Playing regularly with a cat and providing their entertaining toys can easily satisfy their stalking instinct, keep them stimulated and provide the exercise they need to stay healthy and happy. It also keeps local wildlife safe!
Playing, chasing and mutual grooming and snuggling can fulfill your indoor cat's need for exercise, companionship and affection while you are at work or away from home. Provide your indoor cat with a variety of different interactive toys to keep them physically and mentally stimulated.
You'll know your cat is happy if they show affection to you and want to interact with you. A content kitty loves scritches, snuggles, head boops, and lap sits. Every cat is different, of course, and some prefer to lay near you rather than on you. In general, though, a happy cat shows it by being close to their human.
The most important thing you can do to prevent boredom is to make sure your cat's environment is stimulating. Nurture an environment full of activities – windows to look out, things to watch, places to climb, and safe toys to play with.
“Play is an important part of relieving stress,” Delgado says. “It helps cats release those feel-good hormones.” Providing cats with physical and mental stimulation “isn't extra—it's essential,” she adds. “It's just as important as food and water.”
One of the best ways to provide enrichment for indoor cats is to spend time with them. You could play with them, groom them, or pet them. Many cats simply enjoy being in the same space as you and being talked to, and it's a great way to stimulate your cat and build your bond with them.
Given that catnip can have a calming, soothing effect, it can be used to: help reduce a cat's stress and anxiety when going to the vet, help reduce stress when traveling, help with urinary issues (note that stress is a major contributing factor to urinary obstruction in cats!).
It can be particularly hard for cats to cope with living indoors if they have lots of energy, love to explore and have previously been allowed time outdoors. However, for some cats - such as those with a disability or medical problem - living indoors could be a better option, and they may feel more comfortable.
Just like a human, if your cat is bored, they may develop some bad habits or even start doing things that are either unhealthy for them or frustrating for you. Repetitive behaviors, overeating, terrorizing other pets, or even becoming destructive are all potential signs that your cat is bored.
If your cat sleeps on your bed, he may choose a position that lets him see out your bedroom door more easily. If he's curled up in a ball under your bed or in a quiet corner, then he may be hiding. Cats who sleep under the covers might love being close to you, or they might be hiding to feel safer.
Yes, cats can get lonely. For all their solitary behaviour, cats are social creatures that need stimuli and interaction as much as humans do. Companionship, whether with humans or other cats, is an important part of any healthy feline's life. Leaving your cat at home while you go to work should not prove problematic.
This independence could be tied their wild ancestors, who were solitary animals. However, domesticated cats have evolved to crave companionship, often forming strong bonds with humans and sometimes even other pets. So, do cats get lonely? Because of the attachments they form, the answer is yes; cats can feel lonely!
It's natural to wonder where the heck cats go at night. At home, they're usually sleeping, playing, cuddling, eating, or sleeping some more.
The answer is clear when you realize that the average lifespan of an indoor cat ranges from 10 to 20 years, whereas cats who go outdoors typically live only 2 to 5 years. Cats who are allowed to roam outdoors face huge safety and health risks, and sadly, some pay for that freedom with their lives.
Some people believe that letting cats go outside gives them a better quality of life. But most experts agree that staying indoors is the healthier choice for cats. If you want to give your cat the best of both worlds, you can try leash-training your kitty with a specially designed cat harness to help keep them safe.
As you can see, it is entirely up to you whether or not you allow your cat outside or choose to keep it indoors. However, what's important is that both you and your kitty are happy with the decision and that you take the necessary steps to make sure it is safe and healthy.
There a several reasons why cats hate closed doors:
They feel trapped. They want to be where the action is. It's a learned behavior. They have separation anxiety.
Loss of appetite or changes in feeding habits. Changes in body language, including ears held back, tucked tail, and hairs standing on end. Meowing more or less than usual or making low-pitched, mournful meows. Lack of energy or a decrease in activity level.
Cats are very social creatures and crave attention. They will miss you when you're away because you're the source of their love and affection.
If you are just looking to get one cat, your future feline pet will not be severely deprived if you do not get another with it. A cat can live a happy life as the only cat in the house. At the same time, cats are more social than we may have at one time believed.
Surprisingly, a higher number of our kitties seem to be immune to catnip. This is because catnip sensitivity is hereditary. The genes for catnip euphoria are just not as common in our kitty population, and we don't import cats as freely as some other countries.
Playing with your cat and providing them with interactive toys, such as wand toys and puzzle toys, can also reduce anxiety. Over-the-counter calming products, such as pheromones and supplements, may help reduce anxiety but should be discussed with a veterinarian first.
Because of the potentially stimulating and sedative effects of this herb, it is not recommended to offer catnip to cats that are: prone to seizures. on sedative medications.