Did you know that cats, like humans, can become bored? It may appear that Fluffy is actually aiming for boredom: after all, doing as little as possible is a life ambition for our feline pals. However, even the laziest kitty requires some enrichment. Continue reading for advice from a local London, ON veterinarian on how to keep your feline overlord happy and purring.

Why Should You Keep Your Cat Indoors?

While we will usually adjust our cat care advice based on Fluffy’s age, temperament, and health, there is one thing we virtually always recommend: keeping your cat indoors. Your pet may enjoy going outside and engaging in famous kitty hobbies such as creating paw art on your car and refusing to come inside when you call her, but the outside world presents some major threats to an inquisitive tiny ball of fur. These include automobiles, weather, wild animals, parasites, chemicals, loose canines, and, unfortunately, some people. Err on the side of caution here.

Why Is Boredom Bad for Cats?

While our primary focus will always be on Fluffy’s physical health and well-being, we recognize that an animal’s emotional well-being is inextricably linked to their physical health, just as it is with people.  Kitties are extremely emotional, and their dissatisfaction can appear in a variety of ways.

Here are some of the potential repercussions:

• Bad Behavior: If Fluffy is bored, she may become upset. That may cause her to try to soothe herself by engaging in unwanted behaviors. She may scratch your carpet, chew items, or spray improperly. You may also hear your pet meow or howl.
• Depression: Did you know that cats, like humans, can get depressed? This is just as unpleasant for Fluffy as it is for us!
• Poor Appetite: If your pet is unhappy, she may stop eating. While skipping one meal may not seem like a big deal, if your feline friend goes without food for an extended period of time, she may quickly become ill. 
• Escape Attempts: If your pet is bored or unhappy, she may attempt to escape. This puts Fluffy at risk of becoming lost, injured, or possibly killed.
• Aggression: Another result of cat boredom? Fluffy may try to vent her unhappiness on you. If you have more than one cat, they may fight.

Ask your vets in London, ON for more information.

How Do You Keep A Cat Interested?

Now for the fun part! Playing is of course Fluffy’s favorite form of entertainment. That isn’t the only option, though.

Here are a few of our favorites:

Window Seats: Did you realize that a window seat could be one of Fluffy’s preferred forms of entertainment? Your kitty companion could spend hours lounging and daydreaming about hunting while observing birds and squirrels. 

Cat TV: Yes, there are programs designed specifically for Fluffy. As one might assume, many of these include birds, squirrels, and other small critters that your feline companion would hunt in the wild. Some cats appear to enjoy this! If nothing else, the background noise will provide stimulation.

Smart Toys: There are plenty of cute and exciting new toys for our feline friends to push beneath the couch! You can get your pet a mouse that responds to her movements or a laser pointer that you can operate via an app.

Things to Climb: Have you ever noticed how cats enjoy climbing up to high places? Fluffy can’t see very far from the ground, so it’s no surprise she prefers climbing to higher elevations. Cat towers are ideal for this. They also include resting areas and jungle gyms.

Kitty Gardens: Many of our kitty friends like nibbling on green leaves and sniffing plants. Set out some pet-friendly plants for Fluffy! You can also construct her a small cat garden. One solution is to plant cat grass in a litterbox. Just make sure you stick to items you know are safe. You may view a complete list on the ASPCA website here.

Boxes: We may never understand Fluffy’s box obsession, but we couldn’t leave it out! Bring your pet an empty box to look smugly adorable in.

Games: Did you know that there are now games made just for Fluffy to play on a smartphone or tablet? Let your pet try her paw at some of these.

Book An Appointment At Our London, ON Pet Hospital.

Is your kitty companion due for an exam? Are you interested in Veterinary deals in London or Low income, spay and neuter? Contact us, your London, ON animal clinic, at any time!