A research-backed
home for apartment
cat owners.
Practical, evidence-based guides for urban cat owners — written by someone who has lived the small-space cat experience firsthand, for over a decade.
What is MyCityCat, and who created it?
MyCityCat is an apartment cat care resource created by Emma L — a lifelong cat owner and apartment cat-care researcher who has spent over a decade raising indoor cats in small city apartments. Emma built MyCityCat to give urban cat owners the practical, research-backed, apartment-tested guidance that didn’t exist when she needed it most — combining real hands-on experience with veterinary and feline behavioral science sources.
Meet Emma L
How MyCityCat began
Growing up with cats — then moving to the city
Hi, I’m Emma — a lifelong cat lover. Growing up, cats were always part of the family. But after moving into my first city apartment, I had to completely rethink how I cared for them.
Space was limited. Noise traveled through walls. Furniture had to serve multiple purposes. I quickly realized that apartment cat living requires creativity, patience, and a much deeper understanding of feline behavior than I’d ever needed before.
When I searched for help, I found almost nothing written for my situation. Most cat advice assumed a backyard. A spare room. Space that simply didn’t exist.
- Can cats really be happy in small apartments?
- How do you keep indoor cats active without outdoor access?
- Where should a litter box go in a studio apartment?
- How do you create enough stimulation in a limited space?
- Can apartment cats live healthy and fulfilling lives indoors?
A decade of trial, error, and real-world testing
So I figured it out myself — experimenting with different layouts, vertical climbing setups, enrichment ideas, cleaning routines, and indoor play strategies over several years. I also fostered rescue cats transitioning to indoor life, which deepened my understanding of feline behavior and stress in compact environments.
From personal experience to a resource for everyone
Eventually, friends, neighbors, and fellow renters started asking me for advice. That’s when I realized thousands of apartment cat owners were searching for the same answers I once needed. I created MyCityCat to be the practical, research-backed resource I always wished existed.
10+ years of apartment cat life — not theory
The advice on MyCityCat comes from real situations I lived through. Here’s the experience behind the content.
Bringing home my first cat to a compact city apartment with no outdoor access and no idea how to set up an indoor cat environment. This period of trial and error — wrong litter choices, no vertical space, bored cats — became the foundation for MyCityCat’s setup guides.
Fostering cats moving from shelter or outdoor environments into apartment living deepened my understanding of feline stress signals, environmental adjustment, and what indoor enrichment actually means for cats at different life stages. This experience now shapes the behavior content on MyCityCat.
Over the years, I’ve layered hands-on apartment cat experience with serious research — studying AAFP guidelines, peer-reviewed feline behavioral studies, and welfare science from organizations like International Cat Care and the ASPCA. Everything published on MyCityCat combines both.
Across multiple apartments and years of iteration, I’ve personally tested cat walls, climbing structures, litter products, air purifiers, and enrichment tools in real small-space homes. If it’s recommended on MyCityCat, I’ve used it myself.
I launched MyCityCat as the apartment-first cat resource I always wished existed. Every guide, article, and recommendation draws directly on 10+ years of indoor cat experience in urban apartments — combined with research from the veterinary and animal welfare community.
Everything for apartment cat life
Every topic on MyCityCat comes from real apartment experience — practical, city-tested, and built for owners navigating the specific challenges of indoor small-space cat living.
Practical daily care tips tailored specifically to apartment and small-space living — not advice written for large homes.
Climbing setups, puzzle feeders, toy rotations, and activity ideas that keep indoor cats mentally and physically engaged.
Proven strategies to eliminate litter box smell in compact apartments — from litter selection to air purification.
Understanding what your indoor cat’s behavior signals — and how apartment environments shape their mood and needs.
Navigating pet deposits, landlord conversations, apartment modifications, and lease considerations for cat owners.
A calm starting point for new cat owners in apartments — covering setup, routines, vet care, and what to expect.
How I create content
MyCityCat is not a content farm. Every article is written or reviewed by me and held to four standards before it publishes.
I only write about situations I’ve personally encountered or directly researched through established veterinary and behavioral science sources. If I haven’t lived it or verified it, it doesn’t go on the site.
All health, behavior, and nutrition content is cross-referenced against guidance from the AAFP, ASPCA, International Cat Care, the Humane Society, and peer-reviewed animal behavior research before going live.
Product recommendations reflect genuine personal experience. I don’t accept payment to recommend products, and affiliate relationships never influence my editorial judgment.
I review and update articles when new veterinary guidance, product changes, or reader feedback makes an update necessary. Publish dates and last-reviewed dates are shown on every guide.
Where the information comes from
MyCityCat content draws on real apartment cat experience combined with established veterinary and behavioral science sources. Below are the primary external references I consult and recommend.
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American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) — the leading professional organization for cat veterinary care. I reference their feline environmental needs guidelines for all enrichment and indoor care content. catvets.com
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ASPCA — animal welfare guidance and behavioral resources referenced throughout cat behavior and adoption content. aspca.org
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International Cat Care (iCatCare) — UK-based charity and professional body focused on cat welfare science. I use their indoor cat enrichment and behavioral research extensively. icatcare.org
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Humane Society of the United States — practical guidance on cat behavior, adoption, and indoor cat care referenced in first-time owner and rescue content. humanesociety.org
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Cornell Feline Health Center — Cornell University’s cat health research center provides peer-reviewed guidance on indoor cat health, behavior, and nutrition. Cornell CFHC
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Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery — peer-reviewed academic journal referenced for behavioral science content, enrichment effectiveness, and health-related guides.
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Ellis, S. et al. — “The AAFP and ISFM Feline Environmental Needs Guidelines” (JFMS, 2013) — the foundational framework for all indoor enrichment guides on MyCityCat.
Why I keep building this
Whether you live in a tiny studio, a downtown high-rise, or a shared rental space — I hope MyCityCat makes life with your cat easier, calmer, and more joyful. Every piece of content I publish is driven by a single question: does this actually help an apartment cat owner? If the answer isn’t yes, it doesn’t go on the site.
I’d love to hear from you
Have a question about apartment cat life? A topic you’d like me to cover? Or perhaps you just want to share what’s working for your indoor cat? I read every message.