How to Make Your Cat Happy: 22 Effective Vet-Verified Ways

Cats can make incredible pets that shower you with attention and affection. They can be confident, lively, and fun, but it is important to keep them happy. Keeping your cat happy is a bizarre complex to those who interpret happiness as a human emotion. However, in the simplest terms, it encompasses aspects of being a good pet parent: feeding them well, offering enrichment with play sessions, and finding other ways to keep them healthy. By meeting your cat’s needs, you not only ensure they are content, but you also improve your bond with them, and it can help reduce unwanted and inappropriate behavior.

Below are 22 effective ways to make your cat happy and ensure they lead a positive and enjoyable life with you.

The 22 Ways on How to Make Your Cat Happy

1. Get Good Scratching Posts

Cats need to scratch. It helps maintain their claws by sharpening them and keeping them trim, but they also scratch for a host of other reasons, including stress relief and to mark territory. If you don’t provide an appropriate spot to scratch, your cat will find their own, which generally involves furniture, carpets, and other undesired surfaces – such as your favorite clothes!

Buy at least one high-quality scratching post, pad, or other scratcher. If your cat is already scratching furniture, place the scratcher nearby. Otherwise, choose somewhere your cat likes to regularly frequent and place it here.

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2. Install a Climbing Tree

Cats love to climb. If they spend time outdoors, they’ll spend a lot of time climbing trees, fences, and even buildings. If your cat is an indoor cat, you can still provide climbing opportunities. A climbing tree typically has a central column with platforms around the column leading upwards.

It might also include scratching posts, hanging toys, tunnels, beds, and other items. You can add floating shelves or other items fixed to the walls that your cat can use to climb and reach elevated positions.

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3. Clean Up Regularly

Cats are naturally clean animals. But some cats are particularly fussy about their environment’s cleanliness. You may notice that your cat won’t use the litter tray if you have failed to empty it. Scoop solids whenever you see them and remove wet litter once a day. You should also give the litter box a thorough cleaning every week to get rid of stubborn dirt and litter that has stuck to the inside of the tray.

You should also clean the cat bed, blankets, and other items that need cleaning regularly.

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4. Buy New Toys

Cats love toys. They especially enjoy chasing small toys or small items because they activate their prey instinct. Small crinkly toys look like small rodents or insects, and the crinkling noise is reminiscent of the sound prey would make while running away. You may find your cat quickly gets bored of new toys, but that doesn’t mean you have to throw them away.

You can provide several toys, and when you notice your cat stops playing with one or more, remove them and put them in a cupboard somewhere. Replace them with new toys or take an old toy out of the cupboard. You can keep refreshing the toy selection in this way, ensuring your cat has appealing toys while reducing the amount you spend on them.

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5. Choose Healthy Treats

Treats can be effective training tools, but it’s also nice to give your cat an occasional treat to show you care. If you give them treats regularly, ensure they are healthy and ensure that you adjust your cat’s remaining caloric intake accordingly.

Obesity is a big problem for cats, and it can be very difficult for your cat to lose weight once they have piled on the pounds. Look for treats that are low in calories and ideally offer nutritional value. If you use them for training purposes, ensure that you consider the calories when calculating your cat’s daily food allowance.

It is best to consult your veterinarian for more information on your cat’s daily food allowance and intake. Remember that their nutritional needs will vary throughout their life; a nutritional plan that worked for them in the past might need to be updated to ensure that your pet remains healthy without compromising their nutritional welfare.

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6. Hide the Treats

You can also use the treats to encourage your cat’s hunting instinct. Take the treats and hide them around the house. Start by putting them in obvious places where they will be easy to find. As your cat gets better at finding them, you can look for more cunning hiding places. You will need high-value treats with a strong smell to give your cat a chance to find them easily.

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7. Offer Boxes and Bags

It isn’t just toys that cats like to play with. They enjoy sitting on paper and hanging out in cardboard boxes; some even like climbing and playing in paper bags. Ensure that anything you provide is safe, and consider that your cat might choose to eat the box or bag they play with.

Caution is strongly advised with bags, as plastic bags can be dangerous for cats, especially if they’re left with them and aren’t supervised.

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8. Freshen Up the Water

All animals need water to survive. If you feed wet or canned food, your cat will get some of the water they need from the moisture, but you should still always provide a bowl of water. Ensure that the water is easily accessible, but keep it away from the litter box; some cats prefer that their water is not too close to the food.

The water should also be fresh, so you will need to change it at least once every day. Even with fresh water that is easily accessible, some cats are seemingly reluctant to drink water straight from a bowl, and you might need to consider a cat water fountain.

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9. Get a Good Quality Litter Tray

Litter boxes are essential for all cats, even those allowed outside. It is generally accepted that you should have one box per cat plus one extra. This allows your cat, or cats, to choose which one to choose and ensure it is clean.

The boxes should be placed in different rooms and be accessible. At least one side of the box should be against a wall and not be placed in busy areas. As well as standard litter trays, you can consider self-cleaning models. Selecting a good quality litter that your cat appreciates is also an essential step in the litter process.

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10. Cuddle

Although some cats can be aloof and prefer their personal space, others are loving and cuddly. Try to spend time cuddling and loving your cat every day. While you might meet other people when you leave the house, you are probably one of the few people that your cat sees.

Whether you let your cat sit on your lap while you read the morning newspaper or watch TV, they will appreciate the closeness.

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11. Consider Catnip

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a member of the mint family, and, to humans, it is innocuous. However, it can send cats into a frenzy when they smell it and calm them when they eat it. Your cat will likely respond to catnip by rolling in it, rubbing it, and flicking it around. However, not all cats respond to catnip; approximately a third of all pet cats have no reaction to catnip. Catnip can elicit behavioral changes in cats that do respond to it. However, not all cats respond favorably to catnip. In a strict sense, catnip is toxic for cats 1; excess consumption can lead to health issues in some individuals.  

You can buy a catnip-scented toy or buy bags of catnip and sprinkle a little on the floor. However, you need to ensure that your cat isn’t affected too negatively by the herb before deciding to do so.

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12. Buy Comfortable Beds

Our feline friends can sleep for up to 16 hours a day, and while yours might enjoy spending time in your sock drawer or napping in the laundry basket, providing your cat with a bed not only gives them somewhere to sleep but also gives them a small space to call their own.

There are many types of cat beds, from doughnuts to cat caves. However, some cats love nothing more than sleeping in a corrugated box.

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13. Create Somewhere to Hide Out

Some cats prefer alone time to being petted or cuddled, but most cats like to have solitude at some point. Providing them with a little spot to hide out and to stay away from the hustle and bustle of the house lets them sleep and enjoy a calm atmosphere.

The hideout could be a bed placed in a dark corner or an open cupboard door so your cat can climb in and sleep among the bedding.

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14. Play Often

Cats need toys, but they also need somebody to play with them. Try to put aside a little time every day to play with your cat’s toy mice or wand toys. It will provide physical exercise as well as mental stimulation and is another excellent way to develop the bond between you and your cat.

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15. Try Training Them

Most cat owners know that their cats can be trained to use a litter box rather than just doing their business wherever they want, but most cats can be trained to do much more.

You can use the toys and treats to help you train your cat to play fetch. Sit a little distance away and throw the toy. When your cat picks up the toy, encourage them over. If they approach with the toy, give them a treat and throw the toy again. It can take a while to master, but it is just one of many tricks you can teach. Some owners train their cats to high-five, spin around, or lie down.

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16. Use Puzzle Feeders and Interactive Toys

You can provide enrichment for your cat even when you’re unavailable to play. As well as buying the usual wand toys, look for interactive toys. Your cat has to manipulate them to find the treat hidden inside. Show your cat that there are treats inside, and start with the easiest setting. When they master the easy toy, move on to something more challenging.

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17. Create Window Perches

Cats love to look out of the window. They enjoy watching birds, other animals, and people as they go about their lives. It’s kind of like your cat’s equivalent of watching TV.

Clear space on the window ledge so your cat can sit and watch. Alternatively, buy a bed that attaches to the top of the radiator or window. You can also put the cat tree next to the window so your cat can perch on the cushioned platform and watch the outside world.

However, it’s important to remember that excessive exposure to the sun’s rays can be problematic for cats. This risk is even higher on hairless cats, who coincidentally love sunbathing! Nonetheless, the sun’s rays are considered dangerous in excess for all cats, because there are many parts of their face which are naturally hairless or contain sparse hairs.

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18. Walk Your Cat

Walking a pet is often associated with dogs, but you can walk your cat. Buy a harness and leash, put them on, and try taking your cat for a walk around the block (after you train them to get accustomed to the leash and harness). Choose a quiet area where you aren’t likely to see dogs. Your cat might get along well with dogs, but some dogs can be aggressive.

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19. Consider a Catio

Rather than walking your cat, you could build a catio, which is a fenced and secured outdoor area where your cat can hang out. Generally, the catio is attached to a window so they can get in and out whenever they want.

You can buy catio kits or have somebody build one for you. Or, if you’re good at DIY, you can create your own using wood and some kind of secure fencing.

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20. Create a Routine

Cats like routine, so you should try to stick to a schedule that is as regular as possible. Your feline friend will expect to be fed at roughly the same time each day, and they will recognize when it is time for bed, for you to leave the house, and even when it is time to sit and cuddle up while watching TV.

Some cats can get anxious or stressed if their routine gets messed up, but it’s okay to feed your cat an hour or so later than usual now and then. The amount of stress a cat would experience from a change of routine depends on the individual cat. Contrary to popular belief, not all cats are creatures of habit as pets; some do appreciate spontaneous play sessions every now and then!

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21. Groom Regularly

Grooming helps keep your cat’s coat clean by removing loose fur, dirt, and other debris. It also helps effectively spread the natural oils in your cat’s fur around their coat, preventing the hair from drying out and keeping the coat in good condition. Grooming is especially beneficial for long-hair cats because it prevents knotting, but it should be a part of your schedule with any cat.

Another benefit of regularly brushing your cat is that it can help develop a bond between the two of you. Start when your cat is still a kitten and maintain a regular timetable, ideally grooming at least twice a week but potentially every day for some cats. 

Yet another benefit of grooming your cat regularly is that you might pick up cues if something is off with your cat. For example, if your cat seems to be in pain when you run your hand over a certain body part, or if you find a strange growth somewhere on their body, then it might be time to schedule a veterinary appointment to have the area examined by a professional.

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22. Reevaluate Your Cat’s Diet

Cats are carnivores, and they thrive on meat.

However, many owners falsely assume that the same cat food will suffice for their cat throughout their life.

A cat’s nutritional needs will change depending on several factors: their age, sex, neuter (spay/castration) status, reproductive status, level of activity, general health, and any underlying health issues, to name a few. 

It’s important to discuss your cat’s nutritional needs with your veterinarian on a regular basis to ensure that you’re offering them the very best nutrition for their life stage.

Conclusion

Pet cats are an integral part of the family and play an essential role in many of our lives. As well as ensuring they are healthy, with regular vet checks and by feeding a good quality food, you can provide additional enrichment and pleasure by following the 22 steps and tips above.

However, the key is to spend time interacting with your cat. They will appreciate regular play time with you, and it will help you bond with your cat.

You might also like: 25 Top Cat Blogs Every Kitten Lover Should Read

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Featured Image Credit: Sviatoslav_Shevchenko, Shutterstock