An indoor cat can lead a perfectly happy life indoors. However, this does not imply that it should remain busy every hour of the day.
Cats sleep a lot and are fond of having a routine. They also have activities that surprise their owners.
The trick here is to keep them entertained without turning your home into a cat theme park.
Your Cat Probably Doesn't Need More Toys
You might think that your bored cat needs a toy. You get one and see it being sniffed and dismissed by your pet. Days later, the new toy is shoved away and remains under your sofa while the cardboard box has become the most exciting thing in the house.
This happens because cats do not have the desire to get as many things as you may think. Instead, they try to find items that are interesting enough.
A toy that moves around randomly may attract cats more than an ordinary toy, while a toy that can be chased and grabbed is something.
That's one reason cat toys for indoor cats can be useful when they're chosen around how your cat actually plays, rather than simply buying whatever looks cute.
Don't Leave Everything Out at Once
This is one of those small things that can make a difference. If ten toys are scattered around the house all week, your cat can get used to seeing them.
Instead, try putting some away. Leave two or three things out for a while. Bring something different out later.
You don't have to make a big production out of it. One toy disappears into a cupboard. Another comes back. Suddenly the old toy isn't quite so boring anymore.
It also means you're not constantly stepping over cat toys. Which, if you've ever lived with a cat, is a genuine household issue.
A Few Minutes of Your Attention Can Beat A Fancy Toy
Some cats are perfectly happy playing by themselves. Others want you involved. If your cat keeps bringing a toy over to you, there's a good chance they're asking for more than something to bat around on the floor.
Spend a few minutes playing. In fact, a short session can work better than dragging play out until your cat loses interest.
And there's something else going on here. Your cat gets the stimulation. You get a little time together.
That's hard for an automatic toy to replace.
Give Them Places to Explore
Entertainment doesn't always have to come in the form of a toy. A cat may spend ten minutes investigating a new box. They may climb onto a shelf they've never bothered with before. They might sit by a window watching birds, cars or people outside.
A scratching post, cat tree or simple perch can give them another place to spend time.
Cats tend to like having options. A high spot for watching. A quiet corner for sleeping. A place to scratch.
They require a spot to retreat to when they seek seclusion from their owners. It does not require too much furniture to create this place.
Even minimal changes in the environment are refreshing for a cat that sees the same things daily.
Food Can Be a Part of the Game
Since cats naturally hunt, the process of searching for their food can be much more engaging than eating it from a bowl all the time.
Using puzzle feeders or any meal related games is a simple and creative way to diversify the way your cat has its meals. Even placing food in different safe places is enough.
At the same time do not forget to count the volume of food consumed by the cat, because it can eat more than usually because of playing.
Grooming Can Be Part of Their Routine Too
Your pet's entertainment is not limited solely to keeping them busy. Some feline pets enjoys grooming when they are relaxed.
Brush your cat regularly to minimize the shedding of extra hair as well as enjoy a few minutes with them in peace.
Cats that tend to lose more hair or get matted can benefit from a cat groomer. AZPaws provides a simple cat grooming brush, as well as a 4-in-1 cat grooming brush.
Sleeping Cats Isn't the Same as Having the Dullest Pet
Cats spend a lot of their day sleeping; that's a normal behavior. If the cat is asleep for half of the day, it might not mean that it is bored. Look at the entire picture! Are they eating normally?
Are they interested in what's happening around them?
Do they have periods where they play or explore?
Do they interact with you?
Is your cat’s scratching, climbing and grooming the same as always?
The idle cat that naps for hours and then suddenly gets hyper around 10 p.m. is just acting like a cat!
If a change in behavior, appetite, or activity has taken place, this is a different scenario and it is important to consult your vet instead of thinking about the need for more toys.
You Don't Need to Keep Your Cat Busy All Day
This might be the most important part. Your cat doesn't need a packed schedule. They need a home where they can move around, explore, scratch, hide, rest and play.
A few minutes of focused play can be more useful than a pile of toys nobody touches.
A new box can be exciting.
A window can be entertaining.
A short grooming session can become part of the routine.
Start with what your cat already seems to enjoy. Then add something that gives them a little more of that. That's usually enough.
Let Them Hunt a Little
Your cat might have dinner served in a bowl every day. That doesn't mean the hunting instinct disappeared. Play gives them a safe way to use some of those natural behaviours.
Chasing something across the floor. Watching it disappear behind a chair. Pouncing on it. Batting it under the sofa. Trying to catch it before it gets away.
You don't need to recreate a wildlife documentary in your living room. A few minutes of this kind of play can be enough to get your cat moving and thinking.
AZPaws, for example, carries personalized pet accessories and several cat toys designed around movement, including an automatic mouse toy and interactive string and bird toys.
A Small Change Makes a Big Difference
The secret to keeping indoor cats happy is not endless entertainment. It is about providing cats with some goods to explore and allowing them to calm down sometimes.
On some days, cats may be playing with a toy. On other days, they would be gazing out of the window for the whole hour. On some days, they would be obtaining some rest in a box, ignoring everything around them.
It is all right. After all, cats remain cats. You do not have to convert every moment into an activity. You should provide cats with a home that has enough things for them to do when they feel like it.