HOW TO CATIFY YOUR HOME
If you are like me, you would give your cats the world, and I’m sure you do! But the real question is do you give yourself enough space in the world you’ve created for them? Or do you wish you could merge the world you want to give them with your aesthetically pleasing world? Either way, I am here to help blend those two worlds so neither party has to go without!
As a cat mom of three spicy ladies, I know it’s hard to accommodate all their needs, especially if you are renting and can’t do any wall drilling/mounting, or if you live in tight quarters. I wrote this blog to help you create spaces that both you and your furry child can coexist in! I talk about house plants, cat shelves, cat trees, litter boxes, and much more. My hope with all this information is that you are equipped with enough knowledge to help make your space feel more like you, while still accommodating the spicy feline(s) in your home!
PLANTS
Plants are a great addition to any home! Not only do they help provide clean air, but they also make the space feel like it’s a functioning home. We’ve all been to a friend's or family’s house that has dead plants everywhere. There is nothing inviting about a cemetery of dead plants in your home. When you have live plants, it shows that not only does your home feel inhabited, but it also shows your sense of care to the actual space! That’s my opinion, of course, but I encourage you to take note of how different spaces feel when live plants are present and when they are not. Anyways! Onto the cats!
I like to keep plants in high places because when we got our cats as kittens, they couldn’t help themselves. My plants were enemy #1 and they were going to win no matter what. So when I installed curtain rods, I started buying hanging plants to elevate them from the ladies, but also to keep my surfaces clear of excess plants. Depending on the amount of direct and indirect sunlight, your plants will most likely thrive! Keep in mind that if you get direct sunlight, it will fry your plants; I have learned this the hard way… RIP plants.
If interested, make sure cat’s have plants on their level that they are able to consume, such as wheat grass. Keeping plants in the house that are non-toxic to cats is also important, so if your cat decides to be curious and take a nibble, it won’t harm them. Fern plants are a great option for indoor use, as they prefer bright, indirect light and are non-toxic to cats. Of course, make sure you are checking the type of fern because not all ferns are created equal! I would also consider the type of substrate your plants live in. If your cat is anything like mine, they like to dig in the dirt, so having small planters will help with that or providing a pebble surface above the plant’s soil. This also helps the plant look more polished in the space, but could also provide an additional “toy” for your cat should they like to swat the rocks around. The bigger the pebbles, the better!
Reference ASPCA’s “Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List - Cats” for more information.
SHELVES + NOOKS
WALL MOUNTED OPTIONS
Cat’s love to play and hangout in high spaces! We found our three ladies love napping above our bookcases, at the top of their cat trees, and on their wall-mounted hammocks! Before you start swatting down these ideas because all cat accessories are an eyesore, I highly encourage you to look at some of the linked items below! Amazon has some great wall accessories that look fantastic and there are plenty of companies nowadays that provide great, aesthetically pleasing cat accessories! I recommend looking into Catastrophic Creations for full cat wall sets!
See the links below for options!
Cat Shelf Sets
Wall mounted cat shelf sets are great in providing a cohesive look with everything you need to install!
Cat Hammock and Steps
This is a great option for cats that love snoozing at a high elevation! The colors are neutral and the hammock is comfy, so everyone wins!
Catastrophic Creations
Catastrophic Creations has GREAT quality cat installations ranging from full sets to individual pieces!
FREESTANDING OPTIONS
For some, hanging cat shelves and hammocks isn’t an option due to rental or small space requirements, which makes these freestanding solutions perfect! Using existing furniture is a great way to save money and keep your home feeling just the way you like it! If you don’t have existing furniture that you can use, then I highly encourage going to thrift stores for great-priced pieces that you can modify easily. There are a lot of furniture pieces that can be modified, but I’ll mainly touch on bookcases here. Sturdy bookcases are great because you can drill large holes in the shelves and walls of the bookcase to provide cat access and tunnels. On these bookcases, you can still store books and accessories, so it looks like a normal piece of furniture, but it’s actually super interactive for your cat. I attached some links to great premade options below, so if you want to buy, you are set! If you want to use existing furniture, then you have the below links to give you ideas!
Wide Cat Bookcase
Super sleek and looks like a normal bookcase!
Tall and Narrow Cat Bookcase
This option is great for smaller spaces while still providing a great aesthetic!
CAT TREES
These are obviously the easiest solution for our climbing furry children. They are quick to purchase and don’t require any holes or installation to your home. Cat trees also come in fun designs, shapes, and colors! When looking at cat trees for your home, I would encourage you take the following into account:
Color/Aesthetic: I will always support cat parents buying cat trees (and almost everything else) for cats, but I can’t stress enough that it can also look great in your space! If your space is modern and neutral, I would avoid bringing in a cat tree that is bright pink with heart-shaped landings. I would source a cat tree that complements your space and feels like it belongs! If you have a neutral space and want to keep it that way, I would suggest looking at neutral colored trees. This way, it will feel like it’s part of the design! Not only do you want to consider color for design, but also want to consider color in relation to your cat’s coat. You don’t want to get a white cat tree and have a black cat. I mean, you can, but you will be constantly aware of how hairy it is! I also recommend vacuuming your cat trees at least once a week! This helps prevent unnecessary hair buildup.
Functionality: Think about the functionality of the cat tree and where it will sit. Is your cat tree going to be in the corner by a window (yes, please!)? Then I would consider getting a cat tree that allows your cat to spread out and nap. When cats like to sunbathe, they turn into a blooming flower, absorbing as much sun as they can! Giving them a tree that allows them to nap at a full stretch is a must! There are a lot of great options that have smaller landings where cats can climb up and down, and great options that have ample napping space. But remember, it’s not just their home, even though they like to think it is, so find something that works for all parties involved is important! Most cat trees also have some sort of rope scratching post. I can't stress how important this is! If your cat has a designated place to scratch, they are much less likely to scratch your furniture! If you can, I would have at least one scratching post easily accessible for each cat in your household.
Material: I am all about saving money and can search for cat trees on Amazon for days! But the thing I’ve noticed with the cheaper cat trees is the carpet material. They look great and serve their purpose, but the carpet is so thin and rips easily. I have an Amazon cat tree in our bedroom and it’s shredded. Keep in mind we have 12lbs, 11lbs, and 8lbs cats with the longest talons I’ve ever seen... The base is a thick, sturdy cardboard and the carpet is maybe as thick as 2 cotton t-shirts. Like I said, they are great and serve their purpose and have a ton of variations in size and color, but don’t always look great for long. I would recommend going to a local pet store and looking at those cat trees. Pet store cat trees are typically made of plywood, 2x4’s, and durable carpet! They are more costly, but will last longer and take the beating of your cat’s talons! I have also noticed the color and size variations are limited, and some options have better carpet than others, so I would keep all that in mind while shopping! The sturdier the base, the thicker/plush the carpet, the better off you and your cat will be!
Extra Large Cat Tree
If you have the space, I absolutley encourage this purchase! This big cat tree has great levels and ample lounging space! Great for multiple cats or one really spoiled one!
Medium Cat Tree
This option is great for 1-2 cats and has ample scratching posts and lounge areas!
Small Cat Tree
This is a great option for 1-2 cats in a small space. It has great scratching posts and a nice set of napping locations!
LITTER BOXES
Okay. This is the topic of the hour. Litter boxes are some of the ugliest pieces of cat gear I have had to own. They don’t look great and they don’t smell great. My cats are experts at tracking litter outside the box, and we use recycled paper pellets. I’m convinced they do it on purpose because the pellets are bigger than the spaces between their beans. Anyways! Litter boxes don’t always have to be an eyesore! If you are a homeowner and want to have a permanent solution to your litter location, I would suggest finding a cabinet that is deep enough to put a litter box in. Then you can cut out a cat door and have all cat litter accessories live in that cabinet and out of sight. This isn’t always a solution, so I’ve found some super cool options for hiding litter boxes. I added a link below to some furniture solutions for litter boxes if you are trying to hide yours from sight. When looking at these, I would keep in mind the size of your cat, the size of the litter box they need to feel comfortable doing their business, and then source furniture solutions that work with the litter box size. Also, don’t forget the litter deotorizor! I added a link for that below as well! You’ll thank me later!
Sleek Cabinet
Great for the minimalist who likes a clean sleek look!
Storage Cabinet
Great for larger spaces where extra storage is needed!
Double Litter Cabinet
You don’t need two cats for this to be useful! One side could be the litter box and the other could be where their food/water is stored. OR you can place your backup litter and litter accessories in the extra cabinet!
Cat Litter Deodorizer
You’re welcome.
Remember, you’re cat doesn’t own your home (it actually does) and it doesn’t need the house to be ALL decked out for cat life (even though it does), but there are many ways to provide your cat all that it needs, while creating a space that you need! I use all the tips above on my home and I hope they help you cultivate your space! If you need some creative assistance in making your home feel like both yours and your cat’s home, reach out and let’s find a solution that works for you both you your resident feline!
