Tips on how to Hold an Indoor Cat Entertained (10 Superior Ideas & Concepts)
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 joyful and forestall boredom. Bored cats and cats that don’t get sufficient train ultimately begin to expertise detrimental well being points, together with stress, weight acquire, and despair.
Due to this fact, it’s essential for indoor cats to have a number of alternatives a day to get some train and leisure. Completely different cats may have completely different preferences on what they discover enjoyable and fascinating. Listed below are some methods you can also make your private home and your cat’s each 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. Luckily, you possibly can simply purchase a number of toys and rotate them in order that the enjoyable lasts longer. As a substitute of laying out all of the cat toys, simply have one or two out on your cat to play with and retailer the remainder away. After enjoying with the identical toys for a few days, you possibly can change them with different toys. This rotation will make the toys really feel like new, and your cat is extra more likely to take pleasure in 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 look ahead to when enjoying with their toys.
2. Cover 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 remark 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 meting out toys and conceal some dry cat meals in them. These types 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 more than likely recognize having a window perch put in. You could find a number of completely different sorts of window perches at various value factors, so it’s very doable to seek out one that matches inside your price range.
Make certain to put in the window perch on a window that has some motion exterior. Examples of excellent views would come with the yard, close by bushes, or sidewalks with a good degree of foot site visitors. Your cat’s curiosity will likely be satiated as they watch all of the motion occurring exterior 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 all types of video clips particularly made for cats that you will discover on YouTube. Some of these movies will function completely different sorts of issues that may 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 screen. These movies can also comprise nature noises like chicken whistling. Simply be watchful of your cat if you activate these packages as a result of they might be tempted to pounce in your TV display screen.
5. Save Cardboard Packing containers
Most cats take pleasure in dim and comfortable areas, which is why you’ll discover many cats having enjoyable with cardboard containers. So, the following time you obtain a cargo within the mail or end a field of soda cans, save the containers and use them as toys on your cat. You’ll be able to even put bedding or pillows contained in the containers to make them heat and comfy.
In case you have a number of containers, strive utilizing scissors to chop entrance holes and duct tape to connect them collectively. It’s an awesome low-cost technique to construct an entertaining cat condominium or tunnel on your cat to play inside.
6. Create Extra Vertical Areas
Most cat breeds prefer to climb and observe their environment from greater vantage factors. In case you have a smaller dwelling house, you can also make it extra cat pleasant by including extra vertical areas. Vertical areas will be created by putting in cabinets, changing bookcases to cat platforms, or including a cat tree to your private home.
Your cat may have enjoyable climbing and leaping from platform to platform, which might even be an awesome type of train for them. As soon as your cat will get used to utilizing its new vertical areas, you can even add cat containers and securely connect them to the platform. Your cat will love having new hiding areas and napping spots which are above the bottom.
7. Set up a Birdfeeder
Putting in a chicken feeder close to a window may also present leisure on your cat. When putting in a chicken feeder, attempt to maintain it a number of toes away from the window. This may really feel much less threatening for birds and encourage them to method the birdfeeder. Cats may even benefit from the view higher. Whereas cats have wonderful imaginative and prescient, they can’t see as well up close and have hassle seeing issues which are 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
In case you have a yard, it is likely to be useful to arrange an outside cat run. Out of doors cat runs are fully enclosed constructions that additionally usually present platforms for cats to climb on. They’re a secure various to having your cat roaming outdoor and risking them operating away.
When utilizing an outside cat run, be sure that to all the time supervise your cats. Their curiosity might put them in precarious conditions, or they may entice different bigger animals to your yard. In case your cat reveals any signal of misery, take away them from the cat run and produce them again indoors calmly and instantly.
9. Educate Your Cat to Stroll on a Leash
In case you have 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 essential 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 at any time when they arrive close to the harness or are sporting it. Finally, you’ll be capable of connect a leash and stroll your cat outdoor.
Begin by strolling your cat in an space that’s near your private home. You can begin to increase your vary as your cat turns into extra snug. Simply needless to say strolling a cat may be very completely different from strolling a canine. Your cat isn’t 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 Buddies
Some cats have extra social personalities and don’t thoughts assembly new individuals or dwelling with one other cat. When you discover that your cat is feeling bored, chances are you’ll need to take into account bringing residence a brand new playmate. Nonetheless, it’s essential to make sure that your cat has a social persona and likes being round different cats. Bringing residence a brand new cat to reside with an introverted cat can find yourself inflicting extra misery and points throughout the residence.
Cats can typically be extra snug round individuals than different cats. If that is so, invite mates over in order that your cat can obtain extra consideration. It might even be useful to ask mates to observe your cat or rent a cat sitter should you plan to be away from residence 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 on your cat into your private home. Making changes, like putting in a window perch or hiding treats round the home, could make a world of distinction on your cat.
So, should you discover that your cat is feeling bored or has pent-up vitality, strive making some changes to your private home or their each day routine to include extra stimulating actions. Your cat will you should definitely recognize the brand new enrichment actions, and these new additions will solely assist create and preserve a cheerful and peaceable residence for you and your cat.
Featured Picture Credit score: Boyloso, Shutterstock
In regards to the creator
Cat mother to Ivy – a feisty little rescue kitten that’s her one and solely little one. 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 another. With a ardour to coach the general public about the whole lot, there may be to find out about felines, their habits, and their distinctive personalities, Crystal is devoted to creating positive that each one cats and their house owners know the significance of aware dwelling – and loving!
