“There didn’t seem to be a Facebook group for those doing the same, so I created ‘CATifiCATion.’ The name was inspired by my cat mentor Jackson Galaxy.” According to Galaxy, the star of Animal Planet’s ‘My Cat from Hell,’ the concept of catification revolves around creating feline-friendly environments. The goal is to cater to a cat’s natural instincts. Those include jumping, climbing, perching, playing, sleeping, eating, hunting, and claiming their own space. From a design perspective, the aim is to balance function and form in order to create a stylish and optimal living environment for your cats. “The strategic placement of shelves for cats to climb provides them with a lot of entertainment and exercise, but be mindful of the dangers should they slip and fall. Are there hazards below that make an injury possible? Do you have young kittens or older cats where heights could be dangerous?” Lobban shared what owners should consider. Meanwhile, the founder of the group noted that when designing enclosures, cat owners should be mindful of strangulation hazards. “Netting can be a hazard if your cat can get its head caught inside or become tangled,” Lobban suggested choosing a stiff metal or plastic mesh with 1/2 square openings for enclosures. “Keep in mind that the occasional paper shopping bag (never plastic) or cardboard box can provide something entertaining for them to explore; my cats love these just as much as the expensive toys. Most importantly, human interaction is the most valuable entertainment you can offer your pet.” ‘CATifiCATion’ has been around on Facebook for quite a while. This year, it’s celebrating its 8th birthday. At the time of writing, the public group had an impressive 116k+ member count. The project was initially created as a DIY resource for cat owners to share their ideas, plans, and successes in adapting their homes to their pets’ needs. The group is all about everyone supporting each other, all for the sake of their beloved cats. “For cats, change of environment is one of the most stressful things they can experience. Start a new cat off in a SMALL room, like a bathroom or home office. Many humans think this is cruel and want to give them a lot of space, but vast open areas that are unfamiliar are very threatening and scary to cats,” she told us previously. “Once they are eating, drinking, and using the litter box normally, then you can slowly give them access to a little bit more of the house, slowly over time. Another VERY important point is to ensure that they keep eating in the face of this stressful change," the cat behavior consultant said. She added that patience is key. It’s essential not to force anything. “Direct eye contact is threatening, so avert your eyes, stay quiet and calm, and hopefully, your cat will blossom, realizing they are safe.” “Playing with interactive wand toys decreases stress and increases confidence, so try to engage the cats in play and explore a variety of toys, as many cats can be ‘prey specific’ and maybe only like feathers, small mice, or snakes, so you have to explore to find toys that interest them.” “They love to watch the world go by from high places, and they also sleep a lot and do not appreciate being disturbed! While many do love to play, it needs to be on their terms and only when they’re in the right mood!” she told us. “You can tell when cats are having fun, their faces light up and their eyes go wide and bright as they become excited and alert; their senses heighten and their pupils can widen. Their whole body language becomes animated and light,” Downing said. She continued: “If your cat is happy and confident enough to display this kind of behavior, you can congratulate yourself on being a great cat owner as your cat feels very comfortable in your company.” If you have a moment, we’d love to hear your thoughts. Oh, and tell your cat(s) we said ‘hi!’ Follow Bored Panda on Google News! Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda! Please use high-res photos without watermarks Ooops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.
