Setting up a home for an indoor cat, room by room
Short answer: an indoor cat needs its whole territory inside your walls, so plan the house around what a cat does. Give it height in the main living room with a cat tree, a sturdy scratching post near where it sleeps, a window perch to watch the street or garden, a quiet spot for the litter tray with a mat in front, fresh moving water away from food, and two short play sessions a day. In England a kitten also needs a microchip before it reaches 20 weeks of age.
Plenty of cats in the UK live mainly or entirely indoors, whether because of a busy road, a top-floor flat or simply an owner’s choice. Living indoors works well when the home offers the same chances to climb, scratch, look out, hide and hunt that a garden would. Rather than a shopping list, this guide walks through the house one room at a time.
The living room: height and a place to scratch
Cats feel safer when they can survey a room from above, and in a shared household height also lets a shy cat keep its distance. A cat tree near a window or in a corner of the room where the family gathers is usually used far more than one tucked away in a spare room. Check the base size and total height against your ceiling and floor space, and favour a broad, heavy base for larger cats so the tree does not rock. Our cat trees include designs from TRIXIE and wall-mounted shelf sets for small rooms.
Scratching is how cats keep their claws in condition, stretch and leave scent marks, so the aim is to give them somewhere better than the sofa arm. A post needs to be tall enough for a full stretch, which for an adult cat is often 75 cm or more, and heavy enough not to wobble. Place it near the cat’s sleeping spot and beside the furniture it already favours. See our cat scratching posts, including wall-mounted posts that save floor space.
The window: something to watch
For an indoor cat, a window is television. A perch fixed to the sill or glass gives a comfortable lookout over birds, passers-by and the weather, and many cats spend a large part of the day there. Before buying a suction-cup perch, check the stated weight limit and make sure your glass is smooth and clean; for older sash windows, a sill-mounted frame can be steadier. Browse our cat window perches, which include designs from K&H Pet Products.
The bedroom and quiet corners: rest and retreat
Cats sleep for long stretches and like a choice of resting places at different heights and temperatures. A hammock that hooks onto a radiator, a chair or a crate gives a warm, slightly raised bed that many cats prefer to a basket on the floor. Measure the frame you plan to attach it to and check the weight it is designed to carry. See our cat hammocks.
The bathroom or utility room: the litter tray
Put the tray somewhere quiet and easy to reach, well away from food and water bowls, and not beside a noisy washing machine. The usual guidance is to have one more tray than the number of cats, spread around the house. Size matters more than style: aim for a tray roughly 1.5 times your cat’s body length, nose to tail base. Low-entry trays suit kittens and older cats, while high sides help with cats that dig enthusiastically. Compare our open and hooded litter trays.
A textured mat in front of the tray catches the granules that cling to paws and saves a lot of sweeping. Choose one at least as wide as the tray entrance, with a non-slip backing and a surface that is easy to shake out or rinse. Browse our cat litter mats.
The kitchen: water away from food
Many cats prefer to drink away from where they eat, and moving water often tempts them to drink more readily than a still bowl. A fountain placed a few steps from the food bowl works well. Clean it weekly and change the filter on the maker’s schedule; in hard-water areas of southern and eastern England, descale the pump more often. Our cat water fountains range includes fountains and replacement filters from Catit.
Every room: daily play
Play stands in for hunting, and two or three short sessions a day are more useful than one long one. Wand toys let you mimic prey that darts and hides, while kickers and ball tracks give your cat something to do alone. End each game with a successful pounce and follow it with food, which mirrors the hunt, eat and rest pattern cats are built for. Put wand toys away afterwards so strings are not left lying about. See our interactive cat toys.
How to choose: before you order
- Measure floor space and ceiling height before choosing a cat tree.
- Pick a scratching post tall enough for a full stretch and place it near the sleeping spot.
- Check weight limits on window perches and hammocks.
- Have one more litter tray than cats, away from food and noise.
- Place water a short distance from food, and keep spare fountain filters.
- Schedule two or three short play sessions every day.
Frequently asked questions
Do cats in the UK have to be microchipped?
Since 10 June 2024, every cat in England has needed a microchip before it reaches 20 weeks of age, and the keeper’s details must be kept up to date. Check the current rules if you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
How many litter trays does an indoor cat need?
Aim for one more tray than you have cats, each in its own quiet spot. A single cat in a small flat may manage with two trays, as long as they are kept clean.
Where should a cat tree go?
Near a window or in the room where the household spends most time. Cats like to watch both the outside world and their people, so a tree in a spare room is often ignored.
How often should I clean a cat water fountain?
Rinse and wipe it weekly, and replace the filter on the maker’s schedule. Where the tap water is hard, scale forms on the pump sooner, so dismantle and clean the pump more often.
Where to go next
Browse the whole cat department or use our shop by pet page to move between animals. For harnesses and other kit for dogs sharing the house, see dog kit by life stage. Delivery is free anywhere in the UK and unwanted items can come back free within 30 days; the full terms are on our delivery and returns page.
