Did you know that cats, like people, can become bored? Fluffy may appear to enjoy boredom: after all, our feline friends have a life goal of doing as little as possible. Even the most laid-back kitty demands some enrichment. Continue reading for tips from a local Crested Butte veterinarian on how to keep your feline overlord happy and purring.
Why Should Your Cat Stay Indoors?
While our cat care advice is normally tailored to Fluffy’s age, temperament, and health, there is one thing we almost always recommend: keeping your cat indoors. Your pet may enjoy going outside and partaking in popular kitty hobbies like making 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 ball of fur. Cars, the weather, wild animals, parasites, poisons, loose dogs, and, sadly, some people are among them. Play it safe, and keep your pet inside.
Why Is Boredom So Bad for Cats?
While our initial focus will always be on Fluffy’s physical health and well-being, we know that an animal’s emotional well-being, like people’s, is closely related to their physical health. Kitties are highly emotional, and their displeasure manifests itself in a variety of ways.
Here are a few of the possible outcomes:
Bad behavior: If Fluffy becomes too bored, she may become distressed. As a result, she may attempt to comfort herself by participating in undesired behaviors. She may scratch your carpet, for instance, or spray incorrectly. You could also hear your pet meow or wail.
Depression: Did you know that cats, like people, may experience depression? This is as bad for Fluffy as it is for us!
Poor Appetite: If your pet is dissatisfied, she may quit eating. While skipping one meal may not seem like a big concern, if your feline companion goes without food for any extended period of time, she may quickly become ill.
Escape Attempts: If your pet is bored or sad, she may want to flee. This puts Fluffy in danger of becoming lost, hurt, or even killed.
Aggression: Aggression can be an outcome of cat boredom. Fluffy may attempt to express her displeasure on you. If you own more than one cat, they may fight.
For additional information, speak with your Crested Butte veterinarian.
How Do You Keep A Cat Amused?
Now for the enjoyable part! Fluffy’s preferred mode of entertainment is, of course, playing. However, this is not the only choice.
Here are a handful of our favorites:
- Window Seats: Did you know a window seat may be one of Fluffy’s favorite types of entertainment? Your feline buddy may spend hours relaxing and daydreaming about hunting while studying birds and squirrels.
- TV: There are programs developed exclusively for Fluffy on cat TV. As one would expect, many of these feature birds, squirrels, and other small things that your feline companion would hunt in the wild. Some cats appear to enjoy it! At the very least, the background noise will stimulate her mind.
- Smart Toys: There are many cute 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 can be controlled with an app.
- Items to Climb: Have you ever noticed how cats enjoy ascending to high elevations? Fluffy can’t see very far from the ground, so it’s no surprise she loves to ascend higher elevations. Cat towers are great in this situation. They also contain relaxation rooms and jungle gyms.
- Kitty Gardens: Many of our feline companions like chewing on green leaves and sniffing plants. Plant some pet-friendly plants for Fluffy! You may also build her a tiny cat garden. One solution is to plant cat grass in the litterbox. Simply stick to things that you know are safe. The ASPCA website contains a complete list here.
- Boxes: We may never understand Fluffy’s love with boxes, but we couldn’t ignore it! Bring your pet an empty box to look smugly cute in.
Did you know there are now games designed specifically for Fluffy to play on a smartphone or tablet? Allow your pet to try a few of these.
Make An Appointment At Our Crested Butte Pet Hospital
Is your feline friend due for an exam? Are you looking for a great vet that will provide top-notch care for your furry friend? Contact us, your Crested Butte animal clinic, at any time!
