With Jackson Galaxy bursting on the scene with his very popular tv show, My Cat From Hell, we keep hearing the term “Catification”. So what exactly does he mean and do I have to make my house look like a shelter? Well the answer is yes! and no.
As you know I have been a cat lover and guardian for many years and have been blessed to have very very few behavior problems with my cats. Is it me? Is it my cats? Is it my home?
The answer is yes, yes, and yes! Now am I saying that I am perfect, all my cats are perfect and that I have the perfect home? Oh, heck no! What I am saying is that you, your interactions with your cats and the environment play a large role in your cats behavior.
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So back to catification.… This is the easiest way to have a happy and healthy cat residing in your home. It is also, surprisingly, the one topic I have to address most often with clients. I am still surprised at how many cat guardians’ homes look like they have no cats! Many of the behavior issues that are happening in homes with cats right now are due to lack of …….fun! Yes, fun! There are no tree’s, no scratchers, no shelves, no toys, boxes, bags or catnip! Yup… no fun! With out these few important items cats resort to all sorts of unwanted behaviors such as biting, scratching and fighting. The good news is it’s never too late to start the party!
So start making your “happy cat” shopping list now! (See my above rant for some of the things you need.) Make certain to buy toys that are interactive and some for independent play time. I have several toy buckets around the house that my guys dig through to find whatever fits the mood! I have crinkly toys, quiet toys, soft toys and bouncy toys. Some are shaped like mice, bananas, cigars, lobsters, fish and even a cat’s butt! So you can buy local or online it’s your choice, but start now. I like browsing on Hauspanther for ideas and also love shopping etsey.com for unique toys like the cat’s butt! My guys love scratchers and I have several around the house. I keep the fancier ones out in the rooms where guests might be sitting, as i don’t want to look like my local shelter, and cardboard one placed more discretely. They make all kinds for all types of decorating styles. It’s a small sacrifice to make and completely worth it for my guys happiness as well as my furnitures’!
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So even though the word Catification might be trendy your cats happiness and enrichment is not. So go crazy, bust out the gold card and see how much fun you and your kitties can have. I promise you all of your lives will be better for it!
In my house it’s not “Happy Wife Happy Life” it’s ….
“Four happy cats live here, now pass the lint roller!”
here are a few of my favorite toys….
