You may think of your bedroom as your safe space. You go there to wind down or to have some time to yourself. Just like you, your cat may want a space to decompress. A safe space for your kitten may be an entire room, or it could be a specific hiding area accessible only to them. Providing a safe place for your cat may help to reduce anxiety and stress, which contribute to many behavioral problems like inappropriate elimination.
The following tips can help you make a nice, safe space for your young cat:
- If need be, restrict access to the area to only your cat. This may mean putting up a baby gate to keep dogs and children out of your cat’s space.
- Create hiding places up high, such as on a cat tree or the top of a well-anchored bookshelf.
- Your cat may like a partially covered hiding area. You can buy cat beds with a small opening or drape sheets over furniture to create a hidden space for your cat.
- Use pheromone diffusers or sprayable pheromones in your cat’s safe space.
- Hide treats in your cat’s safe space or sprinkle catnip in the area.
- Put fun toys in your cat’s safe space. If you’ve given them a room, consider putting some of their interactive toys in there so they can play undisturbed by noise or children.
If your young cat’s safe space isn’t helping to reduce their anxiety, speak with your VCA care team.
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