Turn Your Home into a Cat-Friendly Space (Without Losing Your Style)

City cats are no longer “just” pets – they’re full family members. And more and more people in the Netherlands are reshaping their apartments to match that reality: safe, enriching and still beautifully designed.

That’s where the idea of a cat-friendly home comes in. It’s not about filling your living room with loud, fluffy towers. It’s about understanding how your cat sees the world and creating a space that works for both of you: your cat’s instincts and your minimalist, urban life.

Let’s break it down in a practical, design-conscious way.

What does “cat-friendly” really mean?

Being cat-friendly starts with empathy. It’s about asking:

“What does this space look and feel like from my cat’s perspective?”

A cat-friendly approach means you:

• Make your cat feel safe, especially in a smaller city home
• Offer daily physical and mental stimulation
• Respect your cat’s boundaries and natural behaviors

Some simple mindset rules:

• Avoid forcing touch or cuddles – let your cat come to you
• Use treats, play and gentle praise as rewards
• Don’t shout or punish – it usually creates more fear and stress, not good behavior

From there, you translate this attitude into concrete choices in your home.

What is a cat-friendly home in practice?

A cat-friendly home is planned – even if it doesn’t look like it at first glance.

It’s a space that:

• Respects your cat’s instincts (hunt, climb, scratch, hide, observe)
• Stays safe and organized for everyday life
• Still reflects your personal style – especially important in compact apartments

At the core, you’re trying to guarantee three things:

1. Vertical opportunities – places to climb and observe from above
2. Scratching zones – so your cat can stretch and care for their claws
3. Safe hiding spots – to retreat when they’re overwhelmed or just want quiet

If your home offers these three pillars, you’re already on a very good path.

Vertical space: turning your apartment into a “3D” home

Cats feel more confident when they can look down on their territory. In city apartments, this is essential – you may not have much floor area, but you can always work with height.

Options that work well in modern homes

• Cat trees with scratchers
  The classic solution – but you don’t need a giant one. Choose a slim, stable cat tree that fits a corner and offers:
  • Several levels
  • One or two cosy platforms
  • A sisal scratching post
• Wall shelves and walkways
  Perfect if you like a cleaner, minimalist look. A few well-placed shelves can create a “cat route” along a wall, above the sofa or around a window.
  • Neutral colours integrate easily into Scandinavian-style interiors
  • You can mix dedicated cat shelves with regular wall shelves
• Window perches and hanging beds
  Many indoor cats adore window seats. A secure perch on a window sill or a suspended bed gives your cat:
  • Sunbathing time
  • “TV for cats” – watching birds, people, trams and bikes

Renting? You still have options

If you can’t drill much into the walls, look for:

• Tension-pole trees that fix between floor and ceiling
• Free-standing, slim towers that can be moved when you do
• Clamp-on window perches that don’t require screws

Scratching: protecting the sofa and respecting instincts

Trying to stop a cat from scratching completely is like trying to stop humans from stretching. It’s natural, necessary and actually healthy.

So instead of fighting it, the goal is to redirect it.

Smart scratching strategies

• Offer attractive scratchers in the right places:
  • Near sofas and favourite resting spots
  • By windows or doors where your cat likes to “mark”
  • Close to sleeping areas, so they can stretch after a nap
• Use different formats to match your cat’s tastes:
  • Vertical posts (sisal or wood)
  • Horizontal scratch pads
  • Angled boards
• Protect key furniture with:
  • Transparent adhesive films on sofa corners
  • Removable, washable covers
  • Side panels or boards that act as “sacrifice zones”

Furniture that doubles as cat gear

You can absolutely combine design and function:

• Coffee tables with sisal-covered sides
• Benches or sideboards with built-in scratching panels
• Minimalist scratchers that look more like sculpture than pet product

These choices keep your home tidy and allow your cat to be a cat without destroying the aesthetic you’ve carefully built.

Litter boxes and cat items: hide, blend or embrace?

Most people want litter boxes to be discreet, especially in smaller homes. But remember: discreet for you can’t mean difficult to access for the cat.

Ways to integrate litter and cat gear

• Furniture with hidden compartments
  Cabinets, benches or side tables with a side entrance can hide the box while keeping it accessible and ventilated.
• Unused corners and niches
  • Space under the stairs
  • Corners of hallways
  • A quiet section of the bathroom or utility area
• Design-forward boxes
  Litter boxes in neutral tones and simple shapes blend better with modern décor. When they look intentional, they often don’t need to be hidden at all.

For bowls, toys and blankets, use:

• Baskets, low sideboards and trays to group items
• A dedicated “pet corner” that feels like part of the layout, not visual clutter

Materials and textures for a cat-friendly, design-friendly home

Certain materials work better when you share your home with claws.

Fabrics

Try:

• Tightly woven, durable fabrics like heavy twill, canvas or brim
• Microfibre and some technical fabrics that resist pulls and are easy to clean
• Good-quality (or faux) leather: easier to wipe, but some cats love to scratch it – pair with very attractive scratchers nearby

Avoid very open weaves that catch claws easily.

Floors

If you have the chance to choose or change flooring, consider:

• Matte finishes that hide small marks better than glossy
• Durable surfaces like laminate, LVT or porcelain tiles
• Rugs with low pile and, ideally, washable materials

Your cat gets traction for zoomies and play sessions; you get surfaces that are easier to clean.

Safety first: cat-proofing your space

A cat-friendly home is also a safe home, especially in tall buildings and compact apartments.

Key cat-proofing steps

• Secure windows and balconies
  • Use proper nets or screens on tilt-and-turn windows and balcony railings
  • Avoid leaving windows in “tilt” mode unsupervised – some cats can get stuck
• Hide cables and wires
  • Use cable covers or pass them behind furniture
  • Protect phone and laptop chargers (many cats love to chew them)
• Review your plants
  • Remove or isolate toxic plants
  • Replace with cat-safe alternatives and maybe a pot of cat grass
• Block dangerous areas
  • Use safety gates for stairs or access to storage rooms
  • Secure heavy objects that a climbing cat could knock over

A bit of planning now prevents a lot of stress – and potential emergency vet visits – later.

Mental and physical enrichment: more than “just toys”

Enrichment is what turns “four walls and a sofa” into a living world for your indoor cat.

Ideas to keep your cat’s brain and body active

• Interactive toys – wands, teasing toys and anything that mimics hunting
• Food puzzles and slow feeders – make meals more interesting
• Tunnels and hideouts – great for play and naps
• Rotation of toys – store a few items away and bring them back later, so they feel “new” again

Not everything has to be bought:

• Cardboard boxes become forts
• Paper bags (with handles cut off) become hiding spots
• DIY puzzle feeders from cardboard rolls can be surprisingly fun

The key is variety and short, regular play sessions that fit into your daily routine.

Functional design that still looks like “you”

A cat-friendly home doesn’t need to scream “pet shop”. Today, it’s absolutely possible to choose:

• Minimalist towers that look like small pieces of architecture
• Wall shelves that double as décor
• Litter box furniture that reads as a bench or cabinet

At StadPaws, this is exactly the balance we care about:
comfort and enrichment for indoor cats, calm and clean lines for human eyes, and space-saving for city homes.

When you curate your cat essentials like you do your furniture, everything works together instead of competing.

Why a cat-friendly home is good for you too

Creating a cat-friendly space is not just a gift to your cat – it changes your own experience at home:

• Less furniture damage
• Fewer conflicts and stress behaviours
• A calmer, more predictable routine
• A stronger bond with your cat, who feels understood and safe

In a small apartment, every detail counts. When you align your interior with your cat’s needs, everyday life becomes smoother for both of you.

How to start today – simple, realistic steps

You don’t need a full renovation. Try this:

• Observe your cat for a few days
  Where do they like to sleep, scratch and watch the world?
• Choose one priority
  Maybe it’s “protect the sofa” or “create a high resting spot”.
• Make one change per week
  • Add a scratcher near the sofa
  • Install one shelf or a window perch
  • Reposition the litter box to a quieter, more functional place
• Use what you already have
  Boxes, blankets, a spare stool – many things can be repurposed.
• Upgrade slowly with intentional pieces
  When you’re ready, choose items that really fit your style and your cat’s habits, instead of buying random things “just because”.

Building a cat-friendly home is an ongoing process, not a one-time project.

If you live with an indoor cat in a Dutch city and want more ideas on enrichment, small-space layouts and design-minded pet essentials, keep exploring the StadPaws blog – and when you’re ready to update your cat’s world, we’ll be here to help you do it beautifully.