By nature cats love to explore and chase after prey. They love climbing, balancing, and perching on high places. Cats are self-reliant but they can be good social creatures.

It is a fact that bringing cats into our home can inhibit some of their natural instincts. By keeping your pet indoors rather than giving him free rein to roam the yard to hunt for prey, you are making him unhappy. However, keeping your cat indoors is also a way to protect him from diseases, parasites and other animals.

Faced with this dilemma, you can choose to make a healthy and natural indoor environment for your cat. Houston Vets can provide lots of information on cat care and here are some ways to help you:

1. Install scratching posts in places where your cat usually spends time. Scratching helps shed their claws' outer layer while sharpening them. It is also their way of marking their territory.

2. Give your cat a high perch where he can observe everything that's going on in his environment.

3.  Give them time to play and rest. Playing with other pets or with you helps develop their socialization skills while rest time gives them a chance to recharge and have some "me" time.