Cats are known to be natural limber and curious creature. They are very playful and always active. But, some pet owners think their adult cats are dull old souls who want to nap in the sun and roam around the living room. According to experts if you play regularly with your cats and provide entertaining toys, they get easily satisfied. These also will keep them stimulated and help them exercise, which is needed to stay healthy and happy.
Here are 5 ways to entertain your cats without spending money that is feline-friendly and meets all of your cat’s need.
#1. Build a Risk-Free Outdoor Playground
Build a screened porch so your cat can experience the outdoors safely. You can buy or build a catio or an enclosure similar so you cat can have fun and enjoy the outdoors without the risks. An ordinary fence may allow other animals to enter your yard, if you want your cats out in your yard, make sure that you look after them. Don’t forget to cat proof the yard by assessing your fence and make sure that there is no escape route and no toxic plants, harmful chemicals and other objects that may harm your cat. In the UK the best place to start looking at cat proofing your garden is ProtectaPet.
#2. Put Toys Around the House
For several indoor cats, life is monotonous and boring. So you need to find a way to keep them busy and occupied as much as possible.
Some cat owners think that cats are low-maintenance pets which make the felines bored and stressed. According to Ariel Mosenco, DVM of the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Veterinary Medicine, the wrong belief has lead to an epidemic of cat obesity and stressed associated diseases like urinary tract infection. Felines need interactive play time that will give their hunting instincts satisfaction and keep them active.
It means that being a cat owner you need different kinds of toys scattered in an area where your cats pass so they can play with it. You can play fetch with your cat by throwing a toy down the stairs and let him run up and down to pick up the toy.
#3. Find Your Cat a Friend
If your cats can get along with other felines easily, you can find him a friend. You can consider adopting another cat for her. Remember it can be challenging to integrate another pet into the household, particularly if your cat is older and is the only one who holds the throne for so long. However, it is worth it to give your furry pet a friend she can grow to love. If the two cats get along together, playtime can be really fun and new games will be invented, even if you are not at home. Even if cats are solitary creatures, they enjoy having someone of the same species around. It does not matter what other people think, cats are sociable animals.
If there is another cat around, your pet will be less destructive since they will keep each other company and keep out of trouble. There is no need for them to jump and climb a lot because they have their friend to play with. They will distract each other, give twice the amount of entertainment, and you might also find them grooming each other.
Having another cat around will not just make your pet cat happier but healthier as well. They will provide each other their necessary needs like social, exercise, mental stimulation, and interaction. This will definitely get rid of their boredom.
#4. Talk to Your Cat – As If You Are Talking With Your Friend
According to a Certified Feline Behaviour Consultant Beth Adelman, talking to your cats is a good way to entertain your bored cat. Although your cat may not really understand what you are saying they will feel relaxed and satisfied as you talk to him. It may not look like playing but it is really meaningful to your cat. There are some cats who do not want to be touched, this is an important thing for them and it helps them build trust with you.
The best way to talk to your cat is to get down on his level at a distance enough that he can hear you talk. According to experts, it does not matter what you will say to him, make sure your tone and speaking voice is soft, and mention your cat’s name often. As you talk to your cat, make sure that you are relaxed and do not stare into his eyes as if you are challenging him to a staring contest. Blink slowly, particularly after your cat blinks. If your cat blinks it means that he is relaxed because he no longer feels the need to watch what you are doing. If you blink it also means that you are also relaxed.
#5. Playtime With you
You can spend some minutes with your cat playing with his favorite toy. By playing with them, your cat brains and body will be stimulated. Think of activities that will let your cat exercise her hunting instincts. Toys that look like prey like rodents are popular with cats. One of the best game cats really love is the hunting game, where you let them catch the prey as you move it towards and away from him. This will surely entertain your cat and you will be building a good bond with your pet.
There are lots of ways that you can entertain your cats without the need of spending a lot of money. Entertaining your cats will not just make them happy and physically fit but also contended on the life that they have. They will feel less stressed and may show love and appreciation to you through kneading.
You will be surprised at how creative you and your cat can get. It does not matter what you choose, what is important is that you make your cats happy and contented.
Great suggestions. Every time we move, we discover so many missing cat toys. We ended up with a big chest of cat toys. Each time a new cat joins our clowder, we test the toys on them to see which ones they like. It helps bring out their personality.
Likewise, we play games, to see which game attracts them. Some love hide and seek, and a few like chase. Many just enjoy us and a good old shoe string.
Cheers
All good suggestions.
Great post. One of the games most of our cats like is ‘Catch the hand under the duvet’ – the duvet keeps my hand safe, although it’s not so great for the duvet cover! ?
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Good morning, it’s me Sterling here! Sorry I haven’t guest blog posted with you in forever my mommy’ computer screen stopped working and she is ping to have someone look at it soon! Hope I can still be a guest blogger with you! My IG is @sterlingmeowmeow !
Hey Claire, of course no problem at all! Do let us know when you can do another guest post. 🙂
Good points, although I wouldn’t definitely say that getting another cat is the answer. Cats are sociable under certain circumstances and watching cats socialise together can be wonderful. However, cats are also incredibly territorial and competitive and introducing a new cat into a household where there’s already a cat might not always work out as we might hope, even if we think out cat gets on with other cats.
The way to minimise opportunities for stress between cats is to introduce them very slowly and thereafter ensure they have enough resources such as toys, beds, litter trays, scratching posts, feeding and drinking stations to reduce competition.
We only got our 1st cat around 6 months ago and she has been wonderful. She loves to play and is quite sociable with myself. Am actually considering getting another cat! 🙂
good advice
Each cat has there own personalities…what works with one, won’t work with the other., Shoko loves to play with straws,. milk jug twists…a variety of free items. Kali likes straws…sort of. Her favourite pastime is talking with peeps and she loves visitor both the furries or furless peeps,
Jean
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