Journal · 6 min read
What does your companion like?
Anyone who lives with a cat believes they know what it likes. Most of the time what we know is what it tolerates. The two are not the same. Twenty years of research into feline behaviour show that cats' preferences are remarkably consistent. The list below is not a character analysis; it is the needs of a species.
1. Height
Cats use vertical space not as a luxury but as safety. A cat that climbs does two things at once: it spots potential threats early and it gains the feeling of controlling the room. In multi-cat homes height is also a peace treaty; when two cats can occupy the same room at different levels, conflict drops.
In practice: at least one spot should be above your eye line. The top of the fridge, the top shelf of a bookcase, or a tower built for it. If it is a tower, place it where the top platform has an exit route and a view of the room's entrance.
2. Somewhere to hide
In a Dutch shelter study, newly arrived cats given a closed box showed markedly lower stress indicators within days; cats without a box took far longer to reach the same level. For a cat, hiding is not cowardice, it is regulation. A closed, dark, single-entrance space calms the nervous system.
In practice: there should be at least one enclosed corner in the home you cannot reach into. When the cat goes in, it is not taken out. This rule matters most in homes with children.
3. Scratching
Scratching is not destructive behaviour; it is a behaviour with three jobs: shedding the outer claw sheath, stretching the back and shoulder muscles, and leaving a scent message from the paw that says "I was here". That is why cats scratch most at transition points, near where they wake, and along routes other cats use.
Preferences depend on the surface. Most cats prefer a vertical, solid surface; if it wobbles, they won't use it. Natural sisal, cardboard and textured fabric are the most accepted materials. A scratching surface that lets the cat stretch to full length, about 80–90 centimetres, is far more likely to be used.
In practice: the scratcher goes next to the sofa you want to protect, not in the far corner of the room.
4. Sleep and warmth
An adult cat sleeps 12–16 hours a day; older cats up to 20. Most of that sleep is light, and the cat keeps listening. So cats choose sleeping spots that are high, enclosed, warm and backed by something solid: beside the radiator, the sunny windowsill, the laundry pile.
In practice: a sleeping spot should be closed on at least two sides and raised off the floor. Cats stay loyal to natural, breathable textures (wool felt, cotton) longer than to synthetic plush.
5. The window
For a cat, the window is the nearest thing to our television. They watch birds, passers-by, the changing light. For an indoor cat it is one of the most important mental stimuli, and it reduces boredom-driven behaviour problems.
In practice: a surface in front of the window deep enough to sit on comfortably. The shelf should be at least 25 centimetres deep; narrower, and the cat won't use it.
6. Play, in the right order
Cat play is a rehearsal of hunting and it has a sequence: watch, stalk, chase, catch, "kill", eat. When play is cut off before the last step the cat is not satisfied and the restlessness continues. That is why a small treat at the end of a session completes the game.
In practice: two short sessions a day (10–15 minutes) beat one long one. Use something the cat can actually catch rather than a laser.
7. The right to choose
The common thread: a cat loves what it controls. It sleeps where it chose, comes to your lap when it decided to, enters the box it found. Every piece you bring home is the right piece if it offers one more option, and the wrong piece if it forces the cat somewhere.
mumm pieces are drawn around these seven needs: Topp for height, Koja for hiding, Klo for scratching, Sova for the window. The short guide on the collection page helps you find the one for your companion.