Your tips for an indoor cat

[DrCoconut]

Just looking for suggestions really. We've just adopted a FIV boy who needs to be an indoor cat. He's a young adult. Any tips for keeping him happy and healthy? He sprayed from fear the first day (smell eradication is ongoing but I don't think he's redoing it, it's just lingered a bit) but seems a lot more settled now, is coming out for fuss and playing and seems to really like the kids.

Lots of cat trees - he needs places where he can be up high and can climb, that isn't your curtains.

Also plenty of scratching posts and lots of interactive toys.

Try putting some of his food where he sprayed if you can - that usually stops them spraying in the same place.

Toys, scratching posts, litter trays, places where he can climb lots.

2 litter trays for one cat. The general rule is 1 per cat, then 1 more.

Enzyme cleaners for pees.

I have a house cat that has peed on the floor for most of his life. We've never managed to stop him😒

At some point you’ll need to get your cat back into its carrier. I leave the carrier out all the time and put treats in it every so often, so it’s familiar & associated with good stuff.

Also, scatter cardboard boxes around. Don’t know why but cats love them.

Clay based litter! I use lifelong talc from Amazon. A 30L lasts me ages between 3 trays and 2 cats. Although one does go outside sometimes. Empty the tray multiple times a day so the remaining litter will last longer. I don't have to empty out the whole tray for quite a while because the clay clumps so well.

One word - PLATCATS!

Window screens that you attach to the inside using velcro. Means you can have the windows open and breezes coming in, without the cat getting out (or even larger insects getting in). Lifesavers in hot weather like we've been having lately, and the cats love sitting by them smelling the outside.

Also you may want to put a bird feeder close to a window, so there's usually something interesting on Cat TV to watch.

As previous posters have said, you want lots of interactive toys like fishing poles & lazer pointers - indoor only cats need more stimulation and exercise from you than those who go out. And all the other suggestions from the pp as well.

God yes. Flatcats are brilliant, come in whatever size you need & are really easy to put up.

https://www.flatcats.co.uk/

Congratulations on your new cat 🐱 our cats are indoor only, just need lots of toys, dangly toys and balls are popular here, also cardboard boxes and scratch mats in different rooms. A cat tree would be good too, we bought a lovely
bed but nobody has used it, they prefer cardboard boxes 😂

Get a catio. Utter game changer (5 indoor cats here).

lots of cat trees, scratching posts. Comfy cat beds and blankets. High empty shelving for them to explore. I’ve also got safety locks on all my windows so they cannot be opened far enough to let a cat out accidentally. And toys- so many toys and catnip. We also grow cat grass in pots which are dotted around for them to chew - no other indoor plants or vases of flowers.

We have a mostly indoor cat, in his old age he doesn’t mind a stroll around our courtyard garden in fine weather but that’s it! You need:
Place for him to get away from the kids if they’re young - we had a stairgate with a pet door on our bedroom for a bit when DD was a toddler.
Things to climb like cat trees.
Get a few different toys to see what he likes, ours hates fishing rod type thing but loves chasing balls.
Scratching post in every room with soft furnishing he’s likely to spend time in.
Make sure there’s a few comfy vantage points out of various windows for some cat TV!
A brush because it’s easier to remove the excess fur off the cat in the first instance than off all your furniture.
And expensive but the litter robot automated litter tray is the best. A high quality food designed for indoor cats will also help with litter smells.

Oh and plantation shutters are my preferred choice of window dressing. Not only do I like the look but it means the windows can be wide open but the cat contained. We had bug screens when we lived in the US (ours is a transatlantic cat!) and they work too, and added bonus of no flies!

Totally agree about a catio , our son has indoor Siamese and they love the catio in all weathers . Lots of cat trees , poles and climbing opportunities indoors . Ours have floor to ceiling poles in the bedrooms so they can get on top of the wardrobes and strategically placed shelves to use as walkways .