7 Tips for a Happy Cat



Recently I sent you some tips on dealing with cat boredom. This is such an important topic. A bored cat is not a happy cat ... and unhappy cats tend to have more behavioral problems.

Bored cats are known to have destructive behaviors such as scratching, aggression, depression, lethargy, over-vocalization/crying, increased or decreased appetite, and sleeping more. They also have more problems with urinating outside the box.

As I've mentioned before, keeping a cat indoors has benefits. Among other things, it minimizes the chance for outdoor traumas, such as being hit by a car, animal attacks and common infectious diseases, just to name a few. Indoor-only cats may live twice as long on average over indoor/outdoor cats.

But with that comes the responsibility of making sure your indoor-only cat has the things he or she needs to be happy.

What do you think? Is your indoor cat bored or happy?

Here are some tips to help stimulate your cat so he or she can have an enriched happy environment:

First - Evaluate your home environment. Is it cat friendly? Are there lots of things for your cat to do, play with and watch? Consider the things cats enjoy...do have them in your home?

Next - Think about what you can do to enrich your home with things that will make your cat happy. This may be as simple as moving a chair by the window to give your cat a view. There should be windows to look out of, things to watch, places to climb, and plenty of safe toys to play with.

Now lets get started with some specifics:

1. Create a Window View. Think about getting a window perch or window seat for your cat. It is important for your indoor cat to have a "view" and the ability to watch what is going on outside. This is a great way to create a stimulating environment. There are commercially available "window beds" that attach to your window frame. Cats love these. Another option is a cat tree placed near a window that allows an outside view.

2. Rotate Plenty of Toys . Cats become bored with the same toys after a while. A great tip is to hide a toy for a while and then reintroduce it. Keep a supply of toys that you rotate. One of the most fun cat toys I've in a long while is called "Undercover Mouse". This toy has a wand that randomly moves under a piece of fabric. The cats I've tested it on love it. For more information, go to: www.petproductadvisor.com

3. Get Some Catnip . For cats that are sensitive to catnip, offer some catnip to enjoy periodically. Also, "marinating" toys in catnip is a great way to encourage your cat to enjoy them even more when you reintroduce them.

4. Schedule Playtime. Schedule time twice a day to play with your cat. Allow him or her to chase the ball, laser pointer or feathery flyer. Take at least 10 minutes out of your day to play with your cat. You can even do this while you are watching TV in the evening.

5. Give plenty of Love Time . Some cats really want a little of your time and attention. Encourage your cat to curl up with you when you are resting.

6. Grow Some Cat Grass. Some indoor cats love to chew on a little cat grass - just like they would if they were outdoors. It is easy to grow.

7. Give Your Cat a Spot of Sun. Cats love the sun. Find a nice window where the sun shines in and place a cat bed in that location. If you have the blinds or curtains closed, consider opening them so your cat can bask for a while in the sun.

Climbing posts, scratching posts, cat grass, windows perches, window beds, toys and a view to watch birds or squirrels are all great ways to enrich your indoor cat's life and prevent boredom.

One of the COOLEST toys I've seen in a long time is the Undercover Mouse .

Bored cats can sleep excessively or have behavioral problems. Make sure your cat is happy and enriched.

Until next time,

Dr. Jon