Our homes are our comfort spaces, filled with familiar people and possessions and designed to be a refuge of warmth and security. It’s important to feel safe and secure in your own environment. We all want our cats to be both healthy and happy, and providing them with a home environment where they feel safe, relaxed and comfortable can play a huge role in that. Luckily, there are a whole host of ways that you can help your cat feel safe, from hiding spaces to pheromone sprays. 

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Why might a cat not feel safe?

Houses are a safe space, protected from the elements and possessing key resources that cats need, such as food. So why would they not feel safe when we provide this for them?

Don’t be insulted! Cats are highly territorial and find moving to a new home stressful. They are also somewhat solitary, and can find sharing their space with other pets, family members, and visitors a little difficult. Add in their heightened senses of smell and hearing into our busy, modern-day lives and what seems like a safe environment to us may actually be quite overwhelming to our feline companions. 

These factors are more obvious in cats who have recently moved into a new home; those who have had a difficult time such as in a rescue centre; and those who have recently been asked to share their environment with a new pet or family member.  

How do I know if my cat doesn’t feel safe?

Cats, obviously, can’t tell us if they’re feeling unsure, anxious or unsafe in their environment. They can, however, show us! Learning about feline body language and communication is really important for cat owners, as these fluffy friends can be quite subtle in how they let us know that something isn’t quite right.

Here are some signs that your cat may be needing a bit of extra reassurance and help:

  • Toileting in an inappropriate place, such as outside the litter tray
  • Hiding away
  • Changes to appetite
  • Excessive vocalisation
  • Defensive or fearful body language: puffed up fur, hunched or cowering posture, pinned back ears, wide eyes
  • Aggression
  • Altered interactions with owners

Some of these behavioural signs can overlap with medical concerns, such as urinary disease or pain, so always consult a veterinary surgeon if you notice any of these signs.

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Helping cats feel safe

The good news for cat owners everywhere is that there are a variety of small changes we can make to our pets’ environment to help them feel more safe and secure. Understanding what’s important to our feline friends can help us shape their environment to suit their needs.

Individual space

Cats are territorial, and it can be very stressful for them to be suddenly placed into a new environment, or asked to share their home with strange pets and people. Ensuring your cat has a space which they can call their own can really help them to feel secure. This may be a room, or even a safe, quiet corner where they can relax fully. Set them up with plenty of resources, such as beds, food, water and litter tray, so that they don’t have to venture far away from their safe area if they aren’t confident enough. 

Hiding spaces

Hiding enrichment has been shown to markedly reduce stress in cats.1 Providing multiple safe spaces for cats to retreat to can help them feel safe and secure in the event of a perceived threat. Cats love to be up high, as it gives them a good vantage point and protects them from potential predators so, where possible, perches and beds at height are recommended. 

Routine

Cats are creatures of habit, and a sense of consistency and routine can help them feel secure. Try and keep regular habits, such as mealtimes, grooming sessions, playtime and toothbrushing, at similar times each day, so that your cat can always predict what’s going to happen next.

Pheromones

Cats use special chemical messages, called pheromones, to communicate with other cats but also to leave messages to themselves. These messages can convey information about territory, but also warn of danger or reassure of familiarity. Synthetic pheromones, such as Feliway, can be used in the home via sprays or diffusers to help cats feel more at home, by providing reassurance that they are in a safe, familiar environment.  

Resource placement

We all know that cats need food and water bowls, litter trays and more, but did you know that’s important where you put them? Food and water bowls shouldn’t be placed together, and the bowls should be positioned so that cats don’t have to turn their backs on the world to eat, leaving them feeling vulnerable. Litter trays should be placed in quiet, private areas, whereas scratching posts should be in busy thoroughfares. The positioning of resources is especially important in households with multiple cats, to ensure there are plenty to go around and that all cats have access to the resources they need, without encroaching into another cat’s territory. 

Other pets and people

Cats are territorial and have complex social structures. It is perhaps unfair that we often expect cats to rub along harmoniously with multiple other members of the family, whether this be people, other cats, or pets of other species. Navigating these complex relationships can be stressful and overwhelming for cats, but there are ways to make things easier. Make introductions by gradually introducing scent first, before visual contact and then finally physical access. Allow each pet a safe space to retreat to when needed, and ensure there are plenty of resources to go around. Remember that visitors, especially large social events, can be stressful for cats, and take steps to mitigate this. 

Safety and security are important for pets and come hand-in-hand with their health and wellbeing. Making simple changes, such as providing a high perch, pheromone diffuser or extra litter trays can make a huge difference to how our cats perceive their home environment. 

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