Whether you’re new to living with cats or have had them in your life for twenty years, there are some things that we should all keep in mind when providing the best care for our cats. Making sure that our cat’s most basic needs are met can make a huge difference in how they interact with us. A cat who’s comfortable in their environment, with all of their needs being met, is a happy cat!!

1. Remember the litterbox rule! One litterbox per cat, plus one. If you have two cats, three litterboxes is the best way to go. It can seem like a lot, but offering more litterboxes to your cats is one of the very best ways to make sure they’re successful with the litterbox.
   1. Having litterboxes throughout the home, instead of in one room, is more appealing to your cat!
   2. Scooping regularly is a must!
   3. Stick with traditional clay or clumping litter, unless your cat is used to using a less traditional litter.
   4. If you decide to switch litters, do it slowly, over time, to make sure they like it!
   5. If your cat is older, has medical needs or has limited mobility, it’s best to tailor their needs to the litterbox. As cat’s age, they need lower entry, very large litterboxes with soft litter to feel comfortable in the litterbox.
2. Make sure you offer plenty of feeding, resting, hiding and vertical spaces for your cats. Space is a huge resource for your cats!! Space to get away from stressors, space to hide, space to nap, space to eat that’s safe from other cats, dogs or kids, space to watch the birds outside, it’s all important!
3. Lots of safe, positive interactions with the people in their lives. Having their body language understood and their space respected is the best way for a cat to feel safe and comfortable with the humans in their lives.
4. Playtime and cuddling are a must! If you have a high energy cat, playtime is just part of how we help them to be successful in their home. Playtime can solve so many issues for so many cats, it’s like magic! If you have a cuddly cat, giving them the one on one time they need makes them feel important and loved.
5. Provide alternatives for challenging behaviors. Make sure you have plenty of scratchers in the home, and that you’re working with your cat to use them. Offering cat trees and vertical space can help with cats who like to be on the counters. Enrichment and toys that encourage self directed play can help with a high energy cat when you’re away from your home.

Making sure that you’re offering good outlets for energy, lots of attention and plenty of resources to your cats is a fantastic start to offering the best care possible to your cat.