Did you know that, like people, cats can become bored? It may appear that Fluffy is aiming for boredom; after all, doing as little as possible is a life goal for our feline friends. Even the laziest cat requires some enrichment. Continue reading for tips from a local Weld County, CO veterinarian on how to keep your feline overlord content and purring.
Why Keep Your Cat Indoors?
While we normally tailor our cat care advice to Fluffy’s age, temperament, and health, there is one thing we almost always recommend: keep your cat indoors. Your pet may enjoy going outside and partaking in well-known kitten hobbies like doing paw art on your car and refusing to come inside when you call her, but the outside world poses some serious hazards to an inquisitive tiny ball of fur. These include autos, the weather, wild animals, parasites, chemicals, loose dogs, and, unfortunately, some people. Take a precautionary approach here.
Why Is Boredom Bad For Cats?
We will always prioritize Fluffy’s health, but we know that animals’ emotional and physical health are closely related, as with humans. Kitties are incredibly emotional, and their displeasure manifests in a variety of ways.
Here are some of the probable consequences.
Bad behavior: If Fluffy is bored, she may grow agitated. This may lead her to try to soothe herself by indulging in undesired habits. She may scratch your carpet, chew objects, or spray incorrectly. You may also hear your pet meowing or howling.
Depression: Did you know that cats, like humans, may experience depression? This is equally as uncomfortable for Fluffy as it is for us!
Poor Appetite: If your pet is uncomfortable, she can stop eating. While skipping one meal may not appear to be a major concern, if your feline buddy goes without food for an extended length of time, she may quickly become ill.
Escape Attempts: If your pet is bored or sad, she may try to escape. This puts Fluffy at risk of getting lost, wounded, or even killed.
Aggression: Another symptom of feline boredom? Fluffy may try to express her unhappiness on you. If you have multiple cats, they may fight.
For further information, contact your Weld County, CO veterinarian.
How Do You Keep Your Cat Interested?
Now for the fun part! Fluffy’s favorite source of amusement is, unsurprisingly, playing. That is not the only choice, however.
Here are some of our favorites:
Window Seats: Did you know that a window seat can be one of Fluffy’s favorite types of entertainment? Your feline partner may spend hours relaxing and daydreaming about hunting while watching birds and squirrels.
Cat TV: Yes, there are programs developed exclusively for Fluffy. As one might expect, many of these feature birds, squirrels, and other small animals that your feline companion would hunt in the wild. Some cats seem to enjoy this! If nothing else, the background noise will be stimulating.
Smart Toys: There are many adorable and fascinating new toys for our kitty companions to push beneath the couch! You can get your pet a mouse that responds to her movements or a laser pointer that you can control via an app.
Things to Climb: Have you ever noticed how cats adore climbing to high places? Fluffy cannot see very far from the ground, so it’s no surprise that she loves to climb to higher elevations. Cat towers are perfect for this. They also feature rest places and jungle gyms.
Kitty Garden: Many of our feline pals like chewing on green leaves and sniffing plants. Set up some pet-friendly plants for Fluffy! You may also make her a tiny cat garden. One option is to plant cat grass in a litterbox. Just make sure to stay with stuff you know are safe. You may find a complete list on the ASPCA website.
Boxes: We may never understand Fluffy’s box fixation, but we couldn’t ignore it! Bring your pet an empty box to appear smug and lovely in.
Games: Did you know there are games designed specifically for Fluffy to play on a smartphone or tablet? Allow your pet to try her paw at some of these.
Schedule An Appointment At Our Weld County, CO Pet Hospital
Is your feline pet due for an exam? Are you looking for veterinary bargains in London, or low-income spay & neuter? Please contact our Weld County, CO animal clinic at any time!