Guides · Indoor cats

Cat help: plain guides for indoor cats

This page gathers every Purrmint cat help guide in one place, grouped by topic. Each one is a plain, practical read for indoor cat owners. Pick the question closest to yours.

Most guides open with a short answer, then explain why cats do what they do and what to try, with the products we sell as worked examples. The short line on each card is taken from that guide.

31 guides

Best window perch for a cat: a plain buyer's guide

Sleep and beds

How to choose a cat bed by the way your cat sleeps
Choose a cat bed by how your cat already sleeps.
Cat burrows under the blankets? Beds for cats who like to burrow
If your cat keeps tunnelling under the duvet, offer them a bed with a top or an opening they can crawl into, such as a sleeping sack, a pocket bed or a felt cave.
Cat won't use the new bed? What to try
Cats often ignore a new bed because it's in the wrong place, smells new, or doesn't suit the way they sleep.
How to keep an indoor cat warm in winter
Indoor cats in winter usually look for warm, draught-free spots: sunny windows, the top of the sofa, your bed, or under a blanket.

Windows, perches and hammocks

Best window perch for a cat: a plain buyer's guide
If your cat spends the afternoon squeezed onto a narrow windowsill, a window perch gives them a flat spot at the glass. There are three common types, and none suits every home.
Which cat window perch fits your window? Measure first
Which cat window perch fits depends on your window, not just your cat.
How to hang a cat hammock: ceiling hooks and window suction cups
Hang a ceiling cat hammock from a hook that's fixed into a ceiling joist or beam, not into plasterboard alone.

Scratching

Cat scratching the couch? A calm guide to what to try
Scratching is normal cat behaviour, so the realistic goal is to move it, not stop it.
Cat scratching a leather sofa? What to try instead of pins
On a leather or faux-leather sofa, skip anything that pins into the upholstery and put a freestanding scratcher right beside the spot your cat uses instead.
Scratching post vs scratch mat vs cardboard: which to buy
Pick the scratcher that matches how your cat already scratches.
Cat scratching the carpet? What to try
Rather than trying to stop the scratching, move it: put a flat or low scratcher right on the spot they use.

Play, boredom and gifts

Bored indoor cat? What actually helps
An indoor cat who seems bored usually needs more chances to do cat things: chase, pounce, climb, watch the outside world and work for food.
Small apartment, indoor cat: space-saving enrichment ideas
In a small apartment, give your cat more to do by using height, walls, windows and doors rather than floor space.
Kitten toys: what to buy, and what to watch for
Kittens need short, frequent play sessions with toys they can chase, pounce on and bat.
Why does my cat knock things off tables? What helps
Cats knock things off tables to play, to explore, and often to get your attention.
Cat gift guide: gift ideas by budget and by the kind of cat
The best cat gift matches how that particular cat already behaves.

Food, water and the litter corner

Cat not drinking from the water bowl? What to try
Many cats are fussy about where and how they drink, not just whether water is there.
Cat drinks from the tap? Why, and what to try
Some cats prefer running water to a still bowl.
How to clean a cat water fountain, step by step
To clean a cat water fountain, unplug it, empty it, take it apart, wash the tank, lid, tray and spout in warm soapy water, rinse well, clean the pump the way its maker describes, then reassemble and refill with fresh water.
Cat pulls food out of the bowl? What to try
Cats who scoop food out of the bowl to eat it off the floor are often reacting to the bowl rather than the food: a deep or narrow bowl, a bowl that slides, or a spot they don't like.
How to keep the litter box area tidy
A tidier litter corner comes down to three things: a box in a sensible spot, a daily scooping habit, and a proper place for the scoop and the waste so nothing ends up lying on the floor.

Grooming and shedding

Cat hair all over the sofa? Brushes, gloves and self-groomers
All cats shed, so the practical aim is to catch loose hair before it reaches the sofa.
How to brush a cat (even one who doesn't like it)
Brush your cat in short, calm sessions, in the direction the fur grows, starting where they like being stroked (usually the cheeks, neck and back).
Why does my cat rub their face on corners?
Cats rub their cheeks and chin on corners, door frames, furniture and people to leave their scent, which is called bunting.

Travel, carriers and harnesses

Cat hates the carrier? How to make vet trips easier
Cats often dislike the carrier because it only appears before a car ride and a vet visit.
Travelling by car with a cat: before, during and after the drive
Always travel with your cat in a closed carrier, never loose in the car, and wedge or belt the carrier so it can't slide or tip.
How to harness train a cat, step by step
Harness training a cat works best slowly. Some cats take to it, some never do, and both are normal.

Behaviour, night-time and a second cat

Cat hiding under the bed? How to help
Hiding is normal cat behaviour, especially after a move, around visitors or noise, or with a new cat.
Cat wakes you up at 5 a.m.? An evening routine to try
Cats often wake their people at dawn because they're naturally most active around dawn and dusk, they're hungry, or they've learned that it works.
Cat meowing at night? Why, and what to try
Cats meow at night for a handful of reasons: they are naturally most active around dusk and dawn, they may be bored or hungry, they may want attention or a closed door opened, and cats who aren't neutered may call at night.
Bringing home a second cat: a slow introduction, step by step
Introduce a second cat slowly. Many introductions take weeks, some take longer, and some cats never become friends.

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Notes

Each guide takes sizes and features from the product pages; where they are the maker's figures, the guide says so. These guides are general information, not veterinary or behaviour advice. If your cat seems unwell, or a habit changes suddenly, talk to your vet.