Give your cats tools & resources to better cope with stressful moments

Stress in cats isn't inherently that bad, as long as it's temporary. That's what we call 'acute stress', and a cat's body is built to handle it. It's important that we make sure our cats can cope well with stressful situations in their environment. We do this by offering things in their environment that they can reliably use when it all becomes a bit too much for them.

TIP 1 - Vertical & horizontal scratching spots

Cats scratch to maintain their claws and deposit scents in the environment, but also to release stress.

They prefer to do this on horizontal scratching elements such as scratch mats, sisal mats, and scratch cardboard. So provide scratching elements throughout your home, and preferably outside as well, where your cat can 'release' stress.

TIP 2 - Hiding boxes with multiple entrances

A cat that's feeling a bit off wants to withdraw from the situation and hide. She prefers to do this somewhere she can safely get in and out of, like a box with more than one entrance. A single entrance is 'dangerous', because if a predator blocks that entrance, it's over!

So provide boxes with multiple entrances that aren't directly opposite each other, like a tunnel. Preferably cut them out at a 90° angle, and feel free to cut a few peepholes, so she can safely keep watch without being seen.

Also completely ignore her when she's using her hiding boxes. And be sure to keep the boxes in place, even if they're used less often!

TIP 3 - Cats love edges

Baskets with edges, bowls with edges, small boxes with edges, tubs with edges - cats love anything with edges! It gives them a feeling of safety because they're tucked away, and where there's an edge, they can't be attacked. So provide all sorts of things with edges throughout your house, especially for your cats!

TIP 4 - Free up heights

Cats are natural tree climbers who go up high and jump to bring themselves to safety. This is a very important insight for cat owners.

This means you can free up heights throughout your home for your cat to use, and also add heights, such as hanging wall shelves on empty walls and in empty corners. It also means you're best off leaving your cats alone when they seek out a height such as the dining table or kitchen counter.

The fact that they can safely use these spots to keep watch, look around, and make use of this height is of great importance to them for their sense of safety and predictability.

You can clean your counter more often if you're worried about hygiene, and you can put a protective cover on your stovetop when you're not cooking.