People love cats. In fact, they’ve loved cats for more than thousands of years. Cats were worshipped in Ancient Egypt along with cat gods and goddesses, like Mafdet, who was Egypt’s first-known deity that was considered a protector.
The Egyptians also worshipped cats because they believed they were loyal companions and offered protection from vermin and rodents.
There are nearly 85 million pet cats in the United States alone, so it’s clear that our love for cats has not faded—but some of the most troubling parts of pet ownership is dealing with the inevitable messiness that comes with it.
If you’re looking to bring a cat into your life, here are simple ways to keep the cleanliness of your home even with a lifestyle change.
Hair…Everywhere?
Yes, cats are furry—but this doesn’t mean that you are suddenly going to be bombarded with their fur. As long as you keep up with your regular cleaning schedule and brushing her regularly, this can be easily maintained.
For your home, the best way to keep up is investing in a pet-friendly vacuum.
A stick vacuum is a cat owners best friend because cats can shed a whopping 320 000 hairs every day and you need something that will help you get rid of all that cat hair that lands everywhere.
A stick vacuum is an excellent choice, because of its versatility. You can use it to vacuum not only floors and carpets but when turned into a handheld vacuum it will enable you to vacuum furniture and all other above-floor areas too! These are some of the best stick vacuums for pet hair.
In addition to vacuuming, you should brush your cat regularly to catch at least some of that hair before it ends up on the floor. Most cats love grooming as long as you start the regular grooming sessions at a young age. Brushing your cat not only helps you keep a clean home, but it also makes for a great bonding session with your pet.
Litter Box
You can’t really have a cat without a litter box. Thanks to their instinct, cats will naturally take to a litter box.
Usually, there isn’t much training to do: all you have to do is show them where it is, and when nature calls, they’ll know where to go.
However, finding the right kind of litter box is a challenge that many cat owners face. Because cats kick and bury their waste, you might end up stepping on a ton of excess litter.
When looking for a litter box, consider one with these qualities:
- Deep tray
- Hooded box
- Door for privacy and less mess
- Litter catcher mat
And obviously, you’ll need to put litter in the box. Look for one that is easy to scoop and will clump quite nicely after Kitty does her business to ensure less litter comes out of the box upon exiting. You could also choose non-tracking cat litter to minimize the mess.
If you want to make things easy for yourself, you could opt for a litter box that cleans itself. It will cut down the time you need to spend scooping and cleaning the box. Check out some popular self-cleaning litter boxes here.
And when it comes to the smell of cat urine, there is a little trick you can use. Although most litter brands absorb smells pretty well, many people find that sprinkling the cat litter with baking soda will help you keep your home smelling fresh by further absorbing any odors.
Cat “Furniture”
Next to the basic necessities, offering a cat condo and/or cat scratcher is vital to your cat’s happiness and livelihood—it can also help keep Kitty from messing up your beloved leather couch.
Luckily, people who don’t want to compromise the style or décor of their home are kept in mind when it comes to manufacturing cat furniture pieces. There are many cat products that can blend with your décor, whether you want the litter box, toy bin, cat condo or scratcher to look like it belongs as part of your home.
Having a special place for your cat will keep her away from that expensive recliner and limit the amount of pet hair that is spread around. It’s Kitty’s home too, so give them a place they feel comfortable!
Set Boundaries
Have you ever heard of the phrase “curiosity killed the cat”?
They like elevated spaces and will not hesitate to jump on your counters or attempt to crawl to the top of your bookcase. It’s important to set boundaries when it comes to your cat’s curiosities.
Be sure not to take away all the fun—Kitty needs to feel like it’s her home, too, but if you snap her out of the habit of walking across your stovetop right away, it’s unlikely she’ll keep attempting to do so.
Even though you might think training a cat sounds impossible, it’s actually not.
Right off the bat, it’s important to condition your cat to stop doing the things you dislike, like walking around on the counter or dining room table. The last thing you want is fur in your food.
There are a few ways to go about “conditioning” your cat. For starters, you can very firmly say “no” and move your cat to a more preferred location.
The preferred location can be a place that is also appealing to her, like by a window or a cozy spot on the couch. Cats like to be high up so redirecting her to a cat condo may also be helpful.
If she’s not getting the hint, then you might want to resort to a water bottle. It’s true that most cats aren’t fans of water, so keeping the spray bottle in a location you don’t want her to go may deter her from going up there.
After all, she’s not going to want to jump on the counter if she’s greeted with that evil spray bottle, right?
Enjoy Your Companion
Humans and cats have coexisted together for thousands of years—and there’s good reason, too. Cats are independent, curious, silly, and resilient creatures—which make for amazing companions.
If you’re looking to add a feline friend to your home, know that some things will change, but there’s no reason to compromise the cleanliness of your home.
Be sure to consider the right kind of furniture, litter and litter boxes, and vacuum that works for both your cat and your household.
Author Bio:
“Matt is the founder of PetHairPatrol. He lives in New York with his two golden retrievers: Ben and Jerry. Once he opened a carton of yogurt, and immediately there was a dog hair inside. That’s when he decided to find the best ways to get rid of pet hair and start a website to share his knowledge. He has researched and reviewed hundreds of products that help you keep your home clean – even when you have furry roomies. He loves running and Italian pizza. He hates pigeons. And obviously, pet hair!”