Without Sacrificing Cleanliness, Style, or Function
I recently spoke with a woman about my job writing about pets, particularly dogs and cats. She mentioned she adored animals, especially cats, but didn’t want them in her home. When I asked why, she explained that she couldn’t stand the sight of carpet-covered cat trees and didn’t want her house to smell like a litter box.
I get it—me neither!
This conversation made me realize that with a little effort and some knowledge about cats, you can create a cat-friendly home without compromising on cleanliness, style, or functionality.
To ensure everyone can enjoy the joy of having cats, I’m sharing my top tips for keeping Newtie and Ripley happy while maintaining a functional, clean, odor-free, family-friendly home.
HOW TO CAT-PROOF YOUR HOME
Safety is the first and foremost consideration when it comes to pets. Here are some ways to cat-proof your home:
- Secure cords on blinds and curtains.
- Store trash, compost, and recycling in a cabinet or with a closed lid.
- Anchor TVs, bookcases, shelves, and furniture that could topple to the wall. Baby-proofing products work perfectly for mischievous cats too.
- Always close the washer and dryer, cabinets, freezer, and other places your cat could get stuck.
- Hide electrical cords. Using cord organizers keeps both cats safe and electronics tidy.
- Remove access to swallow-able dangers such as batteries, cigarette butts, essential oils, cleaning chemicals, bug spray, pest control products, mothballs, medications, plastic bags, tape, strings, ribbons, elastic, and hair ties.
- Re-home toxic plants. Use this reference guide.
Think of your cat as a smarter, craftier, feistier toddler. Consider how you’d keep a toddler safe in your home, then imagine that toddler had better fine motor skills. Cats can get into the most serious trouble the fastest.
HOW TO MEET YOUR CAT’S NEEDS AT HOME
Once your home is safe, consider your cat’s needs:
- Healthy food, of course.
- Access to fresh, clean water. Cats love fountains because of the movement. We have two, plus two still water dishes, and their favorite is this one.
- A clean place to go to the bathroom. More on this in a minute.
- Enrichment and stimulation, including positive interactions with you like petting, play, or grooming.
- An appropriate place to scratch.
- A place to hide, as simple as an Amazon box or as elaborate as a multi-level cat condo.
- Preventative medical care. Take your cat to the vet regularly.
For multi-cat households, multiply the resources: one litter box per cat plus one, one water dish per cat plus one. This prevents territoriality and fights.
Cats whose needs aren’t met can experience stress, leading to health and behavior issues.
A SEPARATE NOTE ON LITTER BOXES
Don’t let the litter box deter you from bringing a cat into your home. There are many solutions from the litter you choose to the type of box you use and how often you scoop. Your cat’s diet can also play a role.
Here are two of my favorite solutions: litter box furniture and the QAIS air purifier.
LITTER BOX FURNITURE
We have two cats and three litter boxes. If you have the budget and space, you can conceal your litter box in furniture. Options range from stylish pieces to budget-friendly choices. Search “litter box furniture” on Amazon to find something that fits your style and budget.
Simple cubes work great; we used to have one but needed the space more than the aesthetics. Now, we have three of these, each with a mat underneath to collect stray pieces of litter. They’re easy to scoop and clean, and they prevent litter from getting everywhere. We use fluffy bath mats from IKEA—they work great and can be tossed in the washer and dryer.
By following these tips, you can create a cat-friendly home without sacrificing your sense of style or cleanliness. Enjoy the joy of loving cats while maintaining a functional, clean, and stylish living space.
Guaranteed safe & secure checkout via