It is true that cats bring a special kind of love and joy to your home; however they can also bring many challenges. Not the least of which is the décor of your home.
As a child growing up I had an aunt who loved cats, she was childless and so was completely devoted to her cats. Whilst I enjoyed visiting my aunt and uncle (we would get great presents from them) I struggled to feel comfortable in their house because of the cats. Their furniture was scratched, beautiful old couches were shredded and the whole place was covered in cat hair and a slight scent of too many cats in a small apartment.
Many years later when I had my own place and my own cat I began to understand some of the problems of blending great decorating with cats...here are some of the things I learned.
Flooring-
don't choose very light or very dark colors for a carpet as they show the cat hair, a textured, stain resistant carpet with a design is best to hide the hair and the occasional mark from an accident. Never go for a sisal carpet or rug as the cat will easily shred it, and spots are impossible to remove. In general terms a nylon carpet is easier to clean as spots removed from Berber wools will leave a circle even after cleaning the stain.
Hardwood flooringare great but must be treated with a good polyurethane so as not to absorb the odor of an accident.
Tiled floorsare also great for pets but again need to be properly sealed so smells cannot be absorbed into the grout. Both wooden and tiled floors are much better in the control of fleas too.
Soft Furnishings
Florals and patterns will camouflage cat hair better than a plain color but the choice of fabric is also very important as some fabrics such as silks, satins and heavy tweeds will catch on your cats claws and look shabby in no time at all.
Slip covers are your best friend when you own cats. Sofas covered with a slip cover are easily cleaned and protected from hair and clawing. Whilst these don't necessarily stop your cat from clawing the furniture, it does offer some protection.
Avoid furniture made from wicker, rattan and sisal as your cat will be attracted to it as a scratching post.
Curtains that are soft and flowing may be viewed by your cat as irresistible play things so consider sleek blinds or plantation shutters.
Any Windows that open should have screen to stop your kitty chasing a bird outside.
Furniture and shelving
Any surface that a cat can reach he will walk on and inadvertently sweep his tail sending any fragile item smashing onto the floor. Low tables or shelves should not hold any fragile or precious items. Instead choose heavy based items or items made from metal or wood.
Lamps both table and floor, should be heavy based to avoid being knocked over and the cords kept out of sight. Mirrors can cause an issue with many cats attacking their own reflection.
High shelves are not always safe either; many cats see them as a challenge and may eventually find a way to conquer it.
Plants
If you want to include plants in your decorating, firstly you must know which one are poisonous to your cat and you must be prepared for him to chew on the leaves, dig in the dirt and urinate in the soil. These issues can be overcome by placing pebbles on the top of the dirt and spraying the leaves with a natural repellant
Room to Play
The most import thing for cat owners to consider when decorating is to create a space for your cat to play. An uncluttered area with a well-designed scratching post and a few toys should keep your cat content and you home safe.
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