Living with indoor cats in a small home

Almost every "behaviour problem" in an indoor cat is an environment problem wearing a disguise. Change the environment and the behaviour usually follows.

Cats in small homes have the same needs as cats anywhere — somewhere high, somewhere hidden, somewhere to scratch, and a toilet they are willing to use — compressed into fewer square metres. These guides are about fitting all of that into a flat.

The guides

• Litter box problems Peeing outside the box, spraying, smell, and what changes after a house move.
• Two or more cats How many boxes, how to introduce a new cat, and what to do when one bullies the other.
• Scratching the furniture Why placement beats every deterrent, and where posts actually need to go.
• Boredom and enrichment The signs of an under-stimulated cat and five-minute fixes that cost nothing.
• Vertical space Window perches and wall shelves — the cheapest way to make a small flat bigger.
• Night crying Why it happens at 4am and the evening routine that resets it.
• Bringing home a new cat The first-week checklist and stopping door dashing before it starts.