New cat
How to set up your home to help your new cat settle in quickly
Cats, Adopters, Cat behaviour, Kitten
Sharing your home with both young children and cats can be a joyful experience - but it also comes with unique challenges.
Jessie from the Cat Welfare team at BCDH offers her top tips for ensuring your feline family member feels secure, enriched and at ease - even in a bustling household.
1. Think ‘catification’
Cats love to climb, hide and observe their world from above. Jessie suggests embracing “catification,” a term popularised by feline experts that means adapting your home to suit your cat’s natural behaviours. This doesn’t require a complete overhaul - just a bit of creative thinking.
“There are so many brilliant ideas online,” Jessie says. “People have transformed unused areas - like walls, stair landings and corners - into vertical playgrounds for their cats. Think shelves, cat trees, or rattan-covered posts they can climb.”
Even small changes, like adding a shelf near a stair window, can provide your cat with a peaceful spot to perch away from busy little hands.
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2. Create safe zones
Cats, especially those sharing space with toddlers, need quiet places to retreat. High perches, enclosed beds, or even a spare room with restricted access can give your cat the control and calm they need.
“The home should feel like theirs too,” Jessie emphasizes. “Making space just for your cat helps them feel safe and respected.”
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3. Respect personal space
It’s important to teach young children to approach cats gently and respect their boundaries. Help them understand feline body language - ears back, tail flicking, or hiding - all signals that a cat needs space.
“Supervised interaction is key,” says Jessie. “When children learn to be calm and patient, cats respond positively and feel more comfortable being part of the family.”
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4. Enrich their environment
Keep your cat mentally and physically stimulated with interactive toys, scratching posts, puzzle feeders, and climbing opportunities. Boredom and stress are common in busy homes, so giving your cat things to do - especially when they can escape the hubbub - is vital.
By giving your cat a thoughtful space in your family home, you're helping them feel safe, valued and content - even in the noisiest of households.
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