Well, it is true that cats sleep a lot, up to 16 hours a day. But those hours kitty is awake? They can be difficult for kitty and owner alike. Just like dogs, bored kitty's can be destructive, chewing on cords or other objects, scratching furniture and getting into places they shouldn't be. It is a good idea to try to provide a stimulating environment for you cat. This will keep him or her mentally healthy. And hopefully will also encourage exercise to help minimize the risk of obesity that is so prevalent in our cat population.
Cats are climbers. They are also very visual and like to be able to see outside to identify what is causing the various sounds and smells they are experiencing. Cat perches, trees or strategically placed furniture will help your cat to experience a variety of heights and viewpoints. There are many plans available online for do-it-yourself cat trees and perches. Sometimes you may just want to think about furniture placement. For example, in our house low bookcases are placed under a couple of windows with the top shelf left empty or with a soft blanket on top. This gives our cat, Shadow, a great place to watch the birds and bugs outside as well as a cozy, safe place to sleep up off the floor. We have also included some bird feeders in our landscaping and butterfly attracting plants. Not only do we enjoy the wildlife that visit our yard, Shadow loves to watch. This is a great time to hear the wide vocal range that cats have as they chirp and chitter at the birds and bugs.
Is your cat a bird hunter, mouse hunter or bug hunter? Does she seem to have a preference for one style of play over another? You may not have noticed but most cats do have a prey preference and this can be determined by trying out different styles of toys to determine which is their favorite. Suggestions for how to determine your cats prey preference can be found at http://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats/basicneeds/preypref/index.cfm. Once you determine which prey your cat prefers you can then chose, or create toys that appeal to that preference. For example, if your cat prefers to "hunt" birds then you can chose toys that chirp or sing like a bird. Toys attached to strings or sticks are also fun for these cats as they leap and bat at the toy above their heads.
Toys do not need to be expensive. Milk carton caps, crumpled balls of paper, toilet paper rolls and laser pointers are all objects from around your house that can easily become a favorite cat toy. Most cats are like kids. They do best with a collection of toys were they are regularly rotated. For example, make up a toy box for your cat. Each week pick out two or three toys for your cat to play with. One week later, put those toys away and bring out two or three new toys. And remember, while cats may not be as obviously social as our dogs they still enjoy interacting with their family. So try and spend a little time actively playing with your cat, with a cat dancer toy, flashlight or ball. You and they will reap the benefits of this simple play time.
How do you feed your cat? Most of us probably just put food in a bowl and walk away. But there may be a way to make feeding your cat more like a game for the cat. Not all cats will be happy with this, especially those that really need a safe quiet place to feel comfortable eating. But for those more adventurous cats stimulating the "hunt" instinct is another great way to provide some stimulation and exercise. There are a couple of ways to use dinner as a way to create a game. The first is to provide multiple small amounts of food in multiple locations around the house. Obviously, this is difficult if there are dogs in the house but keeping the food elevated off the floor may solve the problem of the dog eating the cats food. Change up the locations periodically to keep your kitty on his or her toes!
Another stimulating way to feed your cats is to use a "foraging device". These are puzzle type toys that require interaction by the cat to release the food. It may take a few days for your cat to figure out how to work the device and if it has variable levels of difficulty start with the simplest setting to provide some quick positive reinforcement when the cat plays with the toy. Some examples of these toys are the "SlimCat Ball" by Multivet, OurPets' "Play and Treat Ball" and the "Fun Kitty Twist and Treat" by Premier pets. Watch a short video of a cat interacting with the "Twist and Treat".
One thing to keep in mind. All of these toys will suggest that they should be filled with treats. I would not encourage that. Cats need a very small number of calories per day. If you fill these toys with treats in addition to their usual ration in the bowl you will have a very large kitty in a very short amount of time! Rather use these toys in place of the bowl and fill them with their regular dry kibble. And always measure the amount of food you provide each day. We know from studies that we are terrible judges of portion size for ourselves. I believe that holds true for our ability to judge how much food we are giving our pets. So please measure the amount of food you give each day and consult with your veterinarian about how much is an appropriate amount for your pet.
I hope that you will take some of these tips to create some fun play time for you and your cat. Living with cats is very different from living with dogs. But we can still do more than just live in the same house as our cats. Even the quietest cat will enjoy a short game of chase the light or cat dancer. Have fun with your cats like you do your dogs!
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