You go to your bookshelf to pick a book to read one evening, and there’s a feline librarian ready to help you choose wisely…or push the book you want off the shelf. Then, when you sit down to read, two almost imperceptible cat eyes look at you from under the end table. You’ve always known your two cats are quite different, but one theory says these cats would actually be in two separate groups.
Tree Dweller vs Bush Dweller
Do your cats like to stay up high, observing their kingdom from the tops of cabinets, bookshelves, and cat trees? Or do they prefer to spend their time hidden from view, be it under a table, in a cupboard or in a box? Cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy, who spent a lot of time with cats, called those in the first group ‘tree dwellers’, while those in the second group he called ‘dust dwellers.’ This is not a scientific theory, but many cats fit the description of both. If your cat does, there are a few things you can do to ensure that their environment is ideal.
Tips for cats in trees
Tree dwellers love having an aerial view of their home. The higher they can get off the ground, the better. These cats can be found prowling on top of cupboards, tall bookshelves, and on the top of cat trees. In the wild, cats like leopards meet this description, as they spend time in trees looking down at the world around them.
Does this look like your cat? If so, there are a few ways you can provide your ‘tree’-loving cat with the perfect environment. It’s all about vertical space. Make sure there are some tall cat trees, open space on the shelf or top of the refrigerator, window sills cleared, or window perch, and tall stacked cat cubes. If you want to make things even more ideal, add in some cat-friendly wall shelves, ramps, and stairs for your feline friend. All of this will allow your cat to get to the monitoring points where it feels most comfortable.
Tips for cats in the bush
Those who live in the bush are a bit more stealthy than their tree-loving friends. They like to be hidden from view, sometimes due to anxiety or fear. They are most comfortable in nooks and crannies, under furniture, enclosed in space, and a bed with lots of covers. The bush’s wild counterpart will be like the lynx, preferring to roam in burrows or bushes.
If your cat seems to fit this description, how can you set up a perfect home? Make sure they have plenty of places under your bed or desk to sneak in, invest in some cat blocks or tunnel for cats, and leave your empty delivery boxes around. You can also order a cozy cat bed in one of the places they like to hide, so they can be even more comfortable.
Change the environment gradually
No matter what type of cat you have, make sure you don’t make many changes at once if you want to give them more space. Even small changes in a cat’s habitat can stress our feline friend a bit. If you add some new spots to your cats, make sure you don’t accidentally take away one of their favorite hiding places in the process. These areas provide an important sense of safety and security.
However, once your cat has the ideal environment, it will be a huge boost for their physical and mental well-being.
