--- title: How To Maintain A Cat-Friendly Home While Spring Cleaning description: It’s about time for spring cleaning! But while humans love tidiness and order, cats may disagree. Here are our decluttering tips for a cat-friendly home. image: https://blog.feliway.com/hubfs/Template%20Blog%20Articles%20FELIWAY-Feb-15-2024-06-58-36-9430-PM.png --- #### Want to sign up for our blog? [ Subscribe ](https://blog.feliway.com/ca_en/how-to-maintain-a-cat-friendly-home-while-spring-cleaning#signup-form) # How To Maintain A Cat-Friendly Home While Spring Cleaning The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, and the air is starting to feel just a little bit warmer. All of which can only mean one thing: it’s time to think about spring cleaning! But while we humans love bringing cleanliness and order into our homes, our feline companions may not be so enthusiastic. Let’s not forget, cats are creatures of habit. So, how do we balance our spring cleaning aspirations with our need for a cat-friendly home? Our experts have been exploring further. ## **Understanding the Impact of Decluttering on Cats** Unlike humans, cats [enjoy the status quo](https://blog.feliway.com/ca_en/do-cats-need-routine-tips-for-a-happy-cat?hsLang=en-ca). Any sudden changes in their environment, like moving furniture or removing items they’re familiar with, can often prove to be unsettling or distressing. Instead, cats much prefer stable, predictable environments, ideally ones they’ve marked with their [comforting pheromones](https://www.feliway.com/ca_en/Products/What-Are-Cat-Pheromones). This provides a sense of security and familiarity that cats love. With all this in mind, it’s important to consider how many changes you make while keeping your house clean as your cats may not react well to lots of changes at once. Fortunately, there are a number of steps you can take to ensure a happy household for all! ![White and ginger cat watching a human cleaning.](https://blog.feliway.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Article_Image-shutterstock_2329980901.jpg?width=649&height=341&name=Blog_Article_Image-shutterstock_2329980901.jpg) ## Minimizing** the Impact of Cleaning on Your Cat** When it comes to spring-cleaning, remember these tips for a cat-friendly home: ### Safe Cleaning Practices When selecting cleaning products, ensure they’re safe for cats. Avoid harsh chemicals like bleach, quaternary ammonium, and phenols, as these can be harmful if digested by your cat. Opt for natural alternatives like baking soda and vinegar, and always store cleaning products securely and out of your cat’s reach. If your cat does ingest something harmful, contact your vet immediately with the product label in hand. ### Cleaning Around Your Cat Try to clean rooms when your cat isn’t in them. This helps avoid stress from the noise and activity associated with cleaning. ### Maintain a Familiar Scent It’s a good idea to wash your cat’s bedding, but make sure to always leave one item unwashed in their sleeping area. Having something that smells of them is essential for providing comfort and helping your cat to feel secure. ![Cat watching a human cleaning the carpet.](https://blog.feliway.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Article_Image-shutterstock_1289961718.jpg?width=602&height=316&name=Blog_Article_Image-shutterstock_1289961718.jpg) ### Give FELIWAY *Optimum a Go* Keeping a house clean with cats can be tricky, but using a [FELIWAY *Optimum*](https://www.feliway.com/ca_en/Products/feliway-optimum) diffuser can help your cat to feel more serene and peaceful. Simply plug the pheromone diffuser into an electrical socket in the room your cat spends the most time in and FELIWAY *Optimum* will do its thing! ### Creating a Safe Haven On a similar note, ensure your cat has a quiet and safe space they can retreat to during cleaning. If this space is different from their usual spot, move your FELIWAY *Optimum* diffuser over to the new space. ### Be Mindful of Small Items After decluttering, ensure any small or potentially harmful items like batteries and plastic bags are out of reach. These can be a danger to inquisitive cats and can be easy to overlook. ### Inspect and Rotate Toys Spring cleaning is a great opportunity to check your cat’s toys for wear and tear, replacing them if needed. It can also be a good idea to keep some toys packed away as putting toys on a rotation helps to [keep your cat’s interest piqued](https://blog.feliway.com/ca_en/how-to-keep-kitty-entertained-at-home?hsLang=en-ca). ![Cat chasing a cleaning duster.](https://blog.feliway.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Article_Image-shutterstock_2071199921.jpg?width=633&height=332&name=Blog_Article_Image-shutterstock_2071199921.jpg) ### Manage Shedding We hear a lot of cat parents asking how to keep their houses clean of cat hair around this time of year, and it’s no wonder! With the warmer weather, outdoor cats in particular begin to shed their winter coats. Regular grooming sessions will help to remove loose hair, while vacuuming will help to keep the house clean. Just remember, vacuum noise can be frightening, so do this when your cat is out of the room and keep to predictable times. For extra support, you could also try spraying [FELIWAY ](https://www.feliway.com/ca_en/Products/feliway-classic-spray)*[Classic](https://www.feliway.com/ca_en/Products/feliway-classic-spray) *in your cat’s safe spaces. ### Resource Assessment  While decluttering, it’s a sensible time to evaluate your cat’s resources. This includes their food and water bowls, litter trays, and scratching posts. While these should all be cleaned regularly, you can use this opportunity to give them a deeper clean and inspect for any damage. Likewise, double-check they’re all still the best size for your cat. Kittens can grow quickly, and it might be time for a bigger litter tray! ### Add Cat-Friendly Décor If adding [plants or flowers](https://blog.feliway.com/ca_en/what-cat-friendly-plants-can-i-have-in-my-home?hsLang=en-ca) post-cleaning, ensure they’re suitable for a cat-friendly home. Be cautious with air fresheners too, as strong scents can be off-putting to cats’ sensitive noses. ### Window Safety If airing out rooms, be mindful of open windows. [Indoor cats can be nosy](https://blog.feliway.com/ca_en/when-indoor-cats-want-to-go-outside?hsLang=en-ca) and might be unable to resist the temptation of exploring. ![Cat watching a human vacuuming.](https://blog.feliway.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Article_Image-shutterstock_2079622543.jpg?width=649&height=341&name=Blog_Article_Image-shutterstock_2079622543.jpg) ## **Recognizing Signs of an Unhappy Cat** When it comes to spring cleaning, remember that cats will often hide how they feel. They can still be distressed or unhappy even if you don’t notice at first glance. There are, however, a number of subtle hints we can look out for to check in on how our cats are coping. [Signs of stress](https://blog.feliway.com/ca_en/14-ways-to-comfort-your-cat-in-stressful-situations?hsLang=en-ca) in cats can include [hiding ](https://blog.feliway.com/ca_en/why-do-cats-hide-and-what-can-you-do-about-it?hsLang=en-ca)more than usual, changes in eating habits, and increased vocalization. Keep an eye out for these behaviours as you clean and rearrange your home.  If you do notice your cat is hiding after all this cleaning, it’s best to leave them to come out in their own time. You shouldn’t force your cat into any situations they’re uncomfortable with as this is only likely to distress them further. Instead, concentrate on creating a serene, cat-friendly home for your cat to relax in. FELIWAY *Optimum* could be your cat’s best friend here! **Are you looking for more tips on helping your cat settle in at home? [Get in touch](https://www.feliway.com/ca_en/Footer-links/Contact-us) and we’ll be happy to share all the advice we can! You can also stay informed with all the latest information about ****FELIWAY *****Optimum***** ****and all our products by [signing up to our newsletter](https://share.hsforms.com/1Vmq0Rw1cTvC-tEP55q5pRQ2lmh3). ** Share on: ## Related posts #### [Fireworks How Do I Know If My Cat Is Scared of Fireworks? It feels like summer was only yesterday, yet somehow New Year’s Eve is already just round the ...](https://blog.feliway.com/ca_en/how-do-i-know-if-my-cat-is-scared-of-fireworks?hsLang=en-ca) #### [Cat Needs Cat Scared of Guests? Create a Relaxing Environment at Home Do you find yourself asking ‘why is my cat hiding?’ when guests visit your home? If your cat is ...](https://blog.feliway.com/ca_en/cat-scared-of-guests-create-a-relaxing-environment-at-home?hsLang=en-ca) #### [Cat Needs Why Won’t My Cat Play With Me? 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