7 QUICK TIPS FOR ENRICHING YOUR CAT’S ENVIRONMENT
Boredom is the worst!
When I’m bored, I find myself usually going to the kitchen looking for a snack. It’s not just us humans who fall into bad habits though. Cat’s can too.
Indoor cats who have little mental and physical stimulation can and do get bored. This might show up as misbehavior like [PICK 1 OF THE FOLLOWING AND DELETE THE REST: destroying stuff, over-grooming or oversleeping among other behavior problems.
Before you write off any changes as boredom, visit your vet to rule out any physical causes to their behavior.
If nothing is happening physically, then one of the easiest ways to keep your cat blissed out, happy and well-behaved is to give them the mental and physical stimulation they crave. Here are my favorite ways to do just that.
#1 - Food Dispensing Toys.
Making your cat work for their food can be fun. The Hanamya Rotating Toy lets you fill the toy with small treats or your cats dinner and then let them play with it to dispense the food. Don’t forget to leave your cat plenty of fresh water to wash their treats down with. PRO TIP - If your cat loves this, consider swapping in some of their regular food into this toy to help keep the calories down.
#2 - Puzzles.
Interactive toys really keep the brain going and challenge your cat’s mind. I really like this Melon Madness Puzzle because it provides mental stimulation and treat gratification. It’s great because there are multiple challenge levels. You can start with the easy play and then make it more challenging once they figure it out.
#3 - Play Time!
Families that play together, stay together! Try to spend an hour or more playing with your beloved feline friend every day. If they love to play this can be very beneficial. I especially enjoyed this time with Anna my former cat because it reduced my stress level and made me happy just as much as it made her happy! She loved chasing her rope mice down the hall playing fetch. She would do that for hours if she could. There are so many fun toys out there you can buy or make yourself!
#4 - Snuffle Mat.
If you’ve never heard of a snuffle mat before, you might be wondering what it is. It’s like a puzzle. But it has flaps of fabric to hide bits of food. Most people think of dogs using snuffle mats. But, they are also great for cats! These help your cat exercise their sense of smell and stimulates their brain to find food. You can purchase already made snuffle mats. Or, I wrote a blog post awhile back about how to make one yourself for all you DIY loving folks out there. Pro Tip: hide your cat’s dry food in the snuffle mat for dinner!
#5 - Watch Tv.
All cats are different. Does yours pay attention to the tv? If so, this might be an interesting tool for enrichment. You could leave the tv on for them, or here are some Youtube videos specifically for your cat: Birds & Squirrels; Mice; Fish
#6 - Get a Cat Tree - or Five!
Cat trees are fun. They keep cats entertained, exercising and come in a lot of varieties. I currently don’t have a cat (my dog would go insane). BUT when I did have cats they both loved climbing! If you’re wanting to start small, this Frisco cat tree has good reviews. Or, if you’re like me and go all out for your furry friend, this Frisco cat tree is more like a castle and also has good reviews. Shop around and I’m sure you’ll find something purrfect for your home.
#7 - Install a Perch or Catio.
It’s fun to add perches around your house and near windows so your cat can see what’s happening in the outside world. You can also move your cat tree near the window. (The window can be like a live tv for them). You can even go a step further and add a “catio.” That is a safe space for your cat to (kind-of) be outdoors. My neighbor installed one in her downstairs window. Her cat Jazz loves it. Catio Spaces has DIY plans as well as custom catios. (You can also do a search to find ready-made ones.)
Every cat is different so play around and see what your cat actually finds entertaining and engaging.