Like us humans, cats can get bored if they aren’t presented with opportunities to learn, explore, and play. By providing for your cat’s physical and emotional needs, you can create a safe and stimulating environment inside the safety of their own home. Here are just a few ways you can keep her healthy and happy:
- Provide a variety of toys for your cat. Some prefer toys that they can throw around themselves, while others prefer toys that require guardian participation, like those you wiggle and dangle. Stimulating play for a cat involves opportunities to hunt, so move toys in a way that mimics the quick, unexpected movements of a rodent or bird. Introduce new toys periodically to keep your cat from becoming bored with the ones she’s got.
- Provide objects for your cat to explore, such as cardboard boxes, paper shopping bags, or packing paper. Bonus points if you can poke holes of various sizes for her to peek out of or stick her paws through.
- Cats love to watch birds, squirrels, and other small animals. Position bird and squirrel feeders outside windows where your cat can observe animals coming and going during the day.
Training your cat can give her a great mental workout. Just like dogs, cats can learn a number of useful behaviors and fun tricks using positive reinforcement.