As you observe your cat sprawled across the top of your dresser or curled up comfortably in the middle of your bed, it may be difficult to fully accept that your home is not her natural environment. As we have domesticated cats and brought them inside, we have removed them from their natural habitat. For that reason, providing truly comfortable indoor housing facilities will involve creating an "inside" version of some of the elements she would have had in the wild.

If you have decided to share your living quarters with your cat, there are some basic guidelines you must consider. Above all, make sure that "off limits" areas are indeed off limits. Keep doors leading to forbidden areas closed - she'll get the message.

Just as important, because your cat will be indoors, you must provide her with all the amenities she needs, such as:

• Litter Box. Litter provides clean, sanitary facilities for cats, which tend to be extremely fastidious creatures.
• Scratching Post. Cats need to sharpen their claws it's their nature. Even if they are declawed, cats enjoy going through the motion of claw sharpening. You can buy a scratching post that looks like a tree or furniture.
• Cat Furniture. One very popular piece of cat furniture is an indoor house. This can be as simple as a cardboard box turned on its side or as complex as commercially available cat condos with several levels, lots of peep holes, holes to crawl through, and porches to perch on. Some of these are available covered with tough, indoor-outdoor carpeting and double as scratching posts, particularly when rubbed periodically with catnip.
• Balcony. Your cat, no matter how domesticated, will often yearn for the great outdoors. You will do her a big favor by opening a window for her to sit in after making sure that the screen is in good condition and securely in place. She'll love sitting in the window looking out, and you can enhance her favorite window by adding a wider shelf for more comfortable sitting. Special units are available for installation on her favorite window, providing her with an enclosed balcony.
• Toys. Like children (even adults!) and most animals, cats enjoy playing with toys. Homemade, commercial, rolling, dangling, bouncing, balls, or plastic toys are playtime treats your indoor cat will appreciate having around.