Living in a small apartment with a cat doesn’t have to feel limiting — in fact, it’s kind of perfect. Cats don’t need sprawling fields or staircases (though they wouldn’t say no). What they really need is height, coziness, a few strategic hiding spots… and a bit of imagination from you. Whether your cat is a couch potato or a full-blown parkour athlete, there are lots of easy ways to keep them busy, enriched, and happy — without sacrificing your sanity or style.
Here are a few cozy-tested, cat-approved ideas for making your apartment feel like a feline playground.
1. Use Your Walls: Catify Vertically
When you’re short on floor space, look up. Wall space is your best friend when living in a small place with a cat. You can install cat shelves, ledges, or even use existing furniture creatively.
Cats naturally want to perch, observe, and nap where they feel safe and above the action. Add a few staggered wall-mounted platforms or even a tall bookshelf with a cleared-off top, and suddenly you’ve got an indoor climbing gym that doesn’t clutter your floors.
Bonus points if it leads to a cozy sunny window. Cats + sunshine = true love.
2. Rotate Toys (It’s Like Netflix for Cats)
You don’t need 100 different toys out at once. In fact, that just creates clutter — and your cat will probably ignore half of them. Instead, keep just 3–4 toys available at a time, and rotate weekly.
This keeps things exciting for them and tidy for you.
Toys with feathers, catnip, jingles, and unpredictable movement tend to be favorites. You can also DIY simple ones with things like crumpled paper, wine corks, or toilet roll tubes (honestly, sometimes I think my cat prefers these to anything I buy).
3. Create a Cozy Nook (or Two)
Cats love nooks. If they had a Pinterest board, it’d be all nooks, baskets, and boxes.
Even in a small apartment, you can carve out a few little spaces that are just for them. Think: a soft blanket under a chair, a cardboard box with a cushion inside, or a fabric tote hung low enough to climb into.
If you have a windowsill, consider adding a perch or mini hammock. A cozy sunspot can entertain a cat for hours, especially if there are birds outside to watch. (And yes, a bird feeder on your fire escape is technically for your cat.)
4. Enrichment Doesn’t Have to Be Fancy
Scratching posts, puzzle feeders, treat-hiding games… these are all great ways to keep indoor cats stimulated. And they don’t have to take up much space. A vertical cardboard scratcher on the wall, a slow-feeder bowl, or a small tray with paper bags and a few hidden treats can make your cat’s day.
Even your furniture can become cat furniture. If your cat likes jumping, create little “routes” across shelves or couch arms. If they like burrowing, throw a lightweight blanket on a chair and let them tunnel.
And if you’re working from home, just putting a spare chair beside your desk can make your cat feel like they’re part of the action. (Because they are.)
Final Thoughts
Cats are excellent apartment companions — calm, adaptable, and always ready for a nap. With a little creativity, your small space can feel like a castle to them. Whether it’s a wall shelf jungle or just a box by the heater, the key is making space for their instincts: climbing, hiding, scratching, and observing.
So don’t stress about square footage. Your cat isn’t judging your layout — they’re just happy to be near you (and maybe steal your seat when you get up).