Inexpensive DIY ideas to enrich my cat's life in a small apartment?

Hi, in terms of cat furniture don’t worry cats don’t need anything particularly fancy. They enjoy sitting on a shelf as in the picture and look outside the window. You would add some cardboard boxes that can also work as cratching posts and a couple of pillow on the bookshelf. I think the feeding area would better be moved, because being right in front of the windows is exposed, they can see/be seen and could spot something that might upset them. It is also advisable to keep feeding areas away from their litter tray and perhaps moving it would help increasing this distance. Are there only two cats in the room ? If so also consider the number of litter trays. I mo not sure how many you have at present, and if things work out well I probably would suggest not to change them. You can find lots of ideas in building/creating cat furniture from ikea furniture if you fancy a change in the future. Also cats will need to be active and interact with you so make sure you consider this in your routine. Hope this helps ! Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach

Cats that are declawed still like a scratching post so yes, I think you should get her one. The cat shelf is a really awesome idea! Cats love those! All environmental enrichment is good especially for a cat living in an apartment. This article may give you more ideas. ( https://www.thedrakecenter.com/materials/environmental-enrichment-indoor-cats )

There are a lot of toys that cats love that you can make at home: some cats will chase a crumpled ball of paper or a pom pom, you can tie a few feathers to a stick with some string, or you can put some crinkly plastic in something like a sock. Be sure that the toys are for supervised play only. Here is a link to some ideas: https://www.worldsbestcatlitter.com/clearing-the-air/2014/03/the-10-best-homemade-cat-toys/

It sounds like this is not an easy situation. Some cats will not like being kept inside while others adjust easily. You won't know until you try. There are some things you can do which can benefit any cat (a bored cat and a cat adjusting to a new life style). Here is a great article about cat's instinctual needs: https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-every-cat-needs-a-place-to-climb/ Use a Feliway diffuser, set aside 30 minutes a day for vigorous play (really get him moving) and switch the food to Royal Canin Calm. Try feeding him out of a food puzzle. Hide food for him to find. Provide a stand or resting place by a window so he can look outside. You may also try clicker training him for positive behavior. Here is a link about training cats: https://www.petcoach.co/article/can-i-train-my-cat/ Most cats response best to combination therapy. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I suggest you use some Feliway diffusers in the house and also do some environmental enrichment. Feliway really works wonders at reducing stress and calming cats. ( https://www.feliway.com/us ) ( https://www.allivet.com/p-1865-feliway-diffuser-plug-in-starter-kit-for-cats.aspx ) Environmental Enrichment resources: ( catbehaviorassociates.com/what-is-environmental-enrichment-and-why-does-your-cat-need-it/ ) ( youtube.com/results?search_query=environmental+enrichment+cat ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If you are looking for ways to enrich your cat, you can purchase things like a cat tree for it to climb on, or toys for it to play with. Cats tend to enjoy Temptations cat treats, though they are high calorie and should only be given in moderation. I hope this is helpful!

It's great that you want to make sure Mia is happy! Cats need at least one litterbox per cat plus one extra to help reduce stress associated with the litterbox. They should be placed in separate rooms, away from the food and water bowls, must be scooped at least daily (preferably multiple times a day) and washed out at least weekly with a mild soap, followed by thorough rinsing. Cats need a lot of space to explore, but keeping them indoors is much safer than letting them outside, due to the risk of injury from cars, wildlife, other animals, etc. The key is providing space (particularly vertical space for climbing, such as cat trees, ledges, and the like) inside the home. Visit http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=T&C=33&S=2 , healthcareforpets.com and https://indoorpet.osu.edu// for tips on stress reduction. Also look into Feliway, a synthetic pheromone that is available in a diffuser and spray form that promotes calm feelings in cats http://www.feliway.com . See the link below and consult with your vet about the best food for Mia https://talkspetfood.aafco.org/rightpetfood . I hope that helps!