the window at birds, and a chance to look outside is especially important for an indoor cat’s environmental enrichment.
• Catnip. Some cats will feel the effect of catnip because it contains nepetalactone, which is similar to cat pheromones and results in a state of euphoria. 
• Climbing frames. Cats love to climb, so build stable shelves or invest in a cat climbing frame as a chance for your feline to exercise indoors.
• Catio. Catios are a great way for indoor cats to experience the outdoors safely, away from busy roads and other felines.
• Cardboard boxes. Cats love to play in and around a cardboard box - it’s an excellent, cost effective way to kit out your indoor cat’s room.
• Food puzzles. Cats are intelligent creatures, and will benefit from having their natural hunting instincts activated by food puzzle toys.

Use synthetic cat pheromones

When creating your cat-friendly home, consider investing in synthetic cat pheromones. This can be part of your cat setup in your calming room for your cat in the form of a pheromone diffuser, but you could also invest in a calming cat collar.

These objects improve your ​​cat’s environment by emitting synthetic cat pheromones that make felines feel calm and at ease. Veterinary professional Ellen Carozza says that these pheromones can ease stress hormones, which in turn, could help with your cat’s behavior.

Maintain a comfortable temperature 

Whether you’re after small cat room ideas or just want to ensure you’ve got a cat-friendly home, you’ll need to keep the temperature just right.

According to Hill’s Pet Nutrition, the ideal cat body temperature is between 99 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit, so keeping your thermostat at around 70 degrees should be optimum - the Rescue Vets recommend.

Encourage playtime 

Cats are intelligent creatures, who need regular mental and physical stimulation to keep them happy and healthy. Invest in toys that encourage your cat’s hunting and predatory instincts. 

Cat toys your feline will love include:

• Feather toys
• Food puzzles
• Catnip toys
• Wand toys
• Balls

Food, water and litter boxes

It goes without saying that your cat will need to have fresh food and water each day, and you’ll need to change their litter box regularly. But what you might not know is that cats are very particular about these things, and won’t be sharing them. In fact, making cats share their water and food bowls or litter boxes can create stress and anxiety in cats. With resources like these, you should have one per cat plus a spare. For example, this would mean three litter boxes for two cats, or four litter boxes if you have three cats.

And just one last thing to note - be sure to place your cat’s litter box somewhere private, and away from the loud noises and strong smells of the house.

Be prepared for your vacation

While it’s vital pet parents create a cat-friendly environment for the felines in their life, you’ll also need to get prepared for keeping your cat happy while you’re on vacation.

Luckily, there are thousands of verified, experienced sitters out there who’d love to care for your feline in the home they so love. To find out how to connect with cat sitters, take a look below.

How should a house cat’s housing be set up?

To create a cat-friendly home, you’ll need to ensure your cat has a space that meets all their essential needs, and makes them feel safe and comfortable. So, what do cats need in a home? Take a look at our quick-fire list below.

• Food and water bowls. Each cat in your home should have their own - never expect a cat to share.
• Litter boxes. Place your cat’s litter tray somewhere quiet and private, and be sure to change the litter regularly.
• Vertical spaces. Cats love to climb, and viewing the world from a vantage point makes them feel safe and secure.
• Scratching posts. All cats love to scratch - it’s mentally and physically stimulating and saves your furniture from destruction and other behavioral issues.
• Toys. Cats are intelligent creatures with a natural instinct to hunt, so invest in mentally-stimulating toys like laser, feather and mouse toys.
• Safe spaces. All cats need a cozy, quiet space where they can recharge their social batteries and feel safe away from the noises of the household.

Tips from pet parents on creating a cat-friendly home

Explore tips from pet parents and cat sitters below for first-hand advice on keeping cats happy, based on their personal experiences with felines. For more tips on pet care and pet sitting, head over to our community forum.

• “As for scratching, some cats don’t like rhythmic stroking. My sister’s cat could only tolerate two strokes.” - @KChev
• “If the cat eats dry food, you could try sprinkling some of it on the floor and let him find and eat them. Our cats love that, and it does calm them down” @CatsandDog
• “My experience with unapproachable cats is: They need to approach you first. So holding out a hand or (with some, strongly preferred) fist until she bumps and working it from there is the best bet” @elmi4711

Considerations for pet sitters

As a pet sitter, you can expect your cat pal’s housing to be already kitted out with everything they need to make them happy. It’s your responsibility to play with the cat, refresh water and food, and clean out their litter box regularly. 

If keeping a cat company in exchange for a cool place to stay (in a cat-friendly home) is up your street, take a look below.

Meet our veterinary expert, Rebecca

This article has been checked by veterinarian Rebecca MacMillan, BVetMed MRCVS. Rebecca is a companion animal vet who has always had a passion for writing and client communication. Since her graduation from the Royal Veterinary college in 2009 she has gained a wealth of experience in first opinion small animal practice, in both clinical and managerial roles. She currently works in the South West and deals with a variety of routine and emergency appointments, but particularly enjoys medicine cases. Outside of work and writing, she enjoys spending time with her family, including her bouncy flat coated retriever George!

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