Mental stimulation keeps your cat healthy, happy and maybe even out of trouble.

Fun Ways To Provide Mental Stimulation For Your Cat

Cats, like people, get bored. Some cats express it by causing mischief, tipping over glasses and scratching furniture, and will stop acting up if provided with proper mental stimulation. Of course, some cats are mischievous with or without stimulation because, well, they’re cats. But most cats are happier when their environment is entertaining.

How To Get Your Cat To Play

It can take some trial and error before you find the right toy and playing style that gets your cat’s attention. Some cats like feathery toys, others like springs, while some will only play with catnip infused mice. Others still have a penchant for rolled up socks or toilet paper rolls.

Your cat may be stimulated by slow back and forth movements, while others will chase a fast moving object. You can also try tossing a toy between you and a friend or family member. Some cats only want what they think they cannot have.

Mental Stimulation Puzzles That Your Cat Can Use Alone

Not all cats will play with their owners, and you may want to provide toys that your cat can play with when you’re not home.

Food puzzle toys are great for this. You can use dry food or treats to fill puzzle toys, either homemade or store-bought. A paper towel roll, with one side stapled closed and the other filled with kibble, can be batted across the floor like a mouse to dispense food.

By prompting your cat to work for their food, you’ll stave off boredom eating and encourage exercise, which can prevent obesity. In the United States, 58% of cats are obese, though this is preventable because you control the cat’s food intake and exercise.

Environmental Enrichment For Bored Cats

You can turn your home into a kitty wonderland without sacrificing your deposit. A few cat trees will provide your cat with high places to perch, nap and watch over your home. The surfaces will give your cat a scratch-worthy alternative to furniture legs. Some cats prefer scratching posts made of a carpet-like material, others like sisal rope. Some cats will be happiest if they have different surfaces available to suit their moods.

Tunnels, shelves and caves are all fun, cat-friendly additions to your decor. Shy cats appreciate having safe spaces to hide when you have guests over. Some cats feel safer when they can nap in high places.

You can even set up a bird-feeder or birdbath outside your window to give your cat something to watch during the day. For a cat, bird-watching is addictive, it’s their version of reality TV!

Get A Pet Sitter

If you often leave your cat for the whole weekend, or for even longer, an enriched environment and fun toys won’t provide the mental stimulation and socialization they need to be happy. It’s good to have a reliable, professional pet sitter in your contacts that you can call whenever you’re going to be away from home for an extended period of time.

Set up a free consultation with A Better Way Pet Sitting so you’ll always have a familiar, readily-available sitter for your cat. Our sitters will take the time to feed, play and brush your cat, plus provide you with updates each day so you always know that your cat is loved when you’re away. Call or contact us today!

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