Keeping our city’s new cool cats content

Petplan Vet of the Year 2019 and director of city centre-based and award-winning The Liverpool Vets, Danielle Greenberg introduces her new regular YM Liverpool column.

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Liverpool city centre’s pet population is booming

It’s clear that our city centre is undergoing a real residential revolution. Tower blocks are going up and people are moving in, but so too are their pets.

Being the only vets in town, we have really appreciated this new growth, and have welcomed over 800 animals already in the eight months since we opened.

Most of our registered cats live in flats, and keeping one of nature’s most adept hunters and climbers content but confined, can be a challenge.

Creating a ‘flat cat’ heaven

Being an independent veterinary clinic with a small, experienced team, we are able to spend time with our clients discussing the many ways they can adapt their flat to create a climbing, napping, hunting heaven for their cats, keeping them mentally stimulated and physically active during the hours that their ‘mums’ and ‘dads’ are out at work.

10 tips for keeping your indoor cat happy, healthy & safe

THE ONLY WAY IS UP

Cats love to climb. Throwing up a few extra book shelves to create a climbing wall is probably the single best thing you can do.

HIDE AND SEEK

Cats need time out. Climbing into a cardboard box, especially one that’s up high or hidden away is the perfect place for some R&R. Hide a few treats or a toy in a box, cut a ‘door’ in the side of it and you have the perfect hideaway.

THE LITTLE CATS ROOM

One litter tray per cat plus one is ideal. Each tray should be in a different room if at all possible. Unsurprisingly the bathroom is a favourite spot.

BRING THE OUTSIDE INSIDE

Cats have an incredible sense of smell. Collect rainwater in a ceramic bowl and offer it to your cat in an egg cup filled to the top.

ALL CHANGE

Cats like change to be routine. Arrange your cardboard boxes, treats and rainwater one way from Monday to Thursday, then rearrange them all for the rest of the week. Go back to the original arrangement again on Monday and repeat the process.

KEEP SMELLS AND BUGS OUT

Keep shoes and coats at the door. This goes for visitors too.

PLAY TIME

Make time to play with your cat every day: feathers, balls, lights, whatever they like best.

WATER WATER EVERYWHERE

Try different types of bottled water, a running water machine, ice cubes. Fill a sturdy glass tumbler to the very top. Cats love the different tastes.

THE JAB DEBATE

Your cat may never leave the flat, but viruses don’t respect boundaries. Indoor cats really do still need their basic annual vaccination.

CREEPY CRAWLIES

Fleas, especially their eggs really can find a way in. In fact we are in the midst of a real flea ‘plague’ in Liverpool right now, with fleas being able to resist many pet shop and supermarket treatments.

Honestly, its worth using a vet recommended product routinely because these fleas will bite you too, and can lay millions of eggs in your flat that hatch over three months.

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