译/陈康

Like humans, cats have needs in order to make them feel happy and secure.To help understand the “core resources”your cat needs, think about when you move to a new apartment/house.

猫和人类一样有着各种需求，以享受乐趣，获得安全感。为了帮助你了解猫所需的“核心资源”，不妨想象一下自己迁入新居的场景。

2What do you do to feel comfortable and make this new place your home?Typically we clean, stock1stock 存货，贮备，贮存（食物等）。the bathroom and kitchen, make up our bed with our own sheets and pillows, and then decorate with curtains, pictures, and personal items.

2想要过得舒适惬意，让新居有家的感觉，你会怎么做呢？通常我们会打扫卫生，备齐浴室和厨房用品。我们会用自己的床单和枕头铺好床，再配上窗帘、照片以及个人物件。

3Your cat’s needs are similar and you want to make sure you have an environment that makes your cat feel comfortable.

3你的爱猫也有类似的需求。你要给它也提供一个舒适惬意的环境。

Meeting the needs of your cat

Safe place

4Every cat needs a safe and secure place where it can retreat to so that it feels protected or which can be used as a resting area.The cat should have the ability to exit and enter the space from at least two sides if it feels threatened.Most cats prefer that the safe space is big enough to fit only themselves, has sides around it, and is raised off the ground.

满足猫的需求

安全场所

4每只猫都需要一处安全可靠的场所，用于藏身以获得保护，或休息区。如果猫察觉到威胁，应至少可以从两个方向出入。空间大小与体型相当，四周有遮挡且高于地面，这样的安全空间往往更受猫的青睐。

Multiple and separated key resources

5Key resources include food, water,toileting areas, scratching areas, play areas, and resting or sleeping areas.These resources should be separated from each other so that cats have free access without being challenged by other cats or other potential threats.

多样且分开放置的关键资源

5关键资源包括食物、水、排泄区、抓挠区、娱乐区和休息或睡眠区。这些资源应分开放置，以便猫自由使用，而不会受到其他猫或其他潜在威胁的影响。

Opportunity for play and predatory2predatory捕食性的。 behavior

6Play and predatory behaviors allow cats to fulfill their natural need to hunt.Play can be stimulated with the use of interactive toys that mimic prey.Cats need to be able to capture the “prey”, at least intermittently3intermittently断断续续地，间歇性地。, to prevent frustration.Using food puzzles or food balls can mimic the action of hunting for prey, and provides more natural eating behavior.

游戏与捕食机会

6游戏和捕食行为可满足猫的狩猎天性。我们可以使用模拟猎物的互动玩具来刺激猫的游戏欲望。为了防止猫产生挫败感，至少要时不时地让猫能够捕获“猎物”。我们也可以使用食物拼图或漏食球来模拟狩猎行为，让猫的进食过程更加符合天性。

Positive, consistent, and predictable4predictable可预见的，意料之中的。 human-cat social interaction

7Cats’ individual preferences determine how much they like human interactions such as petting, grooming, being played with or talked to, being picked up, and sitting or lying on a person’s lap.

与猫保持积极、持续、可预料的交际互动

7猫的个体偏好决定了它对互动行为的喜爱程度，如抚摸、梳理毛发、陪玩聊天、被抱在怀里、坐在或者趴在人类腿上。

An environment that respects the importance of the cat’s sense of smell

尊重猫嗅觉的环境

8猫使用嗅觉评估周围环境，这一点和人类不同。它们通过摩擦脸和身体来留下气味，利用摩擦时分泌出的自然信息素来划定让自己感到安全踏实的领地范围。因此，要避免清除这些区域内的气味。有些气味对猫来说意味着威胁（即陌生的动物气味，芳香制品或清洁剂的味道），这会导致问题行为，比如不在猫砂盆里小便，乱抓乱挠等。

8Unlike humans, cats use their sense of smell to evaluate their surroundings.Cats mark their scent by rubbing their face and body, which deposits natural pheromones5pheromone 信息素（动物释放的化学物质，能影响或吸引其他同类生物的行为）。to establish boundaries within which they feel safe and secure.Avoid cleaning their scent off these areas.Some smells can be threatening to cats (i.e.unfamiliar animals, or scented products or cleaners)which may lead to problematic behaviors such as urinating outside of the litter box or scratching in undesirable areas.

Five items for a secure environment for your cat

Food

Predictable meal times and individual food bowls for each cat in your household.

Water

Clean fresh water in a location that is appealing to your cat.

Toilet

A convenient, clean, and private litter box to serve your kitty.

As a general rule of thumb6a rule of thumb 实用的估算方法，经验工作法（常依据经验而非准确测量）。, the number of litter boxes should be one more than the number of cats in your household.Many cats prefer a larger litter box that is one and a half times the length of their body, and at least one and a half inches deep.Litter should be scooped at least once daily.

Safe Place to Sleep

Soft bedding, as well as familiar smells and sounds, provides security for your cat.Some cats also like to be provided with soft, cozy places to hide.

为猫营造舒适环境的五要素

食物

给家里的每一只猫都安排固定的用餐时间和专属猫碗。

水

将干净新鲜的水置于猫喜欢的位置。

猫厕

配备方便、清洁的专属猫砂盆。

根据经验来看，家里猫砂盆的数量应该比猫的数量多一个。很多猫都喜欢大一点的猫砂盆，其长度应该是猫体长的1.5 倍，深度不低于1.5 英寸。猫砂至少每天清理一次。

安全的睡眠场所

柔软的睡垫、熟悉的气味和声音会让猫有安全感。有些猫也喜欢主人给它们提供柔软舒适的藏身之处。

Familiar Territory

Face-rubbing and scratching surfaces leaves your cat’s scent, and marks the territory with a personal touch.Be sure to supply plenty of scratching posts to encourage appropriate scratching.

熟悉的领地

猫会通过蹭脸或抓挠来留下气味，以自己的方式标记领地。一定要提供足够的猫抓柱来鼓励适当的抓挠行为。

9家里的每一只猫都需要以上全套资源。有些资源可以几只猫共享，但需要精准地评估每只猫与家里其他猫之间的关系。这些资源应设置在人较少走动的区域，避免过多噪声（即远离嘈杂的洗衣区）。出入通道应不少于两个，使猫在察觉到威胁后或在紧张状态下得以逃脱。我们还应给猫提供游戏的机会，以满足其捕猎和追踪猎物的天性，为其身心提供兴奋刺激。 □

9Each cat in your household needs a complete set of the resources listed above.There can be some overlap, but sharing requires that you have an accurate assessment of each cat’s relationship with the other cats in your household.These resources should be located in a low traffic areas, which is free of excess noise (i.e.not near a noisy laundry area),and has at least two ways where your cat can enter or leave.This allows your cat to flee or escape if they feel threatened or stressed.Cats also need to be provided with the opportunity to play in order to allow them to fulfill their natural need to hunt and stalk, as well as provide mental and physical stimulation.■