Final Up to date on: Might 1, 2023 by Crystal Uys
Whereas cats can sleep between 12–16 hours a day, they nonetheless require loads of train and leisure to remain completely happy and stop boredom. Bored cats and cats that don’t get sufficient train ultimately begin to expertise damaging well being points, together with stress, weight achieve, and despair.
Due to this fact, it’s vital for indoor cats to have a number of alternatives a day to get some train and leisure. Totally different cats can have totally different preferences on what they discover enjoyable and interesting. Listed here are some methods you may make your own home and your cat’s every day routine extra entertaining and thrilling.
Our 10 Favourite Methods to Entertain Your Indoor Cat:
1. Rotate Their Toys
Whereas it’s good to have your cat play with new toys, shopping for new cat toys can get fairly costly. Happily, you’ll be able to simply purchase a number of toys and rotate them in order that the enjoyable lasts longer. As an alternative of laying out all of the cat toys, simply have one or two out to your cat to play with and retailer the remainder away. After enjoying with the identical toys for a few days, you’ll be able to change them with different toys. This rotation will make the toys really feel like new, and your cat is extra more likely to get pleasure from enjoying with them for longer.
You may also sprinkle catnip or silvervine on the toys to encourage your cat to play with them. It’s useful to order these treats for sure elements of the day in order that your cat has one thing additional particular to sit up for when enjoying with their toys.
2. Disguise Meals Across the Home
Cats are obligate carnivores and hunters, so part of their pure intuition is to cover, stalk, and pounce on their prey. They’ve very delicate noses and powerful statement abilities, so offering alternatives that interact their senses and searching abilities can forestall boredom. You are able to do this by hiding treats or cat meals round the home.
Distributing meals round the home will encourage cats to scent out and “hunt” for his or her meals. You may also deal with shelling out toys and conceal some dry cat meals in them. These kinds of actions present rather more stimulation and pleasure for cats relatively than feeding them their meals in stationary meals bowls.
3. Add a Window Perch
In case your cat doesn’t have a secure space the place they’ll do some window watching, they’ll most definitely admire having a window perch put in. You will discover a number of totally different sorts of window perches at various value factors, so it’s very doable to search out one that matches inside your finances.
Be sure that to put in the window perch on a window that has some motion outdoors. Examples of fine views would come with the yard, close by bushes, or sidewalks with an honest degree of foot site visitors. Your cat’s curiosity can be satiated as they watch all of the motion occurring outdoors whereas staying safely indoors.
4. Activate Cat TV Exhibits
You may also convey the outside inside by turning on a cat TV present. There are every kind of video clips particularly made for cats that yow will discover on YouTube. Most of these movies will function totally different sorts of issues that can pique your cat’s curiosity.
For instance, you’ll discover many movies with clips and graphics of squiggly worms, mice, and bugs scuttling throughout the display. These movies can also comprise nature noises like chicken whistling. Simply be watchful of your cat while you activate these applications as a result of they could be tempted to pounce in your TV display.
5. Save Cardboard Packing containers
Most cats get pleasure from dim and comfy areas, which is why you’ll discover many cats having enjoyable with cardboard bins. So, the subsequent time you obtain a cargo within the mail or end a field of soda cans, save the bins and use them as toys to your cat. You possibly can even put bedding or pillows contained in the bins to make them heat and cozy.
When you’ve got a number of bins, attempt utilizing scissors to chop entrance holes and duct tape to connect them collectively. It’s an ideal low-cost method to construct an entertaining cat condominium or tunnel to your cat to play inside.
6. Create Extra Vertical Areas
Most cat breeds prefer to climb and observe their environment from increased vantage factors. When you’ve got a smaller residing area, you may make it extra cat pleasant by including extra vertical areas. Vertical areas could be created by putting in cabinets, changing bookcases to cat platforms, or including a cat tree to your own home.
Your cat can have enjoyable climbing and leaping from platform to platform, which might even be an ideal type of train for them. As soon as your cat will get used to utilizing its new vertical areas, you too can add cat bins and securely connect them to the platform. Your cat will love having new hiding areas and napping spots which can be above the bottom.
7. Set up a Birdfeeder
Putting in a chicken feeder close to a window also can present leisure to your cat. When putting in a chicken feeder, attempt to hold it a number of toes away from the window. It will really feel much less threatening for birds and encourage them to method the birdfeeder. Cats may also benefit from the view higher. Whereas cats have wonderful imaginative and prescient, they’ll’t see as nicely up shut and have bother seeing issues which can be inside a foot away from them. They’ll have rather more appreciation for a chicken feeder that’s put in at a distance in order that they’ve a transparent view of all of the motion.
8. Set Up an Out of doors Cat Run
When you’ve got a yard, it could be useful to arrange an outside cat run. Out of doors cat runs are fully enclosed buildings that additionally usually present platforms for cats to climb on. They’re a secure different to having your cat roaming open air and risking them operating away.
When utilizing an outside cat run, be sure that to at all times supervise your cats. Their curiosity could put them in precarious conditions, or they may appeal to different bigger animals to your yard. In case your cat exhibits any signal of misery, take away them from the cat run and produce them again indoors calmly and instantly.
9. Train Your Cat to Stroll on a Leash
When you’ve got a very courageous, social, and lively cat, they can be taught to stroll on a leash. When coaching a cat to stroll on a leash, it’s vital to discover a harness that matches each comfortably and securely. You’ll have to begin with getting your cat used to sporting a harness earlier than attaching the leash. Use loads of treats to reward your cat each time they arrive close to the harness or are sporting it. Finally, you’ll have the ability to connect a leash and stroll your cat open air.
Begin by strolling your cat in an space that’s near your own home. You can begin to develop your vary as your cat turns into extra snug. Simply remember the fact that strolling a cat may be very totally different from strolling a canine. Your cat will not be more likely to stroll by your aspect. So, occurring walks together with your cat will look extra like having your cat on a leash and permitting them to discover their environment.
10. Introduce Your Cat to New Mates
Some cats have extra social personalities and don’t thoughts assembly new individuals or residing with one other cat. When you discover that your cat is feeling bored, you could need to think about bringing house a brand new playmate. Nonetheless, it’s vital to make sure that your cat has a social persona and likes being round different cats. Bringing house a brand new cat to stay with an introverted cat can find yourself inflicting extra misery and points inside the house.
Cats can generally be extra snug round individuals than different cats. If that is so, invite pals over in order that your cat can obtain extra consideration. It might even be useful to ask pals to observe your cat or rent a cat sitter for those who plan to be away from house for lengthy hours in order that your cat isn’t alone and feeling anxious or bored.
Conclusion
There are many issues that you are able to do to convey extra leisure to your cat into your own home. Making changes, like putting in a window perch or hiding treats round the home, could make a world of distinction to your cat.
So, for those who discover that your cat is feeling bored or has pent-up power, attempt making some changes to your own home or their every day routine to include extra stimulating actions. Your cat will remember to admire the new enrichment actions, and these new additions will solely assist create and keep a contented and peaceable house for you and your cat.
Featured Picture Credit score: Boyloso, Shutterstock
Concerning the creator
Cat mother to Ivy – a feisty little rescue kitten that’s her one and solely baby. For now! All through her life, she has been launched to the particular love that may be discovered within the bond with a cat. Having owned a number of felines, she is greater than sure that their love is unmatched, unconditional and in contrast to every other. With a ardour to teach the general public about all the things, there may be to learn about felines, their conduct, and their distinctive personalities, Crystal is devoted to creating positive that each one cats and their house owners know the significance of aware residing – and loving!