Life With My Indoor Cat

Looking for ways to keep your indoor cat happy, healthy and entertained? 

Our volunteer Michelle Cloud shares a glimpse into life with her beloved cat Bagheera, along with simple tips, ideas and favourite products that help keep him comfortable, stimulated and content all year round.

I own an indoor cat named Bagheera - I’ve had him for almost six years. I like to make his life as enjoyable and comfortable as possible. He is a very homely cat and loves his little routine of eating, playing, bird-watching and lots of sleeping and cuddles.

I’m lucky that my flat is bright and the lounge faces the sun, so he likes to bask directly in the sunlight on sunny days. When it’s a particularly hot summer day, I make sure he has a fan on him, a wet towel to lay on or a pet cooling mat. I add ice cubes to his water bowl and give frozen treats (I freeze cat milk in an ice cube tray). It’s important that you have shaded areas for your indoor cat to relax in when it’s hot.

When it is winter, I have a cat heating pad which you heat in the microwave and it stays hot for hours. He also enjoys laying on my heated throw with me in the winter.

My best purchase so far for him is my window-sill bird feeder. There are plenty to choose from online and they aren’t expensive. They stick to the outside of your window with suckers - it’s best to put them where your cat can sit and see it comfortably. I also get a bag of mixed seeds which always go down well with all birds. I sometimes get mealworms and mix those in too. In the winter, I mix seeds with lard to make little fat balls for the birds. I also scatter seeds on the lawn where Baggy can watch birds gather to eat on the ground.

As you can see, Baggy loves sitting there waiting for the birds to come and feast - it’s great entertainment for him.

As well as this, I search on YouTube for “bird videos for cats” and he enjoys watching and listening to them too. I also ask Alexa to play continuous bird sounds for him or cat purring sounds. YouTube also has plenty of games for cats and kittens which he enjoys on my iPad - he loves chasing the little moving mice and catching them with his paw!

I also have custom-made window protectors for the summer, so I can open the windows and be reassured he won’t escape or fall out of the window again - that is another story for another day! These are available from FlatCats.co.uk and I highly recommend them as an essential item for any indoor cat owner. I have them on every window in my property. They also double up as a bug-blocker, keeping out mosquitoes, wasps and other insects. You can also get these protectors for doors.

In addition to tall cat towers, wand toys, laser pens and balls (treat balls are another great idea), I have also recently started playing with him using cat-safe bubbles. You can get these in pet shops and online - just make sure they are 100% cat-safe and not the ones we use for children. Baggy also enjoys special cat grass - again, you can buy kits online or in pet shops. It’s easy to plant and grows very quickly.

The main thing to remember is that cats are natural hunters - anything that mimics this is essential for them. Toys they can chase, “stalk” and “prey” on are ideal. Regular play, interaction, affection and cuddles, as well as giving them their own space, will ensure you have a happy and stimulated indoor cat.