10 tips for happier cat housing

1. Not the ground floor. If you have the choice between a cage that's low and a cage that's high, pick the high one. Cats like to be up.

2. The sweet smell of home. Encourage pet owners to bring in a blanket or some other personal item from home that smells sweetly of security.

3. End of the Mexican stand off. If your cat wards line both sides of a room facing each other, look for a creative way to block the view. You could pull in a screen, hang a hospital grade curtain. Maybe install a fish tank. (Can't blame us for dreaming cat dreams.)

4. A little decor. Find someone with some sewing skills to make you little curtains that can velcro to horizontal cage bars. When you have a cat that's freaking out, a little curtain to hide behind can be just the shelter he or she needs to calm down.

5. A quiet upgrade. Many manufacturers now offer cage upgrades that minimize the noise of the latch. Check into the options for your existing cages.

8. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And cats would rather not look at cats. (Prefering, as it were, to bask in the knowledge of their own beauty.) So avoid photos or photo realistic images of cats on the walls.

6. A re-alignment. If your cages have vertical bars, consider replacing them with doors that have horizontal bars, which give your cat visitors an unobstructed view out.

7. Better, bigger digs. Housing that gives each cat more room really does make a difference in the level of stress your feline visitors experience. New condos that take this thinking into account offer each cat a space that's around 30 inches square, rather than 18 inches square, which used to be standard.

9. No shine. Cats prefer matte finish materials rather than shiny cages. They're very sensitive to seeing their frenemies sneak up behind them in the reflection. Yep, constant movement out of the corner of your eye. It's enough to make anyone testy.

10. Your brilliant idea. We know you're looking for ways to keep cats happier in their housing. Send us your "cut the cat fear" idea (and a pic) and we'll share it! Email dvm360@advanstar.com or scan the code to send your idea.