When setting up your home for your cat, there are ‘5 Pillars of Feline Welfare’ we can utilise to help us provide a healthy environment for them. These take both the physical environment into account but also their social interactions and interaction with us, their humans. 

Addressing environmental needs can result in fewer unwanted behaviors and less illness, Improved recognition of disease, easier handling of cats, strengthened bond between owner and cat, and reduced stress in multi-cat households. All things our cats will appreciate in the long term!

The five pillars of a healthy feline environment are described by the International Society of Feline Medicine and the American Association of Feline Practitioners, and these are: 

1. Provide a safe place

2. Provide multiple and separated key environmental resources: food, water, toileting areas, scratching areas, play areas, and resting or sleeping areas 

3. Provide opportunity for play and predatory behaviour 

4. Provide positive, consistent and predictable human–cat social interaction

5. Provide an environment that respects the importance of the cat’s sense of smell

So how can we do these things? Let's go into more detail...

1. A safe place

Our cats appreciate a private, secure spot, away from busy places. They appreciate raised places, and somewhere they can be concealed. The author's cat prefers the high shelf of the laundry cupboard… not ideal for the laundry but with a bed placed up there, we can avoid fur on the sheets and make our cat happy at the same time. 

This safe place also functions as a resting or sleeping area. Cardboard boxes, cat crates, and hammocks can be utilised as safe places. Remember that where we pick out for our cats is not always ideal in their eyes, so be prepared to compromise!

2. Provide multiple and separated key environmental resources

Especially important in multi-cat households to prevent fighting, resources such as food, water, toileting areas, scratching areas, play areas, and resting or sleeping areas should be in several places. 

There should be plenty of these resources, and they should be in separate areas of the house so that there is no competition for them, and cats can eat, toilet and play in private. Food and toileting areas should definitely not be in the same room, cats like to keep these things separate!

3. Provide opportunity for play and predatory behaviour

Cats are hunters and providing opportunities for them to practice these behaviours increases their welfare and also reduces the need for them to hunt outside. 

Ways we can provide this include: 

• Hide food or toys in multiple locations.

• Scatter-feed dry food or kibble, or toss for cats to chase. 

• Provide puzzle feeders, handmade or store-bought timed feeders to promote small and frequent meals.

• Move a rod or wand with a fur or feather toy on the end 

• Use large, soft toys that can be raked and bitten.

Remember to rotate toys often to prevent boredom, and not to encourage play with feet or hands, as this can cause scratches to you and frustration for your feline friend. 

4. Provide positive, consistent and predictable human–cat social interactions

While cats are companion animals that benefit from regular contact with humans, many cats like to be able to initiate, moderate and end their interaction with humans. 

Cats’ individual preferences determine how much they like human interactions such as petting, grooming, being played with or talked to, being picked up, and sitting or laying on a person’s lap. Cat owners should learn each cat’s individual preferences and not force interaction with their cat. 

The more you allow your cat to choose their style of interaction, and make it a positive interaction (touch as they want, occasionally treat for choosing to join you) the more they will want to interact. 

5. An environment that respects the importance of the cat’s sense of smell

Last but not least, cats have a highly developed sense of smell and a vomeronasal organ for detecting pheremones left by other cats. Cats use olfactory and pheromonal signals through the use of scent marking by facial and body rubbing, which marks the boundaries of their home and helps them feel secure and safe. Wherever possible, humans should be careful not to interfere with these marked areas, and to avoid using cleaners with strong smells. 

Contrary to what we are told by manufacturers, please don’t use scented litter, as most cats do not like it!
 

To summarise, cats thrive when we provide a safe haven, multiple and separate resources, opportunities for play and predatory behavior, and positive, consistent human–cat interactions. This should also be done in an environment that respects the importance of how cats process and respond to smells. 

Meeting the environmental needs of your cat will improve their welfare, reduce their stress levels, prevent behavioural and health problems, and create a great relationship with your pet.

If your cat is stressed or having behavioral issues, let us know and we can help get some strategies in place for them!