Kittycat Magazine Issue 1 January/February 2014 | Page 27

don’t have a cat door but simply let the cat in and out as it demands. What facilities will my cat or kitten need? We all know that a cat needs food and water and, if it stays indoors or is fearful of going out, a litter tray. However, there’s a bit more to it than that. More often than not we line up the food, the water and the litter tray so that they’re all close together and convenient for the cat to find and use. What’s wrong with that? Well, given the choice, a cat will drink well away from where it eats and will definitely eat and drink far away from where it goes to the toilet. Understanding a cat means understanding the need to separate these important resources. Here are things you will need: A litter tray and litter A cosy bed - It is not just the shape, size or fabric of a bed that matters, it can often be simply the position of the bed that will either attract or deter a cat from using it. Cats feel better higher up from where they don’t have to worry about what’s above and can see what’s happening below. There are lots to choose from and the top favourite will probably be your own bed! Safe places - cats need to have high places within a house to retreat to or just retire to for a safe, quiet nap, or to get out of the way of some household activity or visitor (person or dog). For more nervous cats this can be a godsend – somewhere to relax. Of course, cats also love cosy warm beds and o