A few things not mentioned that work really well for our 2 kitties in apartment- 1. Having potted plants on our balcony close enough so that they can watch the flowers and see the little spiders, bees, and butterflies that visit the flowers. 2. A small bird feeder on the balcony area as well (I know this isn’t an option for all apartments- but if it is, it’s really nice for the cats to watch the birds during the day). 3. A little cat hammock that suction cups to the windows- (we have a chubby girl, and it’s never had a problem with her jumping up/ with both cats cuddling and napping on it/ etc. I was pleasantly surprised how much it holds) if you live in a cold area, we also placed one of those cat safe warmer mats- they have non-electric ones that just reflect the cat’s body heat and get nice and cozy for the cats to lay on for a nap. 4. Using little food puzzles filled with some treats or getting little “mice” online that have a place to fill with dry food- and then hide the 3 mice so your cat has to “hunt” them and find them when you’re at work- it takes a few tries for them to get the hang of it- and I try to make it really easy the first few times- plus leave a small amount of dry food in their bowl at first, just in case they don’t pick up on it right away. 5. If you live in a place that doesn’t have a lot of wild life or nature- try turning on a RUclips video for cats- like search “cat tv” and a bunch of videos pop up that are just birds and squirrels eating seeds and nuts that someone set up a camera for in the woods for 6 hours and just let the critters come by and eat. My cats love watching! I try to mix up what I do, to keep them entertained and happy. They’re spoiled little babies, but all cats deserve to be spoiled in my opinion haha!
The bird feeder thing is neat! We can't do it where I live, but there are big bushes in front of our apartment that just so happen to be positioned nicely in front of the windows. Lost of birds live around here and squirrels are everywhere. Our 3 cats love watching them! Plus, seagulls and turkey vultures fly around the back of the apartment in addition to my boy's favorite starlings. My boy is the only one who chatters at birds, but he is selective. Starlings, sparrows, and seagulls (I call them sea-chickens now) are his favorites. He doesn't care about the squirrels bit my finance's cat stares at them. The third cat loves all the little birds and rodents. All of our cars are getting up there a bit in age now so I think I want to get heated beds and such for them. It's cold now so I want them to be comfortable.
@@konaaukai5541 we’re not supposed to put up bird feeders or feed wildlife at our apartment community, but a suet feeder leaves very little mess. You can get a pole for hanging potted plants at the dollar store ( or $1.25 store) in spring and stick it in the corner of the mulched area, hang some flowers that attract hummingbirds or hummingbird moths, and hang a suet feeder on the higher arm. Don’t have the pole too close to the bush. Other wildlife will come and steel it, I use twist ties to secure it to the pole. But I also have hung them under my patio.
My 'baby' is now 17 and showing signs that she won't be around much longer. Off to the vet for checkup this week, but in meantime, based on your advice, Jackson, I got her a heated blanket. She's very happy about this! 😁 her appetite is better, she's moving around much better and she's generally much more relaxed. Such a simple thing, but has made a real difference. Cheers, dude 👍❤🇬🇧
Good luck to your baby! 17 is impressive! You’re clearly a wonderful cat mama. My 13yo loooooves her heated spot. I had a heating pad on for something I was dealing with, and she gravitated to it. I now have it resting in one of her spots with a soft blanket over it to diffuse the heat.
getting old can be hard and there is probably some stiffness or joint pain. I crated little ramps for my old boy to get to his favourite spots on the window and the couch and he loved it. I noticed he would not use the high places that frequently with getting older. jumping up was not the problem but getting down. After installing the boadrs with carpet for grip he would use the places in his old frequency.
I have a hammock with my stuffed animals hanging above my bed (using command strips). My cat loves jumping up, climbing it, and sleeping on top of the stuffed animals.
One little enrichment thing I did that also looked really cute: I took all their toys and placed them in cute little spots all over the cats' surfaces (cat trees, beds, etc) for the cats to find. I made it look like little critters were peeking out of everywhere. Instead of just all over the floor like usual. My cats watched me do it and had a blast pouncing on the toys they found as I was putting them out. Some of the toys are still up for future finds. And it looks adorable. I think I will do that regularly now. 💖🐾💖🐾
@@xladyfayre It's so much fun! I still have kitty toys scattered all over my home. But I do still have them positiined all over their cat tree, too. It makes me smile every time I see the little "mice" peeking out. And the kitties seem to like it, too. I should probably switch up where I hide each toy occasionally. That way the game stays feeling new for the kitties. Besides, it's fun to do! 😊💖🐾💖🐾
You’ve made my cats life so much better. I started taking care of this sweet, but very skittish and almost shell shocked, cat that my (apartment) neighbors had abandoned as a kitten when they moved. I live in an 600 sq ft “efficiency” (just one room) and “Sammy” has two cat towers, one of which she can climb and get on top of my bookshelf which has a cat house on top of. She has one cat tree that she can use to look out the window. She has another cat house under my entrance table. She has a heated bed. She has three scratch pads in various locations (loves sleeping on them). She has a four story cat castle made of cardboard that she can climb through. She has a three ft vertical scratching post that has a perch on top that she absolutely loves to sleep on. She has cat tunnels that run under her cat tree that she loves to hide in when she wants to play hide and seek. She has two of those snuffle mats your recently recommended, which are awesome and she loves. And she has three cat wands she can’t get enough of when we play. She is a totally different cat. And I can guarantee you I wouldn’t have done any of that without your videos.
WOW! It positively sounds like "Sammy" is living in a Kitty Wonderland. Where do you sleep? Kind of kidding. Your apartment sounds jammed packed with cat adventures. Glad she's a happy and most importantly was rescued by you. You're giving her the dream life.
Yeah, I’m like you. It’s a cat-partment . I just sleep on the couch. Everything else is for them in this 753sq ft. Even the food. The patio is home to feral cats I’ve been caretaker for the 6 years I’ve been here. (TNR). Strays, sick, & injured cats that showed up to my patio because my 3 boys are always looking outside that I rescue…(my bathroom is quarantine space). I am a fall risk now, so I’m not as good as getting in and out of the patio door as fast as I used to. My youngest always makes a charge for it. So the patio isn’t mine. It’s the birds. My patio window takes up nearly the entire wall, so it’s out tv!
living in a studio apt with two cats i learned that having designated cat spaces just for them went a very long way in making them feel safe and happy. think like a cat- where would they want to sleep or hang out?? the window is a big favorite, and although i initially wanted the window space for myself i found that after catifying it for them it brought me so much joy to see them hanging out in the window and knowing it was their spot
I'm in the process of getting a cat, and right now I'm looking at my cat tree options, and where I can put it... I'm reaching the conclusion that I'm going to have to move my desk down the wall away from the window, so the cat can have the prime window-seat! I have huge almost floor-to-ceiling windows in both my living/everything room and my bedroom, and as I live right next to a park, these are basically the best feature in my apartment. So I figure I can share :) The windowsills inside are about 7.5" deep, so not ideal as a place to put a bed, but I'm guessing they'll make a good perch as well to get a different view on the world.
I started using my carriers for lil kitty forts. I used to have problems getting 1 of my guys in there...but he has a blanket he likes sleeping on in his fort and it was super easy getting him in! Total game changer indeed!
I live in an apartment with two cats. One of the things I do to satisfy their curiosity, is that I lift them high to let them see the top plants, furniture, curtains, wall shelves, wall hangings, etc. They both love it! And since they know that the top of those things look like, they don't jump on them to find out what they look like.
Yes, I used to do the same thing with my cats! One of them did not like being carried very long, but he loved laundry basket rides and would survey his kingdom from that vantage point. 🤣
My kitty always sleeps on my bed at night. And often she sleeps there during the day while I'm at work as well (especially if I've put the blanket in a nice, soft pile). She has beds of course, but sleeping against her human's legs is the superior way to sleep.
My cat also sleeps on my bed. I recently got a taller mattress that she can't jump up on anymore, though, as she's a bit heavy (working on that). So I'm going to have to get some pet stairs, as I don't want to have to lift her up there forever, and I want her to have that independence.
My whole apartment is catified, they even have their own bedroom, everyone teases me cause my apt looks more like a fun cat shelter than a humans apt...
@@AllyCakes12 love the mental image of your daughter coming back to visit and having to negotiate her way into bed as half a dozen cats try to explain to her that this is their room now
I did as much catification that I could in my studio apartment...but, I had three cats and even though most of the living space was made up of cat trees and Ikea furniture (creating a cat Borg cube) there was just not enough room. This all inspired me to save up to buy my own house. Now, the cats have room to run, climb, nap, play, and live their best lives. Having a whole bedroom just for litter boxes is a dream come true!
I also have cats in a studio apartment (currently two)! I love them but as you said, there's not a lot of space. Litter easily gets all over the apartment lol. I guess this motivates me even more to get a bigger place
I’m a first time cat mom and your videos have been invaluable! This one is no different. I live in a studio apt so a tension mounted cat tree is a must! I put it next to my window. Not only does it draw the eye up and out, making my space look bigger, it’s thin so it doesn’t make my small space look stuffy and my cats love it for everything from jumping to climbing to sleeping. Also, I make sure that most surfaces are jump-able for them. The coffee table/dining table is always cleared after use because it’s a launching pad between the bed and the sofa (and the window sill, tree, and desk by extension). I know most people like to have decor on their coffee tables, but I just chose one that is beautiful by itself. My boys run snd jump on it all the time to get to their next elevated destination. The last thing I need is for them to crash into some decor while they’re chasing each other up and down the furniture and getting hurt. I only have one cat bed, but they also use my bed, sofa, desk chair, window sill, radiator, cat tree, and carriers as beds so they have plenty of sleeping spots for such a small space. They could use my desk too but they just choose not to, and that’s okay. I also have toys laying around when I’m not home and wand toys I use to play with them nightly. They love the wand toys most and will yell at me and lead me to the their toy storage drawer under my bed if I don’t play with them on time 😹 I chose a bed with storage because it’s essential when you live in a studio, but even if I had the space, I know that I will always choose a bed that they can’t hide under because of your tips! I got my boys at the height of the pandemic when I moved back in with my parents, so I was really worried that they would get bored or depressed when I moved out and into this much smaller space because they have so much energy. But now I really believe they have more fun here than they do in my parent’s big house because of they have more vertical space (I can’t convince my parents to catify so there’s lots of horizontal space. It was wonderful for our dog). The nice thing about this arrangement though is that they are familiar with that big home so it’s not really stressful to take them with me when I go visit. And that’s why your tip on making sure they saw their carriers as safe spaces was a big deal for me. I just pop them in and off we go. I love my boys so much and everything I’ve learned about giving them a happy life came from your videos. Thank you so much from me and my babies!
I am having bad problems with my TiggER and TiggY getting used to each other. I got Tiggy recently because a lady I took care of for 2 years had to go into assisted living, and couldn't take him. We were his 2 moms, and he loves me, and I just couldn't put him in a shelter. He is spoiled. I love them both, and this is killing me. One in the living room, one in my bedroom, because my cat TiggER is so jealous of newcomer, Tiggy, he will go after him. I thought they would adjust. 3 months ago. Now? TiggY doesn't want to fight, they are both neutered. But I don't know how to get them to be able to co-exist. I don't want either to get hurt. My 3rd GIRL is 21, a white maine Coon I have had since she was a baby ball of fur . She has Catitude, won't put up with attacks, and bit, or clawed, TiggER last week. He used to knock her down. Not anymore! He is healed already. He trys to sneak into whichever room TiggY is in, and I am 76, and it's making me a nervous wreck. And I know TiggER is hurt, he is very smart..plays fetch with me with straws and toys. Until now.😪 I have some high places, and try to pack stuff under the bed so they don't get under there. But, not working very good. I need HELP figuring out what to do? Tried calming diffusers, and sprays. Nope! Desperate! 1 bedroom apt.
@@drdebbie03 hello Debbie! So sorry late response. I have the one in the video that’s shown at around 5:24 and it’s from Frisco. I bought it off of Chewy. I just checked and it’s currently on discount! Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas if you celebrate :)
@@carolwolter7084 Have you tried rotating the cats to different rooms, 2 or 3 times a day, (just Tigger and Tiggy only I'd say as your eldest cat sounds like she is well established and settled already, she will naturally be calmer once Tiggy and Tigger start getting on better with each other.), maybe once they get used to the smell of each other while not physically together they will get used to the smell of each others scent in each room and eventually tolerate each other once they meet again, maybe take a look at the other videos on here about reintroduction of cats and when you think a fight will break out try distracting Tigger who may still be playful with a dangly feather toy and see how that gets on for now as you mentioned Tiggy has temporarily not been as playful lately, the playfulness should return when he is less stressed I'm sure. I hope things get better for you soon and as for your senior cat he seems alright, he just got fed up with the cats fighting near him so lashed out, he just wants peace away from the "kids" as to speak.
Before I got a Cat-Condo, I used my ironing board, set as high as it would go. I put several blankets on so he wouldn't feel the hard board. I even put on a pillow so it looked like a little long bed. I put it against the wall by the window, making sure to make it tight against the wall so it wouldn't move. Nero loved it. I'm happy I made use of something I didn't use often. :) Nancy
A great highway that is usually built in that I've found is the top of the kitchen cabinets! I have some grow lights and cat friendly plants and beds up there and they're pretty much uninterested in being in the way on the counters and just hang out and watch from up there.
That really works out if you have a large kitchen, tall ceiling or a small amount of kitchenware if the kitchen is small. I had to renovate the kitchen in our 1Bdr condo and extended the cabinets to the ceiling because of our teeny tiny kitchen space. We decided that since the cats were losing that space, we'd remove photos/ paintings and add more cat shelves.
I was so freaked out when my girls jumped up there the first time because they were only about 6 months and I was terrified of them falling but it has actually kept them off of my countertops because they can watch from above when I'm cooking without getting in my way. Absolute best decision to let them stay up there.
Maybe you've done this already, but I think a great topic would be Catification for the aging cat. My baby is an old man now, and I've had to place some stools so he can get up on his eating table and up on my bed, and I've put inexpensive soft blankets on everything he likes to sleep on (couch, bed, ottoman) both to make it more comfy for him and to protect my furniture since he sometimes has accidents, or dingleberries from not cleaning himself as well anymore. He's also not using his scratching post very much anymore, so I have to pay extra attention to his nails so they don't grow too long and get ingrown - but maybe there are scratching posts that are easier for older cats to use? And maybe there are other things I should be doing as well, to make things easier and more comfortable for him?
It sounds like you're doing great. One thing I can think of that my babies like is warmth. As soon as I get up one of mine often jumps up to steal my heating pad. Maybe a heated bed or something?
@@anyascelticcreations Ooo, good idea. I'm in the basement and it's pretty chilly down there (which I love.) I tried giving him some of those "cave" cat beds so he could be warm, but he hates being enclosed. I'm a bit nervous about leaving a heating pad plugged in when I'm not home, though, but I'll look into it.
Put some blankets in a pile on the floor next to the furniture he sits on. It will help soften the jump if he has arthritis. My cat would use the cat steps which I put on the side of my bed, but she wouldn’t use them to get back down. You may have to train him at first as he may not understand why they’re there, but he’ll get the hang of it pretty quickly - cats are very intelligent!
We have three cat trees right now so I’m interested to see what else we can do. We recently got two kittens and Jackson’s been so on point with fixing issues. We fixed a pee problem by adding more litter boxes, blocked off underneath the couch and play/ groom daily and they acclimated within days and are so happy with barely any issues now.
My cat’s carrier is by the front door and acts as her “extra” bedroom. I’m glad to see the idea wasn’t as silly as I thought it was. Watching these videos and seeing my silly ideas mentioned, makes me feel like a good cat guardian. ❤
My mother grew cat grass and catnip for the household cats. While plants were growing she kept them up on a plant stand. When plants were large enough she put planters on the floor and cats nibbled on them. When plants got scraggly, she picked them up again to regrow. Our cats left the plants on plant platforms alone. My mother kept her dining room table clear except for a centerpiece when not in use. She allowed cats on it then. When we put a tablecloth on the table, the cats knew it was off limits and didn't get on the table then.
@@kalim8815 Amazon! The brand I bought was "PawHut" The title of the listing is "PawHut 108" Floor-to-Ceiling Adjustable Staggered Climbing Cat Tree Tower." There are other, smaller options that aren't as expensive, but my baby is 13 and she's got no front claws (she was declawed BEFORE I MET HER).
I've found that loft beds work great for dual purpose catification. It's a high up comfy spot for your cat. Plus you have all the space underneath it be able to fit more into your room.
I switched to a loft bed and love it. And it is a winner with Betty (cat) also. I use a old wooden step ladder getting in. It took Bet a while with the ladder. Now she just whizzes up it to the loft.
I’ve used your suggestions over the years , but this one has made a huge hit with my cats and was such a no-brainer: turning the carrier into a den! I always got carriers out ahead of vet visits for acclimation, but never thought about cozying them up and leaving them out full time. To say my cats love theirs is an understatement! One of the carriers can even accommodate a kitty warmer my husband built. Our next vet should be much less stressful. Thank you!
@@roseboyd940 my electrical engineer husband is very talented and has built dozens of kitty warmers (102 degrees F) it takes a knowledge of circuitry and electronics, unfortunately. Our kitties live on theirs year round.
I have a wall-mounted scratcher in my bedroom, but instead of screwing it in place, I put duct tape on the wall, then super glued the scratcher to the duct tape. Works like a charm.
My cat is living with me in an apartment for about 5 years now. I really feel bad for him. I wasn't able to focus much on him. From now on I will try my best to give him all the things I can
I rent a small studio. The tension rod cat tree is super affordable and was fairly easy to set up on my own. I moved it to the corner so my cat can climb up to my loft bed. He loves it! The one I have is a little wobbly, but he still climbs it like a maniac. I’m still working on a superhighway, it’s taking a lot of rearranging and planning. I’m also looking for places he naturally gravitates toward, so it doesn’t take him long to figure out the route I set up. We are doing target training and that has helped a ton! Collapsible tunnels are great! I get it out when he seems like he’s getting bored or if I know I’ll be gone a long time. When we play fetch he loves to jump over it as well.
Thank you! I’m glad you are still promoting cat knowledge. Your videos are a go to when trying to educate others on cats! We used your videos a lot when I volunteered at an animal shelter. Truly, thank you!
I adopted my beautiful wallflower Tasha about 3 months ago, and you have become my Guru. She is just started to become confident in my unit.I am in Adelaide South Australia, and am catafying using our unit.I look forward to learning more from you and watching all the cats you show ❤❤ Love Julianne and Tasha.
This one is potentially a game-changer for me! I had cats all through my childhood, but since moving out on my own, I have lived in apartments and have been leery about getting a cat- due to the limited space, etc. This, however, this I can work with!
Boxes! Every time I have an empty delivery box, he usually finds his way into it and it becomes a bed/chill space for a week or sometimes longer. I also change out the toys and put away items he gets bored of to change things up and a few months later it is as if they are completely new when they come out of hiding.
My 2 are soooo happy when Amazon have been!! Hours or sometimes days of fun! I currently have a ginormous box full of smaller boxes and packaging paper etc? I put treats in there and they have hours of fun finding them! And was free 😹😻👍
I’m currently awaiting an apartment, so I’m literally in a room with my two boys (12 & 14). Thankfully I’ve got a really high ceiling… and I went UP! I’ve also got kitty seats on the BIG windows with enough room to still open them. Just have a couple things left to do. They haven’t killed each other… or me. 🤣 Also… the closet has enough space for their Litter Robot. 🙌
I’m moving into a new apartment and getting kittens soon, so I’m really excited to cattify my apartment! I’ve been looking through a ton of ideas and saving so many pieces of cat furniture
My cat loves my PUSHEEN blanket as her scent soaker it’s a cute blanket so I love keeping it out aesthetically, and she loves laying on it on the soft chair in our bedroom.
My apartment is for sure catified! Many people tease and ask if it’s my apartment or the cats- it’s both! That’s the point! One of my kitties favorite things they have is a double decker Window pitch (since I have 2). It suctions to the window so there is no damage! It’s super strong and durable and it has a furry soft base for them to lay in. Aside from that they have one 4 ft cat tree at the end of my bed, a 2 ft cat tree hammock in the dining room, their litter boxes of course, a cat water fountain, three scratching posts, baskets of toys and they looooove any little pop ups they can hide in. They have a little mesh house, a foldable octagon with blankets, and a little red tunnel. Anything they can hide in or climb on they love. As long as they’re safe for the apartment, get them! I share this home with my cats and it’s so important that they feel it is their home as well not just their moms. :)
**perch Oh also they have puzzle feeders so they can actively hunt/play and reward themselves with the food! Gives them an option to keep them moving in a smaller space
Leather boots make great scratchers. No mess. All 4 of mine love them. I live in a tiny house and have been adding catification as we have just moved in. The stairs are a skitty kitty highway. The open storage spaces under the stairs are perfect for hiding toys. I also bought slow feed dishes for extra fun during feed times. My cats are pretty happy with the new space.
Building a 566 sf tiny cottage right now. It's a 345.6 sf footprint. I just adopted a 17.5 lb cat and I have a small dog. Lol, this couldn't have come at a better time. I'm planning on using ALL the vertical wall space I can. Milo (the cat) likes climbing, thank goodness, so trying to plan a highway in the sky for him. Hoping for some good tips to make good use of space. There's not much but I want everyone to have their own happy places to snuggle and travel around the house. Planning safe outside space as well with cat netting. Lol, the things I get myself into. I swear my animals are treated better than I treat myself.
Sounds like a super fascinating project and so ambitious! I've seen pix of shelving that looks like a staircase and think those are pretty cool, although any type of shelf probably can't be too wide for your sake in a small space. But maybe could be wide at levels above your head. Could there be a window near the ceiling next to a platform for him?
@@saradavies5809 Haha, it's been amazing, stressful, and so educational building start to finish. The kitty was an unexpected new family member. But you know they choose you, despite the chaos your life is in. I've been craming pics and videos trying to make plans so things are safe and enjoyable for everyone with what I already had in the plans. Luckily it's an 18 foot high building. So plenty of hight but can't make stuff too tall to get to him in an emergency. But ya shelves everywhere. The ladder tip was pretty cool if I can make sure it's secure so he can't fall. He's front paw declawed 😓 so I have to make sure everything is stable and he can easily reach the next step. Thinking about making a few videos on the projects.
Just two days ago, my phone started screeching "Extreme weather alert! Take cover immediately!" Of course, my cat carrier is packed away. But the padded fabric cubby that my precious was delivered to me in by foster mom is right there. I scooped kitty in and we beat feet. I took nothing else.
My Purrsy goes out every morning & evening, for a wee walk around the yard on his harness. He's been harness trained since a kitten. I used Jackson's advise regarding food training & Purrsy jumps up on the washing machine when I call him. I slip his harness on & off we go. Unfortunately my house is suspected to have asbestos walls & I can't undertake any work 😫 however Purrsy has a cat post, loves Windows sills & has started a super highway of his own. Back of lounge, TV stand, to windows. I have decided to make a sitting shelf on his favourite windows ledge & introduce some ladders. I have never seen a tension mounted cat tree here in Australia but now I know, I may be able to send away for one.
Hi I bought a cat treadmill (indoor cat) and my cat baby(Leo)loves it. Took a little bit of training and patience but worth the effort. Often wake up and hear him using it during the night makes me smile.
This might not be much, but I can attest to the power of scent soakers. One of my two cats, Willow, LOVES throws. You can move her favorites around and she will still go to them. There is one laid across on my bed and that’s where she sleeps at night. She’s a very anxious cat, so these all about the house help her a lot.
Setting up a little side table or ottoman next to the window really benefits my cats- they love to sit there and watch people leave and exit their cars (the window overlooks the parking lot). Great entertainment for kitty apartment life
Thank you so much for this video! Exactly the advice I was searching for :) I had no idea there were pressure mounted cat trees and now I have the perfect solution for my apartment.
I saw reviews that the suction cups were problematic. Maybe it’s the user and not the product. All I know is that it wouldn’t work where I live because the insulated windows are crappy. And drafty. In N.E. Ohio,we have 4 seasons, and winter can be a doozie in the snow belt with negative windchill temps in double digits and actual temps in negative single digits.
@@drdebbie03 You have to follow the suction cup directions which include placing them in boiling water for a couple of minutes. I did that and I haven't had any problems. Where I live, we also have 4 seasons: almost summer, summer, still summer, and winter.
2 of my cats, Mainecoone x Siamese love playing in water. Once a week I fill the bottom of the bath about 3” deep and the two ladies play for about 45 mins in the water. It’s hilarious. Cats can like water. All of my other pusscats really look down their pedigree Muffin or Doll noses at them while they splash and paddle to their hearts content. Great fun! I throw floating baby ducks toys in the water too fir them.
When i had a one bedroom apartment, we had cat trees, with scratching surfaces and platforms in the living room and bedroom, both by the windows, along with a bookshelf and my tv stand. Thats pretty much all we could do, in our space. I feel like they were happy.
When I was first given my 2 cats (both about 10) I lived in a teeny little bachelor suite. Moved to a larger place so now they have a hallway to run up and down, a nice couch to sleep on. Their cat tree is in a window facing a school with a playground instead of a parking lot, and they love watching the kids
Regarding balcony safety: my landlord is a company who allow me to do whatever as long as it's not a permanent modification. I got tension poles meant for temporary construction scaffolding and put up the cat netting with those. It's not the prettiest solution but as I am completely inept with diy it works great and they are much sturdier than normal tension poles. I check them periodically that they hold the tension and they've been perfect so far, for over a year now in fairly challenging Finnish weather. I needed 4 poles for my largeish, oddly shaped balcony and they cost me 50e/piece, but it's been completely worth it for allowing my cats move freely in and out during the summer time and by request in winter. They double as plant stands too, I grew tomatoes as tall as the ceiling last summer and I have pretty outdoor lights strung from them which makes the place look very cosy. My neighbour has purpose built wooden frame that's held by tension, but I think you have to be quite good with your measuring for that.
I like this idea. I tried leaving my cat unsupervised on the balcony in a harness and on a leash hooked to a chair. He escaped his harness and jumped off the balcony. It was hard to find him. Now he is always wanting to go out on the balcony, but I haven't let him because I'm afraid he'll jump off of it. What are the tension poles called? You say they are construction scaffolding, so where would I buy them? I'm in the US. Thanks.
Good shout on those tension climbing poles! We got one that is like a ladder (so 2 tension poles, because our ceilings are HIGH), and we placed it so that our active cat can climb up to the fridge and then jump to the top of the upper cabinets without going on our kitchen counters. Honestly... we also just drill cat shelves into the wall, because we plan on living here for a few years and so many supers in NYC don't notice/care as long as you fill in the holes. Did that at our last apartment and we got our whole deposit back ;)
Thanks so much for this video Jackson! As a renter, I was worried I wasnt able to give my kitties such an enriched environment - but now Im sooo happy that I have almost all of your ideas already in my flat! I love all your videos, no matter what the topic, so thanks again for helping out so many cats and their human servants 😍
Since the big holidays are coming up, I usually have my mail carrier bring me a package of the Medium 'Priority mail Flat Rate' boxes. I will use what I need and with the left over I will tape the bottom, cut off the top flaps. Then add 1 of the many cat blankets. I fold it up put it in the flapless box and voila 😋 cat bed that the cats love and didn't cost a thing but my time! 😀 I once had 4 placed around my little studio! I swear they always looked so proud to be laying in a bed that their han made just for them!❣️
ALSO!! Please, everyone should have a window available for their cat to look out of. (I only have 5 windows in my apt and my cat has a bed next to 4 of them) lol he's so spoiled. I just think it's so important for them to be able to see the outside and get some sun. My cat loves to nap in the warm sun.
Hi! I had to move in with my sister so even though she has a house I can't do anything like making holes or building ramps . I appreciate your tips. Some of those we can do. And we have the proper amount of litter boxes. That I stuck up for 😊
I got a loft bed to maximize apartment space (not a cheap one, it's a queen and has stairs) and it has become my cats' favorite piece of furniture. 3-in-1 benefit. I get to have a desk, the underbed is person-sized, and my cats think it's a toy for them. Oh and I also shoved their cat tree against it at another corner. So now they've figured out that they can ambush me in my sleep by climbing up the cat tree. Yay?
I bought three IKEA Kallax sets: Two of them were 8-cube units, and one was a 4-cube unit. I laid the two longer units out edge to edge and put the smaller 4x4 unit on top and at the end of one of the two, making a sort of cat tower. A plushy mat is on top, and my cat loves it so much that he doesn't even use the cat tree any longer. Next move is to relocate the cat tree next to the makeshift tower so that he has the run of that entire area. He's already claimed his side of my new loveseat. Little dude is spoiled rotten since he has the run of the place, but that's fine by me. He's happy, I'm happy. 😻
During Fall you can collect some cat friendly leaves, put them in a cardboard box with some treats and let them explore and have fun! It’s a great way to bring nature inside
Those Ikea cat scratchers that wrap around a table leg have been so helpful in turning furniture I already have into cat scratchers. He still goes for the couch though lol
I had a vertical scratching post and noticed the cats not only used it as a gym, but sat of top of it to look out the window. So I got a second one, screwed a plank across the tops of them which I covered with an offcut of carpet and made a long viewing bench across an 1800mm window.I have it in my bedroom and the cats often sleep on it and jump on it ithe morning to ask/tell me when to open the blinds. In fact one of them is asleep on it now.
Catify outside the window if you are on the first floor by taping or attaching feathers or some light toy to the window to blow in the wind so your cat has something to look at if birds are not around. Things can be tied to trees or bushes if your landlord doesn't mind. Windsocks might also be a good idea. I've got a dreamcatcher taped to the back door.
My sweet Izzie is getting her tree this Christmas! She’s probably going to love the box until I decide to throw it in the recycling but after she will have her tree and her scratchers!
Love this! Our vet recommended one liter box per cat, plus one extra to help avoid competition and correct our kittens habit of going on the bathroom rug. We have one fromt entry one by the front door because they hang out near it alot. One top entry one hidden between the couch and the wall, and another front entry one in our guest bathroom because it sees less traffic so they can feel it is there secret space. They LOVE IT!! Plus 3 window perches, 3 scratch posts of varying sizes in the living and bedroom, and a one fast cat wheel for the sprinter of or 2 cats. It's great for them and our home is still super stylish and comfy for us, all in a 947 sqft 2 bed, 2 bath.
We just moved to an apartment and we have 3 cats, before we always lived in houses so now is the battle of less space. I just build the kitties a cat tree with the bins for our moving and they love it put also one of their favorite blankets and you see them using that everyday. I want to try the post floor to ceiling but gotta convince hubbie for that one.
One thing I did in an old apartment was to get one of those storage ottomans that goes at the end of a bed and put it at the back sliding door in the sun with a cat bed. My cat absolutely loved that area
Great tips! You can also wrap the legs of any table/chair with sturdy rope or fabric: vertical scratching surface! (IKEA even makes a table wrap thingy with velcro)
I’m moving from a three bedroom home to a one bedroom apartment in less than a month. I think I’m concentrating more on catifying my new place than anything else (fortunately, I’m a cozy minimalist, so not much to move). I bought a new cat tree that’s still in the box, which he uses as a high surface (he’s primarily a tree-dweller…thank you for that insight, Jackson). I also have a couple of window hammocks. He’ll be able to climb on top of the new fridge. I have several step stools and stepladders (I’m very short), that are both functional and add to his tree-dweller life. I’m going to pick up the flat of wheat grass. Cat Daddy, thank you for everything you do, to make our kitties’ lives (and ours) better.
💕can I like this video a million times? This IS the video I've been waiting for. My extra tip, which I guess falls under multifunctionality, is to make use of temporary stuff when it's out and around. Like the rack for drying clothes. That is a great hiding place for my cat while we do some playing, especially if I'm drying large towels that almost reach the floor. Or last week when I was setting up my Christmas tree, I had some banana boxes out. I can't keep them around permanently, but I did play in and around them for half an hour with my very excited little fluffball.
Oww how I wish I knew all this before our beautiful long hair tortoise shell stunner came to us from cats protection. We gave her all we knew. She was gorgeous and (I hope) happy. The most stunning and beautiful cat I've ever known
I chose to rent a one bedroom with tons of windows, for both my 2 cats and my mood. I put a sectional by a cool window area and it’s become both a cat TV and a scent soaker with the throw blankets. Paw and fingers laced together 😻😻🥰
By the window is our main area in our efficiency apartment too! The cat tree is as close to the window as i can get it-the kitties love watching the city from there or the windowsill. Conveniently the bed is against the window too. No squirrels to see downtown not there's plenty of pedestrians and we're on the fourth floor so basically the same thing haha
VIDEO IDEA: Cat-sitting, but at the cat sitter’s home. Twice this summer my partner and I cared for friends’ cats for 2-3 weeks at our own home rather than at their home (per request) while they were on vacation. They were concerned their cat would be lonely and bored with only once or twice a day visits, but the stress the cats experienced for the first 5-7 days while adapting to the new environment seemed almost cruel. We also have two cats (both extremely cat-friendly) as well who were bullied by one cat and downright stalked and harassed by the other once they were introduced. So not only was it stressful for the visiting cat, but for us and our fur boys as well. I would LOVE to know your opinion on this sort of cat-sitting arrangement, as we are considering not offering to take cats in like this anymore because of how incredibly stressful it was for all involved. Thanks for all you do Jackson! 💕
One suggestion I would add regarding litterboxes. You can buy cabinets and such to hide the box in. I got two cabinets from Amazon (they have a little hole on the side for the cat to go in and out) and I have them in my living room. People have no idea that I have litterboxes in my living room. lol They even make ones that disguise the litterbox as a big house plant. You put it in the corner with the hole facing the wall, and voila, nobody needs to know your cat poops in there. :D
i got a bed specifically in mind for cats, it is a platform bed that is walled all the way around the base so nothing can go under regardless, it is PERFECT
I live in a Coleman bumper pull with my Staffordshire Terrier and cat. The ladder thing is a great idea. Thanks Jackson. I have set aside the bottom double bunk space and turned it into the cat cave. She has a large clear tub under the window there, it contains her blankets and she thinks she's hid as she watches the outside world. She has scratch toys as well as a pole scratcher with a perch. She jumps on counter tops , table ect throughout our cozy home. My Staffie is nine years old and has to be run daily, so it's funny to see Thana watching LC and I play ball from the window and then be ready for treats when we come back in. Her space for alone time, the rest of the RV with us. Thank you again for all your help .
My cat is part of my life, and her environment is part of hers. So my condo LOOKS like a cat lives here. Cat furniture on the wall, cat trees by windows, cat toys speckled about (and even more hidden away). Oh and all the cat-proofing on cabinets lol
Another tip that I'm finding out is to have accessibility in mind. My cats are getting older and developing some arthritis in their hips. Which makes it harder for them to reach their favorite spots. So it might be worth looking around for items that can provide a few small jumps instead of one big jump to help an older cat get comfortable in their favorite spot.
i always have a fresh supply of cat grass available to my cat. I order the seeds off Amazon and have to plant a new batch every 2 weeks b/c he eats so mcuh of it! it's so healthy and good for them.
One way to make a crate or carrier a happy place for a cat is to place a heating pad under it when the weather is even slightly cool. They love the radiant heat. Thank you for these great videos!
I wish I could post a picture of it, but I got extremely lucky at Goodwill one day, and I want to share the experience because I think the idea is something many people could implement easily. I'm living in an apartment in kind of the bad side of town after my divorce from my husband. The apartment used to be (and technically still is) a motel. The entire apartment, kitchen and bathroom included, is smaller than most people's bedrooms. Naturally, this creates a lot of problems spacewise, and the litter box was a big one. I had it under an end table that was serving as a coffee table/ dining table for myself. It was gross and inconvenient, and a pain in the ass for both of us. Then one day at our local Goodwill I spotted a cabinet roughly the size of the space the other table was taking up. It had two flaps on either side of the cabinet that would fold up and make the tablespace bigger! It was only slightly larger than the table I was using and a really pretty turquoise color. It had casters screwed into the bottom for easy moving. And it was only $6! I couldn't believe it! Until I opened the front cabinet door and found the inside reeked of cat piss. It had no shelves at all. Then I saw the little hole cut in the side. Someone had taken this cabinet, taken out all of the shelves, neatly cut a hole in the side, and turned it into a litter box hider. It was exactly what I needed. Multiple washings and a coat of Kilz later I have the perfect place for her litter box and my food/art. So hopefully someone is crafty enough or knows someone crafty enough to modify a cabinet for a small living space. If it's tall enough, you could even leave a shelf at the top for cat stuff. Mine had a couple of nails in the side which was the perfect place to hang the litter scoop and all the bags I keep to put her poo in. I hope that helps somebody. :-)
Cat trees are amazing, completely worth the money once you find one your cat likes, I think they're as required as a good grain-free food. I spent a small chunk of money on one good tree I've had for many years through many cats and I'm about to spend some more on others, another for my bedroom and one for beside my desk. Worth every penny!!!
A few things not mentioned that work really well for our 2 kitties in apartment-
1. Having potted plants on our balcony close enough so that they can watch the flowers and see the little spiders, bees, and butterflies that visit the flowers.
2. A small bird feeder on the balcony area as well (I know this isn’t an option for all apartments- but if it is, it’s really nice for the cats to watch the birds during the day).
3. A little cat hammock that suction cups to the windows- (we have a chubby girl, and it’s never had a problem with her jumping up/ with both cats cuddling and napping on it/ etc. I was pleasantly surprised how much it holds) if you live in a cold area, we also placed one of those cat safe warmer mats- they have non-electric ones that just reflect the cat’s body heat and get nice and cozy for the cats to lay on for a nap.
4. Using little food puzzles filled with some treats or getting little “mice” online that have a place to fill with dry food- and then hide the 3 mice so your cat has to “hunt” them and find them when you’re at work- it takes a few tries for them to get the hang of it- and I try to make it really easy the first few times- plus leave a small amount of dry food in their bowl at first, just in case they don’t pick up on it right away.
5. If you live in a place that doesn’t have a lot of wild life or nature- try turning on a RUclips video for cats- like search “cat tv” and a bunch of videos pop up that are just birds and squirrels eating seeds and nuts that someone set up a camera for in the woods for 6 hours and just let the critters come by and eat. My cats love watching! I try to mix up what I do, to keep them entertained and happy. They’re spoiled little babies, but all cats deserve to be spoiled in my opinion haha!
Thank you for Cat TV!
The bird feeder thing is neat! We can't do it where I live, but there are big bushes in front of our apartment that just so happen to be positioned nicely in front of the windows. Lost of birds live around here and squirrels are everywhere. Our 3 cats love watching them! Plus, seagulls and turkey vultures fly around the back of the apartment in addition to my boy's favorite starlings. My boy is the only one who chatters at birds, but he is selective. Starlings, sparrows, and seagulls (I call them sea-chickens now) are his favorites. He doesn't care about the squirrels bit my finance's cat stares at them. The third cat loves all the little birds and rodents. All of our cars are getting up there a bit in age now so I think I want to get heated beds and such for them. It's cold now so I want them to be comfortable.
@@konaaukai5541 we’re not supposed to put up bird feeders or feed wildlife at our apartment community, but a suet feeder leaves very little mess. You can get a pole for hanging potted plants at the dollar store ( or $1.25 store) in spring and stick it in the corner of the mulched area, hang some flowers that attract hummingbirds or hummingbird moths, and hang a suet feeder on the higher arm. Don’t have the pole too close to the bush. Other wildlife will come and steel it, I use twist ties to secure it to the pole. But I also have hung them under my patio.
Awww 🥰🐈
I also use you tube for “cat music”. There’s soft lilting music, with either water sounds or a cat purring.
My 'baby' is now 17 and showing signs that she won't be around much longer. Off to the vet for checkup this week, but in meantime, based on your advice, Jackson, I got her a heated blanket. She's very happy about this! 😁 her appetite is better, she's moving around much better and she's generally much more relaxed. Such a simple thing, but has made a real difference. Cheers, dude 👍❤🇬🇧
Aw, how is your kitty doing now?
Good luck to your baby! 17 is impressive! You’re clearly a wonderful cat mama.
My 13yo loooooves her heated spot. I had a heating pad on for something I was dealing with, and she gravitated to it. I now have it resting in one of her spots with a soft blanket over it to diffuse the heat.
aw im thinking of you and your baby❤️
getting old can be hard and there is probably some stiffness or joint pain. I crated little ramps for my old boy to get to his favourite spots on the window and the couch and he loved it. I noticed he would not use the high places that frequently with getting older. jumping up was not the problem but getting down. After installing the boadrs with carpet for grip he would use the places in his old frequency.
Woww happy for your cat!! :)
I have a hammock with my stuffed animals hanging above my bed (using command strips). My cat loves jumping up, climbing it, and sleeping on top of the stuffed animals.
Command strips hold up to a cat climbing and hanging? Wow!
i need a hammock for my cat now :D
@@petradegroot3578 chewy is having nice deals on K&H ones for windows. I like chewy. They will have something you want.
Awwww!!!! So cute 🥰🥰🐱
@@carr0760 it’s a LOOOT of command strips/hooks, but surprisingly yes (even though she’s tried to knock them down a ton)
One little enrichment thing I did that also looked really cute: I took all their toys and placed them in cute little spots all over the cats' surfaces (cat trees, beds, etc) for the cats to find. I made it look like little critters were peeking out of everywhere. Instead of just all over the floor like usual. My cats watched me do it and had a blast pouncing on the toys they found as I was putting them out. Some of the toys are still up for future finds. And it looks adorable. I think I will do that regularly now. 💖🐾💖🐾
This is such a great idea! I think I'll try doing this!
@@xladyfayre It's so much fun! I still have kitty toys scattered all over my home. But I do still have them positiined all over their cat tree, too. It makes me smile every time I see the little "mice" peeking out. And the kitties seem to like it, too. I should probably switch up where I hide each toy occasionally. That way the game stays feeling new for the kitties. Besides, it's fun to do! 😊💖🐾💖🐾
guiuuu u
Good idea!!!
@@TheJohnbern Thanks. 😊
You’ve made my cats life so much better. I started taking care of this sweet, but very skittish and almost shell shocked, cat that my (apartment) neighbors had abandoned as a kitten when they moved. I live in an 600 sq ft “efficiency” (just one room) and “Sammy” has two cat towers, one of which she can climb and get on top of my bookshelf which has a cat house on top of. She has one cat tree that she can use to look out the window. She has another cat house under my entrance table. She has a heated bed. She has three scratch pads in various locations (loves sleeping on them). She has a four story cat castle made of cardboard that she can climb through. She has a three ft vertical scratching post that has a perch on top that she absolutely loves to sleep on. She has cat tunnels that run under her cat tree that she loves to hide in when she wants to play hide and seek. She has two of those snuffle mats your recently recommended, which are awesome and she loves. And she has three cat wands she can’t get enough of when we play.
She is a totally different cat. And I can guarantee you I wouldn’t have done any of that without your videos.
Wow! That's wonderful!
WOW! It positively sounds like "Sammy" is living in a Kitty Wonderland. Where do you sleep? Kind of kidding. Your apartment sounds jammed packed with cat adventures.
Glad she's a happy and most importantly was rescued by you. You're giving her the dream life.
Bless you for adopting this poor abandoned cat first of all and bless you for being the ultimate cat-dad for her ♥
Yeah, I’m like you. It’s a cat-partment . I just sleep on the couch. Everything else is for them in this 753sq ft. Even the food. The patio is home to feral cats I’ve been caretaker for the 6 years I’ve been here. (TNR). Strays, sick, & injured cats that showed up to my patio because my 3 boys are always looking outside that I rescue…(my bathroom is quarantine space). I am a fall risk now, so I’m not as good as getting in and out of the patio door as fast as I used to. My youngest always makes a charge for it. So the patio isn’t mine. It’s the birds. My patio window takes up nearly the entire wall, so it’s out tv!
OoooOO, what is a snuffle mat?
living in a studio apt with two cats i learned that having designated cat spaces just for them went a very long way in making them feel safe and happy. think like a cat- where would they want to sleep or hang out?? the window is a big favorite, and although i initially wanted the window space for myself i found that after catifying it for them it brought me so much joy to see them hanging out in the window and knowing it was their spot
I'm in the process of getting a cat, and right now I'm looking at my cat tree options, and where I can put it... I'm reaching the conclusion that I'm going to have to move my desk down the wall away from the window, so the cat can have the prime window-seat! I have huge almost floor-to-ceiling windows in both my living/everything room and my bedroom, and as I live right next to a park, these are basically the best feature in my apartment. So I figure I can share :) The windowsills inside are about 7.5" deep, so not ideal as a place to put a bed, but I'm guessing they'll make a good perch as well to get a different view on the world.
Do they each have their own “beds” or do they alternate between them equally? By beds I mean baskets and stuff to lay on
Where do you keep the litter?
Best thing I ever got my cat was a heated pet mat. It’s like a mini electric blanket, perfect for colder climates x
My older girl absolutely loved her warmer mat - for her old bones ❤ And I used to grow cat grass for her.
Jackson’s advice about the carrier was a game changer! Both my kitties use theirs as beds, and now I don’t have to hunt them down when it’s vet time!
I started using my carriers for lil kitty forts. I used to have problems getting 1 of my guys in there...but he has a blanket he likes sleeping on in his fort and it was super easy getting him in! Total game changer indeed!
I live in an apartment with two cats. One of the things I do to satisfy their curiosity, is that I lift them high to let them see the top plants, furniture, curtains, wall shelves, wall hangings, etc. They both love it! And since they know that the top of those things look like, they don't jump on them to find out what they look like.
Yes, I used to do the same thing with my cats! One of them did not like being carried very long, but he loved laundry basket rides and would survey his kingdom from that vantage point. 🤣
This is the best comment! I’m going to try this with my kitties!
My kitty always sleeps on my bed at night. And often she sleeps there during the day while I'm at work as well (especially if I've put the blanket in a nice, soft pile). She has beds of course, but sleeping against her human's legs is the superior way to sleep.
Same! I have 3 cats and they all have their spots on the bed and right next to the bed lol i wake up to all eyes on me 😂
Jealous!! I don't think my cat sleeps at night lmao
My cat, too!
My cat also sleeps on my bed. I recently got a taller mattress that she can't jump up on anymore, though, as she's a bit heavy (working on that). So I'm going to have to get some pet stairs, as I don't want to have to lift her up there forever, and I want her to have that independence.
My whole apartment is catified, they even have their own bedroom, everyone teases me cause my apt looks more like a fun cat shelter than a humans apt...
Human apartments are boring, I wanna live in a cat hotel
Love it!
Lol I was joking with my bf that when my daughter moves out, I'm going to turn her room into my cats room and catify it
@@AllyCakes12 love the mental image of your daughter coming back to visit and having to negotiate her way into bed as half a dozen cats try to explain to her that this is their room now
@@cebbi1313 there's the couch and blow up beds 🤣🤣🤣
I did as much catification that I could in my studio apartment...but, I had three cats and even though most of the living space was made up of cat trees and Ikea furniture (creating a cat Borg cube) there was just not enough room. This all inspired me to save up to buy my own house. Now, the cats have room to run, climb, nap, play, and live their best lives. Having a whole bedroom just for litter boxes is a dream come true!
The real life goals!
I also have cats in a studio apartment (currently two)! I love them but as you said, there's not a lot of space. Litter easily gets all over the apartment lol. I guess this motivates me even more to get a bigger place
God, if that's not a mood.
I’m a first time cat mom and your videos have been invaluable! This one is no different. I live in a studio apt so a tension mounted cat tree is a must! I put it next to my window. Not only does it draw the eye up and out, making my space look bigger, it’s thin so it doesn’t make my small space look stuffy and my cats love it for everything from jumping to climbing to sleeping. Also, I make sure that most surfaces are jump-able for them. The coffee table/dining table is always cleared after use because it’s a launching pad between the bed and the sofa (and the window sill, tree, and desk by extension). I know most people like to have decor on their coffee tables, but I just chose one that is beautiful by itself. My boys run snd jump on it all the time to get to their next elevated destination. The last thing I need is for them to crash into some decor while they’re chasing each other up and down the furniture and getting hurt. I only have one cat bed, but they also use my bed, sofa, desk chair, window sill, radiator, cat tree, and carriers as beds so they have plenty of sleeping spots for such a small space. They could use my desk too but they just choose not to, and that’s okay. I also have toys laying around when I’m not home and wand toys I use to play with them nightly. They love the wand toys most and will yell at me and lead me to the their toy storage drawer under my bed if I don’t play with them on time 😹 I chose a bed with storage because it’s essential when you live in a studio, but even if I had the space, I know that I will always choose a bed that they can’t hide under because of your tips! I got my boys at the height of the pandemic when I moved back in with my parents, so I was really worried that they would get bored or depressed when I moved out and into this much smaller space because they have so much energy. But now I really believe they have more fun here than they do in my parent’s big house because of they have more vertical space (I can’t convince my parents to catify so there’s lots of horizontal space. It was wonderful for our dog). The nice thing about this arrangement though is that they are familiar with that big home so it’s not really stressful to take them with me when I go visit. And that’s why your tip on making sure they saw their carriers as safe spaces was a big deal for me. I just pop them in and off we go. I love my boys so much and everything I’ve learned about giving them a happy life came from your videos. Thank you so much from me and my babies!
I am having bad problems with my TiggER and TiggY getting used to each other. I got Tiggy recently because a lady I took care of for 2 years had to go into assisted living, and couldn't take him. We were his 2 moms, and he loves me, and I just couldn't put him in a shelter. He is spoiled. I love them both, and this is killing me. One in the living room, one in my bedroom, because my cat TiggER is so jealous of newcomer, Tiggy, he will go after him. I thought they would adjust. 3 months ago. Now? TiggY doesn't want to fight, they are both neutered. But I don't know how to get them to be able to co-exist. I don't want either to get hurt. My 3rd GIRL is 21, a white maine Coon I have had since she was a baby ball of fur . She has Catitude, won't put up with attacks, and bit, or clawed, TiggER last week. He used to knock her down. Not anymore! He is healed already. He trys to sneak into whichever room TiggY is in, and I am 76, and it's making me a nervous wreck. And I know TiggER is hurt, he is very smart..plays fetch with me with straws and toys. Until now.😪 I have some high places, and try to pack stuff under the bed so they don't get under there. But, not working very good. I need HELP figuring out what to do? Tried calming diffusers, and sprays. Nope! Desperate! 1 bedroom apt.
I always watched " My cat from hell", and have one of your extension feather toys they all love. Also love the " red dot" laser light.
What floor to ceiling tree did you get? I’m looking for a tension mounted pole with platforms like Jackson showed in video.
@@drdebbie03 hello Debbie! So sorry late response. I have the one in the video that’s shown at around 5:24 and it’s from Frisco. I bought it off of Chewy. I just checked and it’s currently on discount! Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas if you celebrate :)
@@carolwolter7084 Have you tried rotating the cats to different rooms, 2 or 3 times a day, (just Tigger and Tiggy only I'd say as your eldest cat sounds like she is well established and settled already, she will naturally be calmer once Tiggy and Tigger start getting on better with each other.), maybe once they get used to the smell of each other while not physically together they will get used to the smell of each others scent in each room and eventually tolerate each other once they meet again, maybe take a look at the other videos on here about reintroduction of cats and when you think a fight will break out try distracting Tigger who may still be playful with a dangly feather toy and see how that gets on for now as you mentioned Tiggy has temporarily not been as playful lately, the playfulness should return when he is less stressed I'm sure. I hope things get better for you soon and as for your senior cat he seems alright, he just got fed up with the cats fighting near him so lashed out, he just wants peace away from the "kids" as to speak.
Before I got a Cat-Condo, I used my ironing board, set as high as it would go. I put several blankets on so he wouldn't feel the hard board. I even put on a pillow so it looked like a little long bed. I put it against the wall by the window, making sure to make it tight against the wall so it wouldn't move. Nero loved it. I'm happy I made use of something I didn't use often. :) Nancy
I took a long flat plastic storage bin and planted grass for my cat. It’s her favorite thing. She lays in it, eats it…it just makes her so happy!
A great highway that is usually built in that I've found is the top of the kitchen cabinets! I have some grow lights and cat friendly plants and beds up there and they're pretty much uninterested in being in the way on the counters and just hang out and watch from up there.
Great idea
That really works out if you have a large kitchen, tall ceiling or a small amount of kitchenware if the kitchen is small. I had to renovate the kitchen in our 1Bdr condo and extended the cabinets to the ceiling because of our teeny tiny kitchen space. We decided that since the cats were losing that space, we'd remove photos/ paintings and add more cat shelves.
Oooh, plants! Never occurred to me, I'm totally adding some for mine! 😁👍
@@helenl3193 ASPCA has a great list of friendly and not friendly plants for both kitties and dogs - would recommend!
I was so freaked out when my girls jumped up there the first time because they were only about 6 months and I was terrified of them falling but it has actually kept them off of my countertops because they can watch from above when I'm cooking without getting in my way. Absolute best decision to let them stay up there.
Maybe you've done this already, but I think a great topic would be Catification for the aging cat. My baby is an old man now, and I've had to place some stools so he can get up on his eating table and up on my bed, and I've put inexpensive soft blankets on everything he likes to sleep on (couch, bed, ottoman) both to make it more comfy for him and to protect my furniture since he sometimes has accidents, or dingleberries from not cleaning himself as well anymore. He's also not using his scratching post very much anymore, so I have to pay extra attention to his nails so they don't grow too long and get ingrown - but maybe there are scratching posts that are easier for older cats to use? And maybe there are other things I should be doing as well, to make things easier and more comfortable for him?
Maybe try the horizontal scratching pads like Jackson showed in the video, for your older cat.
It sounds like you're doing great. One thing I can think of that my babies like is warmth. As soon as I get up one of mine often jumps up to steal my heating pad. Maybe a heated bed or something?
aw it sounds like you are doing a wonderful job love
@@anyascelticcreations Ooo, good idea. I'm in the basement and it's pretty chilly down there (which I love.) I tried giving him some of those "cave" cat beds so he could be warm, but he hates being enclosed. I'm a bit nervous about leaving a heating pad plugged in when I'm not home, though, but I'll look into it.
Put some blankets in a pile on the floor next to the furniture he sits on. It will help soften the jump if he has arthritis. My cat would use the cat steps which I put on the side of my bed, but she wouldn’t use them to get back down. You may have to train him at first as he may not understand why they’re there, but he’ll get the hang of it pretty quickly - cats are very intelligent!
We have three cat trees right now so I’m interested to see what else we can do.
We recently got two kittens and Jackson’s been so on point with fixing issues. We fixed a pee problem by adding more litter boxes, blocked off underneath the couch and play/ groom daily and they acclimated within days and are so happy with barely any issues now.
Always nice to see you Jackson Galaxie 😘 and your advise is always welcome!!!!
Thank you 😊💓!!
Keep playing with them, play with their paws to get them used to the handling, and you'll be amazed.
My cat’s carrier is by the front door and acts as her “extra” bedroom. I’m glad to see the idea wasn’t as silly as I thought it was.
Watching these videos and seeing my silly ideas mentioned, makes me feel like a good cat guardian. ❤
My mother grew cat grass and catnip for the household cats. While plants were growing she kept them up on a plant stand. When plants were large enough she put planters on the floor and cats nibbled on them. When plants got scraggly, she picked them up again to regrow. Our cats left the plants on plant platforms alone.
My mother kept her dining room table clear except for a centerpiece when not in use. She allowed cats on it then. When we put a tablecloth on the table, the cats knew it was off limits and didn't get on the table then.
I have a tension cat tree with a hammock at the top level. My cat LOVES it.
Can you share where you bought it? Thanks!
@@kalim8815 Amazon! The brand I bought was "PawHut" The title of the listing is "PawHut 108" Floor-to-Ceiling Adjustable Staggered Climbing Cat Tree Tower." There are other, smaller options that aren't as expensive, but my baby is 13 and she's got no front claws (she was declawed BEFORE I MET HER).
@@auntlynnie is it the one Jackson showed in his video? How’s it holding up so far? I realize you may not have received it yet. Keep us posted.
Don't have a cat and don't rent, but love learning through these videos and spreading them through the circle of cat owners that I have in my life!
I've found that loft beds work great for dual purpose catification. It's a high up comfy spot for your cat. Plus you have all the space underneath it be able to fit more into your room.
I switched to a loft bed and love it. And it is a winner with Betty (cat) also. I use a old wooden step ladder getting in. It took Bet a while with the ladder. Now she just whizzes up it to the loft.
I’ve used your suggestions over the years , but this one has made a huge hit with my cats and was such a no-brainer: turning the carrier into a den! I always got carriers out ahead of vet visits for acclimation, but never thought about cozying them up and leaving them out full time. To say my cats love theirs is an understatement! One of the carriers can even accommodate a kitty warmer my husband built. Our next vet should be much less stressful. Thank you!
Gonna need to know how you built a kitty warmer.
@@roseboyd940 my electrical engineer husband is very talented and has built dozens of kitty warmers (102 degrees F) it takes a knowledge of circuitry and electronics, unfortunately. Our kitties live on theirs year round.
I have a wall-mounted scratcher in my bedroom, but instead of screwing it in place, I put duct tape on the wall, then super glued the scratcher to the duct tape. Works like a charm.
My cat is living with me in an apartment for about 5 years now. I really feel bad for him. I wasn't able to focus much on him. From now on I will try my best to give him all the things I can
We all look back on mistakes we made in the past as a pet owner, but what matters is that you know better now! I'm sure he will have a great life :)
I rent a small studio. The tension rod cat tree is super affordable and was fairly easy to set up on my own. I moved it to the corner so my cat can climb up to my loft bed. He loves it! The one I have is a little wobbly, but he still climbs it like a maniac.
I’m still working on a superhighway, it’s taking a lot of rearranging and planning. I’m also looking for places he naturally gravitates toward, so it doesn’t take him long to figure out the route I set up.
We are doing target training and that has helped a ton!
Collapsible tunnels are great! I get it out when he seems like he’s getting bored or if I know I’ll be gone a long time. When we play fetch he loves to jump over it as well.
Thank you! I’m glad you are still promoting cat knowledge. Your videos are a go to when trying to educate others on cats! We used your videos a lot when I volunteered at an animal shelter. Truly, thank you!
I adopted my beautiful wallflower Tasha about 3 months ago, and you have become my Guru. She is just started to become confident in my unit.I am in Adelaide South Australia, and am catafying using our unit.I look forward to learning more from you and watching all the cats you show ❤❤ Love Julianne and Tasha.
This one is potentially a game-changer for me! I had cats all through my childhood, but since moving out on my own, I have lived in apartments and have been leery about getting a cat- due to the limited space, etc. This, however, this I can work with!
Insulation tubing and zip ties are a great budget friendly way to block the unders! We had to stack them on top of each other as our bed is high.
What a great idea! Where do you get insulation tubing?
I have no closet space, I use the storage bins you can place under the bed, we both win.
@@rebeccacarlson9166 Home Depot!
Lowe's and Walmart have them, too. I think Walmart only has thin tubes. But Lowe's had quite a few sizes.
What is insulation tubing?
Boxes! Every time I have an empty delivery box, he usually finds his way into it and it becomes a bed/chill space for a week or sometimes longer. I also change out the toys and put away items he gets bored of to change things up and a few months later it is as if they are completely new when they come out of hiding.
My 2 are soooo happy when Amazon have been!! Hours or sometimes days of fun! I currently have a ginormous box full of smaller boxes and packaging paper etc? I put treats in there and they have hours of fun finding them! And was free 😹😻👍
I’m currently awaiting an apartment, so I’m literally in a room with my two boys (12 & 14). Thankfully I’ve got a really high ceiling… and I went UP! I’ve also got kitty seats on the BIG windows with enough room to still open them. Just have a couple things left to do. They haven’t killed each other… or me. 🤣
Also… the closet has enough space for their Litter Robot. 🙌
How do you like the litter robot?
@@drdebbie03 I LOVE IT! Definitely one of the best investments I’ve made.
I’m moving into a new apartment and getting kittens soon, so I’m really excited to cattify my apartment! I’ve been looking through a ton of ideas and saving so many pieces of cat furniture
My cat loves my PUSHEEN blanket as her scent soaker it’s a cute blanket so I love keeping it out aesthetically, and she loves laying on it on the soft chair in our bedroom.
About to get two kittens (my first cats ever) and I live in an apartment. This video is just what I needed. Thank you!!
My apartment is for sure catified! Many people tease and ask if it’s my apartment or the cats- it’s both! That’s the point! One of my kitties favorite things they have is a double decker Window pitch (since I have 2). It suctions to the window so there is no damage! It’s super strong and durable and it has a furry soft base for them to lay in. Aside from that they have one 4 ft cat tree at the end of my bed, a 2 ft cat tree hammock in the dining room, their litter boxes of course, a cat water fountain, three scratching posts, baskets of toys and they looooove any little pop ups they can hide in. They have a little mesh house, a foldable octagon with blankets, and a little red tunnel. Anything they can hide in or climb on they love. As long as they’re safe for the apartment, get them! I share this home with my cats and it’s so important that they feel it is their home as well not just their moms. :)
**perch
Oh also they have puzzle feeders so they can actively hunt/play and reward themselves with the food! Gives them an option to keep them moving in a smaller space
Leather boots make great scratchers. No mess. All 4 of mine love them. I live in a tiny house and have been adding catification as we have just moved in. The stairs are a skitty kitty highway. The open storage spaces under the stairs are perfect for hiding toys. I also bought slow feed dishes for extra fun during feed times. My cats are pretty happy with the new space.
My cat uses the soles of my vibram fivefingers for a scratcher. I'll try the boot thing!
Building a 566 sf tiny cottage right now. It's a 345.6 sf footprint. I just adopted a 17.5 lb cat and I have a small dog. Lol, this couldn't have come at a better time. I'm planning on using ALL the vertical wall space I can. Milo (the cat) likes climbing, thank goodness, so trying to plan a highway in the sky for him. Hoping for some good tips to make good use of space. There's not much but I want everyone to have their own happy places to snuggle and travel around the house. Planning safe outside space as well with cat netting. Lol, the things I get myself into. I swear my animals are treated better than I treat myself.
Sounds like a super fascinating project and so ambitious! I've seen pix of shelving that looks like a staircase and think those are pretty cool, although any type of shelf probably can't be too wide for your sake in a small space. But maybe could be wide at levels above your head. Could there be a window near the ceiling next to a platform for him?
🧡😺🧡👍
@@saradavies5809 Haha, it's been amazing, stressful, and so educational building start to finish. The kitty was an unexpected new family member. But you know they choose you, despite the chaos your life is in. I've been craming pics and videos trying to make plans so things are safe and enjoyable for everyone with what I already had in the plans.
Luckily it's an 18 foot high building. So plenty of hight but can't make stuff too tall to get to him in an emergency. But ya shelves everywhere. The ladder tip was pretty cool if I can make sure it's secure so he can't fall. He's front paw declawed 😓 so I have to make sure everything is stable and he can easily reach the next step. Thinking about making a few videos on the projects.
Next year I will be moving into my own apartment for the first time. I am already looking forward to catify it 😍
Just two days ago, my phone started screeching "Extreme weather alert! Take cover immediately!" Of course, my cat carrier is packed away. But the padded fabric cubby that my precious was delivered to me in by foster mom is right there. I scooped kitty in and we beat feet. I took nothing else.
My Purrsy goes out every morning & evening, for a wee walk around the yard on his harness. He's been harness trained since a kitten. I used Jackson's advise regarding food training & Purrsy jumps up on the washing machine when I call him. I slip his harness on & off we go. Unfortunately my house is suspected to have asbestos walls & I can't undertake any work 😫 however Purrsy has a cat post, loves Windows sills & has started a super highway of his own. Back of lounge, TV stand, to windows. I have decided to make a sitting shelf on his favourite windows ledge & introduce some ladders. I have never seen a tension mounted cat tree here in Australia but now I know, I may be able to send away for one.
Hi I bought a cat treadmill (indoor cat) and my cat baby(Leo)loves it. Took a little bit of training and patience but worth the effort. Often wake up and hear him using it during the night makes me smile.
This might not be much, but I can attest to the power of scent soakers. One of my two cats, Willow, LOVES throws. You can move her favorites around and she will still go to them. There is one laid across on my bed and that’s where she sleeps at night. She’s a very anxious cat, so these all about the house help her a lot.
Same! Our home is covered in throws that are fluffy enough for her highness.
Setting up a little side table or ottoman next to the window really benefits my cats- they love to sit there and watch people leave and exit their cars (the window overlooks the parking lot). Great entertainment for kitty apartment life
Thank you so much for this video! Exactly the advice I was searching for :) I had no idea there were pressure mounted cat trees and now I have the perfect solution for my apartment.
I found a 2 level cat "hammock" on Chewy that attaches to the window with suction cups and is rated 50 pounds. My old man loves it!
I saw reviews that the suction cups were problematic. Maybe it’s the user and not the product. All I know is that it wouldn’t work where I live because the insulated windows are crappy. And drafty. In N.E. Ohio,we have 4 seasons, and winter can be a doozie in the snow belt with negative windchill temps in double digits and actual temps in negative single digits.
@@drdebbie03 You have to follow the suction cup directions which include placing them in boiling water for a couple of minutes. I did that and I haven't had any problems. Where I live, we also have 4 seasons: almost summer, summer, still summer, and winter.
2 of my cats, Mainecoone x Siamese love playing in water. Once a week I fill the bottom of the bath about 3” deep and the two ladies play for about 45 mins in the water. It’s hilarious. Cats can like water. All of my other pusscats really look down their pedigree Muffin or Doll noses at them while they splash and paddle to their hearts content. Great fun! I throw floating baby ducks toys in the water too fir them.
When i had a one bedroom apartment, we had cat trees, with scratching surfaces and platforms in the living room and bedroom, both by the windows, along with a bookshelf and my tv stand. Thats pretty much all we could do, in our space. I feel like they were happy.
This is just the video I need to help my cats. Since we're not allowed to attach to much against the walls.
When I was first given my 2 cats (both about 10) I lived in a teeny little bachelor suite. Moved to a larger place so now they have a hallway to run up and down, a nice couch to sleep on. Their cat tree is in a window facing a school with a playground instead of a parking lot, and they love watching the kids
Regarding balcony safety: my landlord is a company who allow me to do whatever as long as it's not a permanent modification. I got tension poles meant for temporary construction scaffolding and put up the cat netting with those. It's not the prettiest solution but as I am completely inept with diy it works great and they are much sturdier than normal tension poles. I check them periodically that they hold the tension and they've been perfect so far, for over a year now in fairly challenging Finnish weather. I needed 4 poles for my largeish, oddly shaped balcony and they cost me 50e/piece, but it's been completely worth it for allowing my cats move freely in and out during the summer time and by request in winter. They double as plant stands too, I grew tomatoes as tall as the ceiling last summer and I have pretty outdoor lights strung from them which makes the place look very cosy. My neighbour has purpose built wooden frame that's held by tension, but I think you have to be quite good with your measuring for that.
I like this idea. I tried leaving my cat unsupervised on the balcony in a harness and on a leash hooked to a chair. He escaped his harness and jumped off the balcony. It was hard to find him. Now he is always wanting to go out on the balcony, but I haven't let him because I'm afraid he'll jump off of it. What are the tension poles called? You say they are construction scaffolding, so where would I buy them? I'm in the US. Thanks.
What did you use for netting? How did you attach it? with zip ties? Do your cats climb the netting?
Good shout on those tension climbing poles! We got one that is like a ladder (so 2 tension poles, because our ceilings are HIGH), and we placed it so that our active cat can climb up to the fridge and then jump to the top of the upper cabinets without going on our kitchen counters.
Honestly... we also just drill cat shelves into the wall, because we plan on living here for a few years and so many supers in NYC don't notice/care as long as you fill in the holes. Did that at our last apartment and we got our whole deposit back ;)
Thanks so much for this video Jackson! As a renter, I was worried I wasnt able to give my kitties such an enriched environment - but now Im sooo happy that I have almost all of your ideas already in my flat! I love all your videos, no matter what the topic, so thanks again for helping out so many cats and their human servants 😍
Since the big holidays are coming up, I usually have my mail carrier bring me a package of the Medium 'Priority mail Flat Rate' boxes. I will use what I need and with the left over I will tape the bottom, cut off the top flaps. Then add 1 of the many cat blankets. I fold it up put it in the flapless box and voila 😋 cat bed that the cats love and didn't cost a thing but my time! 😀
I once had 4 placed around my little studio! I swear they always looked so proud to be laying in a bed that their han made just for them!❣️
I hate it how your video's make me go shop catstuff IMMEDIATELY! But so far my cat has been very happy about your content ♥
A loft bed is a good space saver and a great area for a cat to clime about
ALSO!! Please, everyone should have a window available for their cat to look out of. (I only have 5 windows in my apt and my cat has a bed next to 4 of them) lol he's so spoiled. I just think it's so important for them to be able to see the outside and get some sun. My cat loves to nap in the warm sun.
Hi! I had to move in with my sister so even though she has a house I can't do anything like making holes or building ramps . I appreciate your tips. Some of those we can do. And we have the proper amount of litter boxes. That I stuck up for 😊
I got a loft bed to maximize apartment space (not a cheap one, it's a queen and has stairs) and it has become my cats' favorite piece of furniture. 3-in-1 benefit. I get to have a desk, the underbed is person-sized, and my cats think it's a toy for them. Oh and I also shoved their cat tree against it at another corner. So now they've figured out that they can ambush me in my sleep by climbing up the cat tree. Yay?
I bought three IKEA Kallax sets: Two of them were 8-cube units, and one was a 4-cube unit. I laid the two longer units out edge to edge and put the smaller 4x4 unit on top and at the end of one of the two, making a sort of cat tower. A plushy mat is on top, and my cat loves it so much that he doesn't even use the cat tree any longer. Next move is to relocate the cat tree next to the makeshift tower so that he has the run of that entire area. He's already claimed his side of my new loveseat. Little dude is spoiled rotten since he has the run of the place, but that's fine by me. He's happy, I'm happy. 😻
I’m a Chihuahua owner but a lot of my friends and family are cat people and all of these are great suggestions I love your show Jackson! 😊
Every New York City cat owner is thanking you right now! Amazing info!! Thank you!!
During Fall you can collect some cat friendly leaves, put them in a cardboard box with some treats and let them explore and have fun! It’s a great way to bring nature inside
Great idea 😀
@@attheranch873 thank you!
Very cool idea! Will be trying this for sure!
Thank you for teaching us how to give our cats better quality of life leading to stronger bonds & removing the mystery. You make it easy. Thanks 🐯🙏❤
Those Ikea cat scratchers that wrap around a table leg have been so helpful in turning furniture I already have into cat scratchers. He still goes for the couch though lol
I had a vertical scratching post and noticed the cats not only used it as a gym, but sat of top of it to look out the window.
So I got a second one, screwed a plank across the tops of them which I covered with an offcut of carpet and made a long viewing bench across an 1800mm window.I have it in my bedroom and the cats often sleep on it and jump on it ithe morning to ask/tell me when to open the blinds.
In fact one of them is asleep on it now.
Catify outside the window if you are on the first floor by taping or attaching feathers or some light toy to the window to blow in the wind so your cat has something to look at if birds are not around. Things can be tied to trees or bushes if your landlord doesn't mind. Windsocks might also be a good idea. I've got a dreamcatcher taped to the back door.
Your videos are not only super informative but also fricking funny. Love it.
My sweet Izzie is getting her tree this Christmas! She’s probably going to love the box until I decide to throw it in the recycling but after she will have her tree and her scratchers!
Love this! Our vet recommended one liter box per cat, plus one extra to help avoid competition and correct our kittens habit of going on the bathroom rug. We have one fromt entry one by the front door because they hang out near it alot. One top entry one hidden between the couch and the wall, and another front entry one in our guest bathroom because it sees less traffic so they can feel it is there secret space. They LOVE IT!! Plus 3 window perches, 3 scratch posts of varying sizes in the living and bedroom, and a one fast cat wheel for the sprinter of or 2 cats. It's great for them and our home is still super stylish and comfy for us, all in a 947 sqft 2 bed, 2 bath.
We just moved to an apartment and we have 3 cats, before we always lived in houses so now is the battle of less space. I just build the kitties a cat tree with the bins for our moving and they love it put also one of their favorite blankets and you see them using that everyday. I want to try the post floor to ceiling but gotta convince hubbie for that one.
One thing I did in an old apartment was to get one of those storage ottomans that goes at the end of a bed and put it at the back sliding door in the sun with a cat bed. My cat absolutely loved that area
We are excited that Lemmy and his catio are featured in the video again. 😊 I just want to add that I am renting, and the catio is completely no-drill.
I really loved this WHOLE video especially the bringing the outdoors inside.
Great tips! You can also wrap the legs of any table/chair with sturdy rope or fabric: vertical scratching surface! (IKEA even makes a table wrap thingy with velcro)
Omg thanks so much for mentioning the tension-mounted cat trees and poles. I had no idea those existed!
Happy Caturday! ❤️😻
I’m moving from a three bedroom home to a one bedroom apartment in less than a month. I think I’m concentrating more on catifying my new place than anything else (fortunately, I’m a cozy minimalist, so not much to move). I bought a new cat tree that’s still in the box, which he uses as a high surface (he’s primarily a tree-dweller…thank you for that insight, Jackson). I also have a couple of window hammocks. He’ll be able to climb on top of the new fridge. I have several step stools and stepladders (I’m very short), that are both functional and add to his tree-dweller life. I’m going to pick up the flat of wheat grass.
Cat Daddy, thank you for everything you do, to make our kitties’ lives (and ours) better.
💕can I like this video a million times? This IS the video I've been waiting for.
My extra tip, which I guess falls under multifunctionality, is to make use of temporary stuff when it's out and around. Like the rack for drying clothes. That is a great hiding place for my cat while we do some playing, especially if I'm drying large towels that almost reach the floor. Or last week when I was setting up my Christmas tree, I had some banana boxes out. I can't keep them around permanently, but I did play in and around them for half an hour with my very excited little fluffball.
My cat loves to lie on towels so I bought a few that match my decor colours. :) Those are my 'scent soakers'. Easy to wash and move around.
Oww how I wish I knew all this before our beautiful long hair tortoise shell stunner came to us from cats protection. We gave her all we knew. She was gorgeous and (I hope) happy. The most stunning and beautiful cat I've ever known
I chose to rent a one bedroom with tons of windows, for both my 2 cats and my mood. I put a sectional by a cool window area and it’s become both a cat TV and a scent soaker with the throw blankets. Paw and fingers laced together 😻😻🥰
By the window is our main area in our efficiency apartment too! The cat tree is as close to the window as i can get it-the kitties love watching the city from there or the windowsill. Conveniently the bed is against the window too. No squirrels to see downtown not there's plenty of pedestrians and we're on the fourth floor so basically the same thing haha
Brilliant ideas Jackson you've improved my cat's quality of life!
VIDEO IDEA: Cat-sitting, but at the cat sitter’s home. Twice this summer my partner and I cared for friends’ cats for 2-3 weeks at our own home rather than at their home (per request) while they were on vacation. They were concerned their cat would be lonely and bored with only once or twice a day visits, but the stress the cats experienced for the first 5-7 days while adapting to the new environment seemed almost cruel. We also have two cats (both extremely cat-friendly) as well who were bullied by one cat and downright stalked and harassed by the other once they were introduced. So not only was it stressful for the visiting cat, but for us and our fur boys as well. I would LOVE to know your opinion on this sort of cat-sitting arrangement, as we are considering not offering to take cats in like this anymore because of how incredibly stressful it was for all involved. Thanks for all you do Jackson! 💕
Hi, it's 2am rn, yesterday I got confirmed that I can adopt a cat and since then I binge watch your videos. Thank you so much for your content!
One suggestion I would add regarding litterboxes. You can buy cabinets and such to hide the box in. I got two cabinets from Amazon (they have a little hole on the side for the cat to go in and out) and I have them in my living room. People have no idea that I have litterboxes in my living room. lol They even make ones that disguise the litterbox as a big house plant. You put it in the corner with the hole facing the wall, and voila, nobody needs to know your cat poops in there. :D
i got a bed specifically in mind for cats, it is a platform bed that is walled all the way around the base so nothing can go under regardless, it is PERFECT
Great tips!...for renters and homeowners both. Love today's video!
I live in a Coleman bumper pull with my Staffordshire Terrier and cat. The ladder thing is a great idea. Thanks Jackson. I have set aside the bottom double bunk space and turned it into the cat cave. She has a large clear tub under the window there, it contains her blankets and she thinks she's hid as she watches the outside world. She has scratch toys as well as a pole scratcher with a perch. She jumps on counter tops , table ect throughout our cozy home. My Staffie is nine years old and has to be run daily, so it's funny to see Thana watching LC and I play ball from the window and then be ready for treats when we come back in. Her space for alone time, the rest of the RV with us. Thank you again for all your help .
This is Jackson at his best.
Outstanding.
The "review" part was lit. Thank you
We put up boards to broaden our window sills and we use deep baking trays to grow cat grass!
My cat is part of my life, and her environment is part of hers. So my condo LOOKS like a cat lives here. Cat furniture on the wall, cat trees by windows, cat toys speckled about (and even more hidden away). Oh and all the cat-proofing on cabinets lol
Another tip that I'm finding out is to have accessibility in mind. My cats are getting older and developing some arthritis in their hips. Which makes it harder for them to reach their favorite spots. So it might be worth looking around for items that can provide a few small jumps instead of one big jump to help an older cat get comfortable in their favorite spot.
Yay! I commented on your last video about advice for catifying an apartment. Probably just coincidence but thank you! 😊
i always have a fresh supply of cat grass available to my cat. I order the seeds off Amazon and have to plant a new batch every 2 weeks b/c he eats so mcuh of it! it's so healthy and good for them.
One way to make a crate or carrier a happy place for a cat is to place a heating pad under it when the weather is even slightly cool. They love the radiant heat. Thank you for these great videos!
I wish I could post a picture of it, but I got extremely lucky at Goodwill one day, and I want to share the experience because I think the idea is something many people could implement easily.
I'm living in an apartment in kind of the bad side of town after my divorce from my husband. The apartment used to be (and technically still is) a motel. The entire apartment, kitchen and bathroom included, is smaller than most people's bedrooms.
Naturally, this creates a lot of problems spacewise, and the litter box was a big one. I had it under an end table that was serving as a coffee table/ dining table for myself. It was gross and inconvenient, and a pain in the ass for both of us.
Then one day at our local Goodwill I spotted a cabinet roughly the size of the space the other table was taking up. It had two flaps on either side of the cabinet that would fold up and make the tablespace bigger! It was only slightly larger than the table I was using and a really pretty turquoise color. It had casters screwed into the bottom for easy moving.
And it was only $6! I couldn't believe it! Until I opened the front cabinet door and found the inside reeked of cat piss. It had no shelves at all. Then I saw the little hole cut in the side. Someone had taken this cabinet, taken out all of the shelves, neatly cut a hole in the side, and turned it into a litter box hider. It was exactly what I needed. Multiple washings and a coat of Kilz later I have the perfect place for her litter box and my food/art.
So hopefully someone is crafty enough or knows someone crafty enough to modify a cabinet for a small living space. If it's tall enough, you could even leave a shelf at the top for cat stuff. Mine had a couple of nails in the side which was the perfect place to hang the litter scoop and all the bags I keep to put her poo in.
I hope that helps somebody. :-)
Cat trees are amazing, completely worth the money once you find one your cat likes, I think they're as required as a good grain-free food. I spent a small chunk of money on one good tree I've had for many years through many cats and I'm about to spend some more on others, another for my bedroom and one for beside my desk. Worth every penny!!!