Species-Appropriate Cat Care – What Shouldn't Be Missing at Home

For many, a big wish comes true when a cat finally moves in. At first, it's all about cuddling, getting acquainted and sniffing each other out.
All lovely and good. But it won't be long before you notice that your cat's instinct to scratch, dash around and play simply can't be suppressed. After all, she's a "wild animal" at heart, and these instincts are deeply rooted in her nature. This doesn't have to be a problem for you and your cat, though, as long as you make sure to provide the right setup for your home — and therefore for your cat.

Species-Appropriate Cat Care – Here's How

One thing is clear: indoor cats need even more attention than cats with outdoor access. The basic setup for your cat therefore plays a hugely important role in species-appropriate care. Your setup should cover everything your cat needs to meet her basic needs. Your cat's needs can be divided into four areas.

• The sleeping and resting zone
• The feeding spot
• The play, climbing and scratching zone
• The litter box

It's best to assign each of your cat's four life areas a clear spot in your home. This helps you avoid stress and makes life at home easier for your cat.

A Cat's Needs

We all know: cats can be stubborn and have a mind entirely their own. The four areas sound pretty easy, right? After all, a cat can find a place to sleep anywhere… on the bed… the sofa… a chair… But why keep it simple when you can make it complicated. And that's actually a good thing — because if a cat had no special needs, we – LucyBalu – probably wouldn't exist. After all, then all our products and product variations would be for nothing ;)

But let's start from the beginning:

• Sleeping and resting zone:

For your cat's sleeping spot, it's important that she feels comfortable. Cats need a lot of sleep and they make sure they get it. Sleep time varies enormously depending on the cat's age, but it's usually somewhere between 16 and 18 hours a day. Elevated sleeping spots are a huge comfort factor for your cat. That's why we especially recommend our SWING or STRAIGHT. You can mount these on the walls of your home wherever suits your cat's preferences best. Your cat can sleep peacefully while still keeping an eye on everything.

• The feeding spot:

Eating is – just as it is for us humans – a cat's most basic need, which is why the feeding spot should be a quiet place. Cats are often very sensitive about their feeding spot and need as calm and sheltered a place as possible to eat. It's often a good idea to offer your cat two bowls and to split them into water and food. A bowl mat can help keep your home clean and the feeding spot hygienic. A small tip: it's best not to place the food and water bowls right next to each other. Even in the wild, cats don't drink water and eat food in the same place. So separating the bowls even spatially reduces unnecessary stress for your cat.

• The play, climbing and scratching zone:

Even though cats sleep through most of the day, when they're awake, they're really awake. That's when our house tigers want to have their fun! No matter if big, small, old or young. Regular play isn't just needed for healthy joints and muscles in cats. Play also lets them live out instincts that, in the wild, a cat would otherwise express through her hunting drive. Playing helps burn off excess energy and keeps a cat's senses sharp. As a cat owner, you're largely responsible for keeping your cat active. That's why cat toys are so worthwhile and are also an essential part of species-appropriate pet care. It's important that the toy doesn't pose any danger to your tiger. It shouldn't be too small or have sharp edges. Classics include little balls, with or without noise. In principle, there are no limits to how you can play with your cat — the only thing that matters is having a human who plays with the cat.

Also important for a cat household are ways for a cat to romp, climb and scratch. Scratching and climbing furniture for wall mounting is especially well suited for this. It fits perfectly into any home without taking up any valuable living space. Sharpening their claws is important for our furry friends not just for grooming reasons. Besides the manicure aspect, marking their own territory plays a major role. So make sure your scratching furniture also lets your cat properly sharpen her claws. Your furniture will thank you. Thanks to climbing furniture on the wall, cats then have their entire territory in view and can use it as a lookout post or a place to relax.

• The litter box:

Cats are very clean animals. That's why they show no mercy when it comes to their litter box. Both the location and hygiene are top priorities for a litter box. The right spot for a litter box is often underestimated by many cat owners. It's extremely important for our four-legged friends to have a discreet spot to do their business. The room should be freely accessible, yet still a "quiet little corner" where a cat can spend her time unobserved. We all know cats are real individualists. So it's important to observe whether your cat prefers a litter box with or without a hood. The size and rim height of the litter box should be tailored individually to the size of your four-legged friend. Last but not least, a litter box should be cleaned regularly – at least once a day. There's nothing our furry friends hate more than a dirty litter box.

By the way: we're currently working on developing litter boxes, since you've asked us about them so often. We can already reveal this much: this is a litter box you won't want to hide anymore! So keep your eyes peeled. ;)

Cats are stubborn and individual. We all know that. The list of things a cat needs could go on and on… but the most important thing is the human. Because our four-legged friends depend on us for everything they do and can do, and at the end of the day, we humans are all they have. And for us, they're all we need.