Ideas to keep your cat entertained!

Due to environmental and health factors, cats are increasingly being kept 100% inside. This lifestyle certainly has many benefits as they are at much less risk of contracting infectious diseases, hunting wildlife or sustaining injuries as a result of fighting or being hit by cars. However, due to this restricted environment, indoor cats could be at risk of developing behavioural problems, including inappropriate urination and spraying, anxiety, aggression, over-vocalisation and excessive grooming.

These behavioural issues could develop if your feline friend is not receiving enough enrichment from their indoor environment. All cats need mental stimulation that promotes their natural behaviours, such as chasing, pouncing, climbing, hiding and scratching, so for our indoor cats, it’s important to create an environment that allows your cat to engage by using their natural instincts.

Consider if your home environment is cat-friendly:

Are there a variety of interactive toys for your cat to play with?
Do you dedicate playtime with your feline friend on a daily basis?
Do you have a scratching pole to allow your feline to climb, scratch and exercise?
Can your cat see outside?

Is your cat’s litter box private? Do you have a litter tray for each cat in the household? Are they easy to access and suitable in size?

Ideas to keep your cat entertained

Cats are playful companions that need lots of mental stimulation. Fun toys and scratchers are just one way to help them beat boredom. Cats love to play, climb, scratch, chase and rest. While these activities are all part of their natural behaviour patterns and important for their physical development, you want to make sure they’re taking out their energy in the right ways. Here’s how to keep your cat entertained with a whole host of games, toys and activities.

What are the best cat toys you can play with together?

There are a number of toys available that will enable you and your cat to have healthy playtime together. Cats, like us, have different personalities and preferences. Spend some time experimenting with different types of toys to find out what excites your pet. Wand toys and teaser toys on a string will involve you in the game and let you have heaps of fun. This playtime helps you bond with your pet and establish a strong play rapport.

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Which cat toys are great for solo entertainment?

Especially if you’re working from home, you’ll want to give your cat a range of toys that allow them to entertain themselves. Balls, tunnels and toy mice are just some of the fantastic toys you can find to entertain your feline friend. Regularly rotate the toys so they don’t get bored.

How to choose the best cat scratcher.

Providing your cat with a scratch post or scratch pad is a great idea. You can encourage your cat to use their scratching post by playing around and coaxing them with their favourite treat. Products such as Feliscratch can also help encourage use. Most cats will instinctively figure out how to use it in no time at all, provided it is placed in an optimal location, such as the living room near a window. It is best to buy the largest scratching post or pad possible, as you really want to encourage your cat to stretch out into a natural scratching position. Be aware that some cats prefer a horizontal scratching surface. While the primary use of the post is scratching, your cat will also use it for stretching and exercise, so you need one that has enough height.

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Create an interactive home

If you have more time on your hands, why not build your cat a cool cat house with fun attachments and extensions to suit your cat’s personality? This can be as simple or elaborate as you like! A cat jungle gym can be the perfect solution to accommodate your cat’s different moods. If they’re having a grumpy cat day, provide a quiet area where they can curl up for a nap. For adventurous kitties, provide secure surfaces or platforms where they can jump and climb; you can include their favourite toys or treats to encourage playtime. Most cats enjoy relaxing in the sunshine and gazing out the window. Provide a comfy cat bed or hammock in the perfect spot. Be aware of harmful UV rays, especially for fair-haired kitties.

Remember to incorporate different surfaces and textures, such as soft blankets, carpet squares, scratching posts with sisal rope, and various boxes to hide inside. Recycled cardboard boxes are ideal and easy to find.

Remember to incorporate different surfaces and textures like soft blankets, carpet squares, scratching posts with sisal rope and various boxes to hide inside. Recycled cardboard boxes are ideal and easy to find. If you are looking for more suggestions on how to keep your cat entertained, talk with your local Greencross Vets team today.

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If you are looking for more suggestions on how to keep your cat entertained, talk with your local Greencross Vets team today.