Entertaining your indoor cat
There are lots of reasons a cat might live indoors. Perhaps they’ve grown up as a housecat from being a kitten or have an illness or injury that would make it unsafe for them to go outside.
Even cats that usually go out may have to stay inside sometimes. For example, it’s a good idea to keep your cat inside for a few weeks after moving house, and they may have to stay at home for a few days to a week after being neutered.
These tips on entertaining your indoor cat will help you keep your feline friend healthy, happy, and mentally stimulated at home.
Interactive toys and games
Mental stimulation is key to keeping an indoor cat entertained, and interactive toys are great for this. Puzzle feeders, for example, can turn an ordinary mealtime into a mental exercise. They can also help slow down eating, to prevent digestive upsets or overeating, while engaging a cat’s problem-solving skills.
Laser pointers are also a fun way to play with your cat, helping to replicate their natural hunting instincts and prevent boredom.
Scratching posts for feline wellbeing
Cat scratching posts aren’t just for keeping claws sharp; they’re also great for exercise and mental stimulation. In the wild, cats would naturally scratch textured surfaces, such as tree bark, to help maintain their claws, let off energy, and mark their territory.
Providing a variety of cat scratching posts for your indoor cat can therefore help them to maintain healthy claws while ensuring they have an outlet for their natural feline behaviour and reducing stress.
Climbing and perching spaces
Climbing is another natural behaviour in cats and something they love to do whenever they can. Providing vertical spaces like cat trees, sturdy shelving, or window perches allows your cat to survey its environment from a safe spot, which provides a sense of security and belonging.
Cat-friendly technology
Technology isn’t just for humans! There are lots of innovative tech-based solutions to keep indoor cats entertained, such as automatic laser toys, app-controlled devices, or cat videos that can be used to engage cats when owners are out at work. These gadgets ensure that indoor cats remain active and mentally alert even when they’re home alone.
Window watching and catios
Create a stimulating environment for your indoor cat by providing window perches or building a secure outdoor space like a catio. This can provide hours of natural entertainment and mental stimulation for an indoor cat as they take in all the sights, sounds, and smells from their safe spot.
Training and tricks
It’s not just dogs who can be trained and taught tricks! Using positive reinforcement techniques, it’s also possible to teach your cat basic commands, such as sit and fetch, or train them to use a scratching post rather than furniture or curtains.
Training also helps build a stronger bond between owner and pet while keeping the cat mentally engaged.
Companion cats or other pets
Cats are social creatures and often enjoy having another cat to live with for company. So if you have enough space in your home, and can commit to taking on another pet, you might want to consider adopting a second cat.
In some cases, cats can even learn to enjoy the company of another animal, such as a dog or house rabbit. While introducing your cat to another animal always requires close and careful supervision, in the long run, it can result in a close companionship that helps to reduce boredom and loneliness for both pets.
