Indoor cats cannot get everything they 'need' from the environment, and as a result can become bored, frustrated and fat. People can provide a more enriched and stimulating environment for their cats by adding some simple items to their home. These items help fulfill some of the natural desires of a cat.
Indoors or outdoors
What works best in the UK? Outdoor cats get exercise and mental stimulation. Unfortunately they also get into fights and get run over. Some unscrupulous people even go as far as to poison them. Indoor cats don't have to deal with these issues but can get obese and have behavioral issues from boredom.
Cats that are house-bound due to never having been allowed outside, infirmity, or proximity to a major road, are generally content to be so. Some owners, willing to spend money, provide runsof an enclosed garden or cat access to the outdoors via a barricaded structure called a 'catio'.
It is mandatory in England for all domestic cats to be microchipped.
Source: Cats Protection, "Microchipping your cat"
Litter trays
The general consensus is that each cat gets their own tray, plus an additional tray. So if you have 2 cats, you set up 3 trays. Place the trays in secluded areas. Ideally, they should not be near the cat’s food and water, and they should not be adjacent to each other. To a cat, 2 adjacent trays are considered 1 tray.
Most owners scoop at least once a day. Many cats will let their owners know if they are not okay with a particular litter box. Scented litters and/or covered litters are not favored by most cats and may lead to cats using other locations to elimimate. Once the use of other locations begins, the reason may be due to stress and/or an illness, and a veterinarian visit may be warranted.
Scratching
It’s natural for cats to scratch. It helps them keep their claws trim and also leaves subtle scent markers. It’s best to provide your cat with a couple of vertical scratching posts that are sturdy and tall since cats prefer to stretch fully when they scratch. Also placing the scratch post near their sleeping location and the entrance to your house increases the likelihood they will use it since cats like to mark their territory around their bed and the entrance to their home. Also, some cats prefer to scratch horizontally. The best and cheapest material for a scratching post is cardboard.
Posts placed near the sofa often work better to discourage cat scratching than scolding the cat for scratching.
Climbing and hiding
Cats like to get up high so they can survey the room from a variety of good vantage points like window perches, a shelf, or a Cat Tree. They like to tuck away in smaller spaces like boxes, covered beds, or an efficient gap under a piece of furniture that they claim.
Play
Cats that are permitted to roam free outdoors need to have their hunting skills practiced, as they are natural predators. A wand toy is better than a basket of toys left on the floor, as it encourages them to stalk and chase. They need to have the toy “caught” and eaten, which provides them closure and mimics the natural cycle of hunting and eating.
I hide my cat’s dry food around the house and use puzzle feeders, which help slow down meal times.
Grooming shorthaired cats
The majority of shorthaired cats are very particular about their own grooming. These cats usually require very little assistance from their owners. A weekly brushing, using a rubber brush or a grooming mitt, not only helps to eliminate loose hair and avoid the embarrassment of your cat bringing up a hairball in your living room, it also provides an opportunity for you to check your cat for external parasites and other abnormalities. You may want to increase the frequency of your cat's brushing to help remove loose hair during the spring and fall when cats tend to molte more.
Grooming longhaired cats
Some types of cats require daily grooming. These include Persians, Main Coons, Ragdolls, Norwegian Forest Cats, and other longhaired cats. Mats can develop quickly and, if neglected, can become really bad and develop very close to the cat's skin. These mats can be very painful to remove, particularly on sensitive areas such as the ears and belly. Mats on the armpits can also be painful to remove.
Use a wide-toothed metal comb first, and then follow up with a slicker brush. Never attempt to remove a mat with scissors as closely trimmed matting can cut and tear the cat’s thin skin. If the matting is severe, you should take your cat to a groomer or vet to have it taken care of.
Nails, teeth and ears
Claws on indoor cats tend to wear down less, so their nails don’t need to be clipped as often. When they do need to be clipped, only trim the sharp white tip. Don’t clip past the quick.
Dental disease is prevalent in the feline population. It is good to practice brushing your cat’s teeth if they will allow it, starting when they are a kitten. You can take your cat to the vet if they have bad breath, are drooling or are losing/ leaving food in their bowl.
Ears don’t typically need cleaning. Dark or smelly wax may mean an infection. Scratching can mean ear mites.
Baths
Cats generally don't require baths. Most cats have a natural inclination to keep themselves clean. Also, most cats don't like water. There are, however, some situations that require a cat bath. These situations include if a cat has come in contact with something that is toxic or sticky and if a cat is too old, too sick, or has some skin condition where the vet recommends it. While it is not preferable to give a cat a bath, if it is absolutely necessary, use a special cat shampoo, and keep the cat's head dry.
Hairballs
While hairballs happen to almost all cats, you should contact your vet if your cat is hacking up a lot of hairballs or if your cat is hacking but not producing any hairballs. The best way to prevent hairballs is to routinely brush your cat.