If you are a cat owner with a renovation coming up, consider ways to manage them during the project. Cats are, in general, creatures of habit that like stable environments and schedules. This is maybe why your feline friend greets you in the morning, or waits for your cue for something daily.
Predictability is good, your home is their kingdom and they need to know what’s going on at all times. That’s why having strangers over, with new noises and smells can really freak out your cat. Here are a few points to help your cats through the renovation.
Choose a Separate Room
A little while prior to the start of the project, designate a room to keep your cats in. It should be clean, quiet, far away from work if possible, and somewhere they already are familiar with. Cats are territorial, and they feel most comfortable within their territory. If you put them in a side room they never venture to, while ostensibly they are fine, the stress can manifest in unhealthy ways – litter box issues, aggression, eating problems.
Move the Essentials There
A few days before the renovation, move your cat or cats in there, along with the essentials: food bowls, water bowls or fountains, and litter boxes. Then feed your cats in there and check that they are using the litter box in there. Your cat might not be comfortable using the box in a new position at first, so be sure to check on them. And do not change anything about the set up, use their existing box and litter type.
Best Practices on Placement
Take care and adhere to standard rules in the placement of your cat’s essential items. Food bowls and water fountains should be far away from each other. If you’re not already doing this, you should – they might be drinking less water because of the set up.
In the wild, cats that hunt and kill their prey in a “messy” fashion, with blood and other bodily fluids flying about. A water source nearby would be contaminated. Would you drink from a place like that? You wouldn’t and your cat has the same urge as you. For the litter box, it should be as far away from food or water as possible.
Furnish It
Your cat will be spending a lot of time there during the day, so furnish it with the accessories they already know and love. Place their favorite cat trees, condos, perches, scratching posts in the room.
And as you are renovating your place, this situation is the perfect time to do the same for Fluffy. Maybe you have exotic cats and their past furniture doesn’t suit them. For example, I remember the price of my Maine Coon cat, so I need to upgrade her to a more fitting deluxe lounger or luxurious new digs!
Keep in mind your cat’s favorite activities, and try to maintain that. If they like looking out the window at birds, place an elevated perch next to a window. If they like napping on carpet, and the room is a different surface, find a rug.
Place a television or screen in there too, so you have an option of playing light music, the TV, and even stream the bird channel!
Spend Time In The Room
After furnishing the room and ensuring they have everything needed for a safe, stable time, it’s time to make it feel like home. That means gracing them with your presence and doing the usual things in there to maintain that bond. If you are working your laptop and your cat chills next to you, bring your work there (at least intermittently). Keep playtime in that room as well.
Let Them Out At Night
After the workers have left your place, be sure to let your cat out and explore. Supervise them if there are tools, materials, debris and so on. Much like walking your cat outside, there are hazards, but it’s worth it for your cat to take in the new smells and sights (on their terms). Cats are pretty cautious so they probably won’t fall or get hurt. At the same time, their curiosity is infamous – just make sure they are not eating or licking anything toxic (paint, screws, nails).
