English
印尼文
If you’re self-isolating due to COVID-19, you should minimise the amount of time your cat spends outdoors unsupervised if possible. If your cat is kept indoors there are basic provisions that you can provide to ensure your cat has a good quality of life. These include:
1. Count your resources
Providing at least one large litter tray in a quiet place; clean it regularly. Cats are often reluctant to use a dirty or small tray or one located in a busy area. If your cat is used to toileting outside, you may need to add compost or dirt to the tray until your cat gets used to using it.
2. Ensure your cat has enough space. Indoor-only cats should have access to several rooms.
3. Allow your cat access to a minimum of two types of resting places, one at floor level, enclosed on three sides and another higher one with a good view.
4. Provide scratching posts in several locations so that your cat can mark their territory, strengthen muscles and sharpen their claws. Ensure the post is tall enough for your cat to fully stretch up, or the cat may not use it.
5. If you have more than one cat, ensure that for each type of resource (feeding place, bed, litter tray etc.) there are at least one per cat plus one extra. This means that if you have three cats, you should provide at least four feeding places, four litter trays and four resting places. These resources should be distributed around the home to prevent one cat guarding the resources
6. Remember you are an important resource.
Provide opportunities for daily play and exercise to stay fit and healthy. Cats have a natural instinct to stalk, pounce and catch moving objects so if they can no longer do this outdoors, they’ll need something to hunt indoors instead. Fishing rod toys, particularly ones with feathers, are fantastic for this and they also allow you to play with your cat from a safe distance. You will be your cat’s main companion, so make plenty of time to interact.
7. Use a pheromone diffuser.
Pheromone diffusers are a great way to keep your cat calm if the household is busier with family members working from home. Products such as Feliway release calming cat pheromones into your home that only your cat will be able to detect, providing them with a familiar scent that will help them to relax.
8. Create a safe haven.
All cats should have a secure spot they can retreat to for some peace and quiet. It is especially important that any children in the house are respectful of this. Ensure this spot is a calm environment and pair it with pheromone spray or treats so that your cat is calm and enjoys spending time there. Ideally it should be screened from view and raised up off the floor.
9. Feed using a puzzle feeder or activity feeder.
Puzzle or activity feeders, slow down the rate of eating, keeping cats occupied for longer periods of time and encouraging them to stay mentally engaged. Lots of commercial puzzle feeders are available, or you can use a scatter feeding approach to make feeding times more fun around the house.
