Did you know that there are five key needs to a healthy environment for your cat? The Association for Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) call these “five pillars,” and just like a pillar supports a building, each of these supports helping keep your cats feeling healthy, comfortable, and confident in their environment.
A Safe Place
A place that makes your cat feel safe is somewhere she can retreat to feel protected. For many cats, this is a high place, though some cats prefer to make their hiding places at ground level, especially older cats who may difficulty jumping or climbing due to arthritis, and your kitty should be able to retreat somewhere outside of the high-traffic area of your home. There need to be enough safe places so that each cat can have their own, since although cats may choose to spend time with each other, they need to have a retreat all of their own, too.
Cats like to have high sides on their safe place rather than being out in the open. A cat carrier lined with a favorite blanket tucked into a quiet corner may work for some cats, while others may enjoy a perch at the top of a cat tree. Even a cardboard box can make a safe place for a cat, provided it is in a location where they can relax and sleep while feeling they have some control over their environment.
Separated Key Environmental Resources
To your cat, key environmental resources include feeding, drinking, litter box, claw scratching, play, and resting areas. Your cat prefers they be spread out, separate from each other. You probably don’t want to eat next to your toilet, and neither does your cat! Separating these also enlarges your cat’s environment, encouraging both exploration and exercise.
If you have multiple cats in your home, provide multiple resources. Private eating locations reduces stress and allows your cats to feel like they don’t have to compete for food. In smaller spaces, you can even use visual separation to help cats feel they have private spaces, by feeding them around the corner from each other rather than in the open in the same room.
Opportunity for Play and Predatory Behavior
Wild cats spend a significant portion of their day hunting for and and catching prey in order to survive, and your cat needs the mental engagement that activity provides. Make sure he has toys that let him stalk and pounce. If your cat likes wand toys, this is a great way to bond with your cat while also fulfilling one of his needs to stalk, chase, and pounce the way that his wild ancestors did.
Cats who don’t have opportunities for predatory-type behaviors can get bored act out in frustration. On the other hand, cats who do get vigorous play time are less likely to become obese. Predatory play helps your cat stay fit both mentally and physically.
Positive, Consistent, Predictable Human-Cat Social Interaction
Positive interaction with humans from a young age is important to helping cats avoid stress or even fear when interacting with humans. This is critical for kitten socialization, but it continues throughout your cat’s life with you to reinforce your bond with each other. In a multi-cat household, make sure every cat gets individual attention and isn’t left out or crowded away from you by other cats.
Interaction in the form of play is fun for both you and your cat, but as your cat gets older, she may not want to play as hard or as long. Pay attention to your cat and keep it positive. If your cat doesn’t enjoy being picked up, that’s something at adds to their stress rather than building a happy environment for her. Make sure you are providing positive social interaction the way the cat prefers.
Environment Respecting the Cat’s Sense of Smell
Cats have a sens of smell much stronger than ours, and it’s easy to forget that they are experiencing the world in part through that sense. When your cat rubs against the corners of furniture or walls, he is depositing scent there, marking an area where he feels safe and secure. If you can avoid it, don’t wash these marks away.
Try to avoid using cleaners or cat litter that disrupts the cat’s sense of smell. A sudden, strange smell in the house can make the house feel less secure to your cat, whether it is from a new cat litter or from something you tracked in on your shoes. The synthetic pheromone product Feliway helps reduce anxiety in your cat by introducing a scent like the one your cat deposits throughout his familiar territory, and it is one scent you can introduce that can help reduce anxiety in your cats, especially in stressful situations.
Cats like to feel like they are safe and in control of their environment, and you can use these five pillars of feline environmental needs as a checklist to find little adjustments you can make around the house that can make a bit difference for your cat’s feeling of security in her environment.
Reference: AAFP and ISM Environmental Needs Guidelines
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Summer says
Thank you for this! It’s all true. Humans need to take note!
The Island Cats says
What a good post! We think we have most of these covered. 🙂
Fur Everywhere says
This is such great information. It’s so important for cats to feel safe and secure in their environment.
Random Felines says
that is great information. mom does wish we had a slightly bigger place or better lay out to spread out the food dishes….
Crepes says
Really cool article. I’m going to go move my stuff farther around the house to enlarge my area. I think that’s a great tip! – Crepes.
Annabelle says
Excellent information. I have several ‘places’ in the house that the cats love to rub their cheeks against. *sigh* They look like a smudge spot, but the cats LOVE it.
Kjelle Bus aka Charlie Rascal says
Since I’m a lucky kitty I have all that covered 🙂
XOXO
Emma and Buster says
Very nice. It’s glad to have guidelines. And we’re happy we complied with all these even before we knew what they are.
Madi says
OH MY CATS we are so lucky we have all five pillars in our lives.
This is a wonderful post
Hugs madi your bfff
The Swiss Cats says
Great post ! We’re lucky, we have the “five pillars” covered ! Purrs
Flynn says
That’s a great post. I think mum has everything covered for me. My favourite rubbing spot is on the edge of the shower and the edge of the wine rack.
Cathy Keisha says
Safe place: mine is UTB or in my new Richell PTU. I feel safe there until …
Key resources: I love to eat my gut rot right in front of my litter box. Hmmmm. Our condo is teeny tiny so there ain’t much room to spread out.
3: check
4. The peeps don’t think I had much human inneraction before them.
5. Nicky not only left hhis smell but he left a waxy buildup that the peeps still can’t wash away.
Great post.
William says
This is great info. And if my mom’s reading this, WE DON’T LIKE THE EXPERIMENTAL LITTER.
Connie says
what a well rounded overview of what a cat needs.
Marty the Manx says
Wonderful! Thank you! 🙂
Kitties Blue says
What an excellent post filled with so much great information. Thanks Julie. Please join us tomorrow for our Sunday Selfies Blog Hop. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo