Cats are great pets. They’re independent but nevertheless loving and filled with personality. Set an automatic feeder and you’ll be able to leave a kitty for a day or two without a care in the world that he or she isn’t lounging by a sunny window much of the day. You can not really say the exact same for a dog.
Like any pet, there are things to think about before bringing in a cat house. By way of instance, if she’s been home hunting, cat lover Patricia Pelgrims — that currently has five cats has constantly asked herself if the lot is a secure and exciting place for cats. “We have always gone for bigger plots of land and always ensure that there weren’t any busy roads nearby,” she states. “To top off that, we have also made sure that the neighbors were not too close… You don’t wish to annoy the neighbors because your cats use their garden as a toilet.”
But in case you have not had a cat before and you are at all fussy about your interior, there are a few questions to ask yourself. After all, cats like to scratch, and they are bearing all kinds of spatial planning queries. Where are you going to place that litter box? Or how about that frayed carpet-covered scratching post? If you love cats, then you may have already brushed aside these questions for the joy of having a purring friend circling your toes and lounging around the home. If you haven’t thought it through yet, here is some advice and considerations to make sure that a cat is the correct pet for you.
“Are cats worthwhile? Well, naturally,” Pelgrims states. “Our cats aren’t special breed. Just your regular moggies, but they are in our care and I need them to have the best life possible, while still staying cats”
Carla Aston | Interior Designer
Where are you going to place the litter box?
Most cat owners will have a litter box inside, which creates a dilemma in regards to the way you put up your interior. “Smell is a big part of design,” states Laura Denberg, an interior designer who specializes in space planning and child – and pet-friendly spaces. “You can have a gorgeous room but if it smells bad it’s going to be terrible.”
Many people put the litter box in a toilet, something that Denberg is against. “The toilet, to me, isn’t feasible,” she states. “You are not going to wash it every quarter hour. It is going to smell no matter how diligent you’re.”
Setting up boundaries can help, also. “In our home, there are two no-go areas for your cats (and dog) — the bedrooms and the laundry area are now off limits,” Pelgrims states.
Kendall Ansell Interiors
And since bathrooms tend to be high-traffic regions for you and your guests, the more you’re able to divide that litter box out of individuals — as well as odor-absorbing items like linens and clothes — the greater.
A cellar is a fantastic option, but not everyone has that, and a few individuals have turned it into another living room. Denberg suggests taking over a little-used closet or unused part of a space.
Ideally, you need nearby shelves to be stored off the ground by around three feet. Do not shop linens or coats in the closet. Instead, use the space for keeping items in plastic bins with lids. After that, put in a berber carpet or heavy tile that will catch litter more easily so it will not get monitored. When at all possible, cut a pet hole in the bottom area of the door or wall.
Betty’s Room, LLC
Are you OK if your furniture gets a few scratches?
Cats scratch. Additionally, they are natural climbers along with your furniture will become their jungle. If you care about your stuff, you are going to need to protect it somehow. Because of this, Denberg says cats are somewhat harder than dogs when it comes to interior design. “Cats get on furniture, are more invasive,” she states. “They get on kitchen counters. Cats have more accessible cubic footage than puppies. They can get anywhere.”
Most homeowners respond by giving cats additional things to scratch on, which often satisfies this requirement. But while scratching articles are great,”nobody wants to look at them,” Denberg states. Additionally, they don’t always stop cats from testing their claws out on anything else. If that is a issue, you may wish to think about eliminating that valuable piece of furniture for a while, or covering it.
In this Philadelphia house, the proprietor wrapped a wardrobe post with rope for a design-minded alternative to the carpet scratching post.
PT Designs Inc.. Paula Tranfaglia – Decorating Den
If you are remodeling a home or purchasing new furniture and know you’ll be receiving a cat, maintain the fabrics in mind. “Avoid silk, linen and cottons, if at all possible,” Denberg states.
Instead, get pet-friendly fabrics that are durable and easy to wash. Denberg suggests upholstering furniture in commercial fabrics that are generally found in pubs. “It is not the cheapest way to go upfront, but it saves money over time so that you will not be purchasing a new chair every few decades. They’re treated, hard and offer more bang for your buck,” she says. “If you’re able to live with a few of the fabrics, do it.”
Denberg likes the pre-assembled bits from Crypton. “They could take a beating and are stain resistant,” she states.
This distance uses commercial-grade chenille fabric on the couch.
CK Architects
Where are you going to place the cat food?
“I nourish them in the cabinet on the countertop,” Pelgrims states. “Not perfect, but I don’t want our dog to fill her belly with the more expensive cat food”
Cat food could be messy and, even should you use wet food, smelly. You’ll want to consider where you are feeding your cat. If you have a dog, you’ll want to place the cat food up high somewhere so the dog can not reach it. Ensure you have an perfect spot that the cat can access easily, and make sure that you’re OK with viewing the meals every time you walk . Built-in nooks like this can keep water and food bowls tucked away.
Can you have potentially toxic plants?
Cats like to munch on matters. “My mum’s cat liked to chew on plastic bags and throw them up,” Denberg states. “It was a weird kitty, but you may get a weird cat”
You’ll want to check to see if any of your indoor and outoor plants are toxic to cats. If that’s the case, you’ll want to remove them. Listed below are 22 plants to eliminate pets.
Keep breakable items from the way
Cats like to scale on shelves, counters, bookshelves, furniture, you name it. If you have decor items of value, you’ll have to tuck away those somewhere that the cat can not get to.
“We can go out and buy the most expensive cat baskets/beds, but the fact remains a cat will not be informed in which to lie down for a separation,” states Pelgrims, whose cats are present here. “Cat does what cat desires. And I respect that.”
Additionally, kitty owner Michele Thompson, whose kitty (one of four) is viewed on the mantel, advises to avoid bean bag chairs if at all possible. Cats tend to like to urinate on them. “Something to do with the bean filler atmosphere like their litter,” she states.
Most important: Do you have space in your life for a cat?
While cats are usually independent creatures, they are emotional creatures and need love and attention. And they will almost certainly change how you live. “Are you willing to place chicken in the refrigerator to thaw rather than on the counter? Since you’ll have to or the cat will eat it,” Denberg states. “Are you ready to have a cat around the counter? Or on the dining room table during a dinner party because you turned your back and didn’t think your cat might want to hop up and sample the hors d’oeuvres? You are going to have to live with imperfections. Litter, dirt, scratches”
Denberg offers this tip: The more mad you get with layout, the less mad you’ll be about having critters, as your things become overly valuable. However, for many, the benefit of having a cat much outweighs anything else. “Personally, I don’t want things to be overly valuable,” Denberg states. “Imperfections are what make a house feel lived ”
Pelgrims has one more thing to add. “Somehow people think because you have got a lot of cats that you like to be presented with plenty of cat figurines also,” she states. “I don’t have the guts to tell people, enough is enough. However, to be frank, I don’t want my home to become a museum of kitty curiosities. Some I keepsome go to charity after a fantastic while.”
More:
So You’re Thinking About Getting a Dog
Send in the Design Cats
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