Most households now own a cat or several cats – that makes sense as they are the second most popular pet! We generally think of cats as quite independent creatures that will look after themselves. After all, they take themselves on outings, we don’t have to walk them like we do dogs; they eat when they’re ready, we simply just leave some food down and they come and go as they please. All of this is true… but do we really know if our cats are happy? And what do we do if we notice our cats aren’t? 

Table of contents

 To ensure our cats are happy, there’s a great template in the Animal Welfare Act:

The Five Welfare Needs

These are the things every animal needs to have the maximum chance of happiness.

A suitable diet

Providing your cat with fresh water every day and fresh food is certainly a prerequisite for having a happy cat. Some cats are grazers so won’t eat all of their food straight away. If you have one of these, then provide them with a suitable diet that will give them their daily nutrients. A little-known fact is cats do prefer to drink running water. This is why you might often find your cat playing with taps or sinks! You can purchase water fountains for cats so they have a constant supply of running water. That said, some might be happy drinking from a bowl, so watch your cat and see what they prefer.

A suitable environment

Providing appropriate bedding and shelter is also important to minimise any discomfort. If your cat stays outside allow them access back into the house to rest or if this is impossible provide an outside shelter so they can sit out of the elements. Cats often like to hide so provide them with places to hide; ideally, high up places where they can feel safe and still watch the world go by.

Be protected from pain, injury and disease

Providing your cat with preventative care treatment will also help to prevent one of the most common causes of unhappiness – fleas! Likewise, protection from disease through vaccinations to prevent unwanted viruses is key. Yes, our cats may not be happy about a trip to the vets but prevention is better than cure. Always keep an eye on your cat’s behaviour so you can look out for any problems. And if they do get poorly, early attention from the vet is more likely to be effective (and cheaper!) than leaving it too late.

Be able to express normal behaviour.

Cats must be able to express their normal behaviour. And this is probably one of the biggest factors in determining whether your cat is happy or not. Are they allowed to be a cat, to act like a cat, to live (as far as possible) as a cat? 

  • They must be allowed to have exercise. This could involve letting them outside, which is dependent on the owner and where they live as we don’t want them getting into trouble with traffic. Some cat owners have outdoor pens which allow outdoor access to exercise. If this is not possible then allow them plenty of room in the house. 
  • Another normal behaviour for a cat is scratching this can be to sharpen claws or for general play. Provide scratch to posts, especially to save your furniture. 
  • They need to hunt. While it’s illegal to provide live prey (although most cats would love it), you can provide plenty of toys for your cat to play with. 
  • Cats are also independent animals that like their own time, allow them to have some quiet time to themselves. 

To be housed with, or apart from, other animals

Whilst many of us have more than one cat in the house, how do we know that they are happy and get along? Yes, it’s true that some get along fine, but in many cases it can cause a lot of distress for both (or all). Signs that show that cats are happy living together include sleeping close together, grooming each other, playing together, rubbing against each other and touching noses. 

Whilst we all hope that our cats are happy living together, we can also encounter some relationship problems. Signs that our cats are definitely unhappy living together may include the obvious such as fighting, but also more subtle signs such as urine marking inside, or blocking each other so the other cannot walk past. 

To try to encourage a happy cat household, it is important to try not to try and force our cats to be friends. So, don’t lock them in a room together, let them both have their own space. Young cats often socialise better with other youngsters, rather than introducing a young cat to an older one who may be less tolerant of them! Introducing new cats (well, any animal for that matter!) into a cat house can cause some distress. If you’re having trouble with introducing your cats it’s always ideal to seek help from a behaviourist. 

So, what are the other signs to watch out for?

Cats are very sensitive creatures, and even though they seem independent, hardy animals that is not always the case. There are several signs that can be hard to interpret. 

Scratching

Cats love to scratch, but why do they do it? Does it mean they’re happy? 

Scratching can mean a variety of things. It can be a form of playing, providing a cat scratching post will allow your cat to play here and scratch without damaging any of your furniture. There are a variety of different scratching posts you can purchase from online or pet shops. 

It can also be a form of territorial marking. This is normally noticed if a cat scratches vigorously at the post or furniture in front of the owner or another cat. It can mean they are just marking their territory or they are stressed. It is very important to never punish a cat for doing this, as if we do try to punish them then it can just make the matter a lot worse. Try to provide scratching posts in different areas of the house; consider using a product like Feliway pheromones that help relax cats. 

Over grooming

A cat that is seen over grooming often has bald patches that can be anywhere on the body that they can reach to lick. While grooming is a normal and natural behaviour, if taken to excess over-grooming can be a sign of pain or discomfort or stress. If you are concerned about over-grooming, always consult your vet so we can determine whether there’s an underlying medical problem, or if it’s stress related.

Spraying

Spraying is when a cat sprays urine around the house. This can be territory marking, and is often increased or exaggerated if the cat is stressed. In particular, if there is a new cat in or around your house you may notice a distinct smell of urine in certain rooms. To try and stop this don’t punish your cat, this can just create more distress. Take your cat to the vet to check for any pain or discomfort. If nothing is found then try to figure out what is causing the problem at home, is there a new cat in the house or is there a cat hanging around the garden. Using products like Feliway or pet remedy may help settle your cats. 

Behavioural changes

Other signs of fear and distress are becoming withdrawn and hiding away, hissing, excessive meowing, staying away from the owner, not eating, diarrhoea, crouching and hunched. It is always worth having your cat checked over to check for any health problems before we put the behaviour down to fear and stress. 

If in doubt – get in touch with a good behaviourist

If your vets have given your cat the all-clear for health, but their behaviour is still a problem it is a good idea to consider a behaviourist. There are lots of different behaviourists out there but it is always good to use one that is part of an accredited team of animal behaviourists. Looking on the Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians website you can find a good, waulified local behaviourist. This will be someone that has studied animal behaviour and some of them are even vets. 

We all want a happy cat household. Cats are secretive, sensitive creatures so always keep an eye out for any slight changes in their behaviour and any changes, catch it soon and hopefully it won’t progress.

You might also be interested in: