Life hacks for cat owners

Cats are very dependent on their habits, and any good owner knows that one of the keys to a happy pet is to stick to those habits. But this does not mean that you should wallow in a routine or become a hostage to your cat’s habits. Looking for owner tips to make caring for your kitten more fun and easier? In this article, you will learn about some cat life hacks that can make you purr yourself next to your furry beauty.

Toilet hacks

Probably the least pleasant aspect of having a cat in the house is having to deal with the litter box. So it’s no surprise that a lot of cat hacks center around making it easier to get along with your kitten’s litter box. Here are some ideas to try:

• Hide the litter box. Hide your cat’s litter box under a coffee table or in a low cabinet without a door, and use hanging rods to hang simple, no-sew curtains. They will provide easy access for your beauty to do her business out of sight. Another easy option is to replace your regular tray with a large container with a lid. Cut a hole in the lid large enough for it to fit comfortably through, and use fabric and decoupage paste to decorate it to match your decor.
• Reduce odor. Add baking soda to your cat litter to neutralize odors and prolong the life of the litter. Another option is to add dry green tea leaves to your cat litter to improve the scent.
• Keep the tray clean. Is your tray scoop worn out? Turn a plastic milk jug into a makeshift scoop by cutting off the handle and the side of the jug near the handle.
• Insulate against leakage. Cleanmyspace.com recommends that you replace your standard tray mat with a plastic, grooved winter shoe mat. The spilled filler will remain on the mat, which is easy to clean and does not absorb waste products like rubber mats.

Life hacks for claws

Another problem associated with cats is their tendency to scratch everything from furniture to carpets to your fingers. Try these methods to prevent this unwanted scratching.

• Make a surface for her claws with your own hands. If your cat insists on sharpening his claws on a table leg, wrap it with sisal rope to protect the table and give your cat a scratching area. You can go even further by wrapping all of the legs on the coffee tables and making them into a heavenly place for your kitty to scratch, climb and sleep. Another tip that will make your cat go crazy is to lay corrugated cardboard in the bottom of a small basket or shoe box and place it near a sunny window for your cat to enjoy scratching, sunbathing and birdwatching.
• Trim your nails. Trimming a cat’s nails takes a matter of minutes and can help preserve furniture upholstery. If your beauty is too restless to agree to nail trimming, a veterinarian or pet groomer will be happy to do it for a nominal fee. To keep your clippings longer and to keep your cat’s claws from sharpening, try wearing soft rubber claw guards, available at most major pet stores.

Life hacks for cat hair

The fight against cat hair is never-ending. What can you do other than shave your cat or buy an industrial vacuum cleaner? These tips for cat owners may not completely solve a hair problem, but they can greatly reduce your chances of getting a headache.

• Passive brushing. LovePetsDIY.com recommends attaching the stiff bristles from two (preferably new) toilet brushes to your cat’s board for self-brushing and stroking your cat without your input. The more often she comes to the brushes to scratch her back, the more her hair will collect in the bristles, which will provide you with an easy cleaning.
• Make collecting cat hair quick and easy. Put on rubber dishwashing gloves and simply run your hand over the upholstery to pick up the hair and wipe it off. Using an inflated balloon will give the same effect. I’m sure you’re aware of the static electricity that makes your hair stand on end when you rub the ball on your head.
• Vacuum your electronics. Instead of using compressed air to clean keyboards and electronic devices of cat hair, scattering it all over the place in the process, attach the cap of a reusable plastic ketchup bottle to the tip of your vacuum cleaner hose so you can reach between the keys and all the nooks and crannies of your devices .

Life hacks for games

Cats need a lot of play time to not only keep fit and healthy, but also to provide mental stimulation that keeps them from getting bored and causing problems. But it’s not always easy for busy hosts to find time to play. Try these hacks to give your furry beauty plenty of play time.

• Give her a place to climb. Hang shelves on the wall in a chaotic pattern to serve as a ladder, or place boards on the steps of an old ladder to make a home for her. If you know how to use a power saw, cut out squares for the shelves of an old bookcase, making them big enough for your cat to climb through. Line the remaining surface of each shelf with old carpet or felt to make a tower where she can climb and rest.
• Make a puzzle toy. Remove the lid from an old handkerchief box and fill it with toilet paper rolls. Hide treats and toys in the bushings and let your cat have fun trying to find and get them. Another project you can create is to cut holes in the lid of a large plastic food container just large enough for your cat to stick his paw through (but not too big or her head will get stuck if she gets curious). Fill the container with her favorite toys and treats and put on the lid, then sit back and enjoy watching her take the items out of it.
• Take advantage of her love for boxes. Arrange boxes of different shapes and sizes around the room. Hide treats inside for your pet to “hunt”. She will constantly have fun moving from box to box choosing her own version of hide and seek.

Sleep hacks

More than their habits (or boxes), cats love only sleep. A fun fact about cats is that they never seem to get enough of just one place to sleep. Add some variety to your cat’s sleeping areas with these simple hacks.

• Turn an old t-shirt into a sleeping tent. This life hack has two simple methods. The simplest is to remove the lid or flaps from a cat-sized square box and place a T-shirt over the box so that the neck is centered over the open part of the box. Now this is the entrance to the tent. Tuck in the sides of the sleeves, pull the T-shirt tight, and pin the bottom of the T-shirt to the back of the box. Another option involves using wire hangers as a tent frame inside a T-shirt. Detailed instructions for this option can be found at Instructables.com.
• Make a tiny cat hammock. Use Velcro straps to hang a piece of cloth under a chair or small table for your kitten to rest in. Just remember that she has a hammock there if you suddenly decide to sit on it or behind it.
• Invite your cat to sleep on your table. Place a small box, lid, or tray on the table so she can sleep next to you while you surf the internet. This will make her feel that you are paying attention to her, and she is not walking on your keyboard.

Life hacks for organizing your pet’s habits

Didn’t find a hack in the list that suits your needs? A little creativity and ingenuity is all it takes to come up with your own cat hacks. Look at the items you already have in your home and think about how your cat can benefit from them, or how they can make grooming more convenient.

Start with what your cat is already attached to. For example, do you have a remote control car that she loves to chase, but you are afraid that she will either damage the car or injure herself if you let her play with it? Place the car in the rodent ball so she can safely chase it for as long as she wants. A little outside the box thinking on how to use household items will help you come up with your own pet hacks in no time.

Having a cat is often a combination of joy and challenges, but following these smart tips will go a long way for cat owners, the joy will make a difference and you and your furry beauty will enjoy life.