With a tray that locks in place and holds up to three cups of seed, watch cardinals, blue jays, finches, juncos, chickadees, nuthatches, titmice, sparrows and more enjoy themselves through this completely see-through, transparent feeder. Facts about cats, training tips, odd behaviours, pet care advice - I talk as much as I can about it all here! If youre very busy and away for a big part of the day and you only have one cat, they can easily get bored and lonely. Keep in mind that you dont want your cat to swallow the string. My partner and I adopted a cat last week. Sometimes something as simple as shoelaces will do. Not only are cats obsessed with bird-watching, but the fact that theres a window between your cat and the birds means theres no potential for casualties in the same way there may be with a non-cat-friendly fish tank in your house. Seriously, these cat food puzzle feeders can also stimulate your cats brain and encourage some physical activity as well. Scratching pads and posts save your furniture while providing a nice feline workout. New York, If you want to provide your cat with some top-notch entertainment, there are many cat toys designed to awaken your cats predatory instinct, keeping them entertained and occupied for hours. You can check this YouTube channel dedicated to catsor try some of these videos with birds: Most cats like catnip and enjoy it very much. Today. Setting up a cat climbing wall is an excellent use of space. The company makesa smaller version for cats too, which is great for entertaining cats because it bounces around unpredictably. This way your cat will get to enjoy the view while soaking up the sun. There are also other cat kick toys,toys cats can jump and grab, and catnip toys that work really well for this type of use. Pedigree vs Instinct dog food: Which brand is better? Use some kind of thin stick or a string and move it under the door. First of all, I just wanted to thank you for your AWESOME resources. Animalpath.org - How To Entertain A Cat That Doesn't Like - Facebook Try throwing a ball near your cat and see if theyll kick it back to you. Her favorite hobbies are eating and greeting her people as soon as they arrive home. What Are Different Types of Enrichment? My Cooper doesnt care for the music for cats, but OMG, she loves Queen. and kitty should be a lot happier with the passive entertainment. If your cat is often home alone during the day, having a feline buddy may do her good. While some cats like toys, others may prefer household items like paper, plastic or boxes. If your cat never had catnip, treat them with some of this exciting herb and see how they react. How to Train a Cat That Doesn't Like Treats (You Can!) I never knew whether they would put their play mice in the water bowl to drown themalways had me laughing. If anyone was ever at a loss how to entertain their cat, this list is purrfect! She came to the shelter as a stray, but that doesn't mean she has strayed from her namesake personality. Store-bought cat food puzzles need to be sturdy and easy to clean. There's nothing a cat likes more than chasing birds but, if they live indoors, providing them with some stimulating bird activity could pose a challenge. That means that in your house or apartment, cats need ample space to play, rest, nest, and more. Now, of course when I say this, I dont just mean shoving the cat tree an inch or two (or ten) away from where it used to be. Not even jokingif she starts getting feisty in the car, and Queen comes on the radio, she settles right down. 'Which hand has the food' game 11. Bored kitties get into mischief and when a kitty like me gets bored Well lets just say, thats why Nissy and I invented eggbeater-whisk time travellin teleportation technology. These toys are lightweight so your cat can easily toss them around and carry them in their mouth. Cats dont care if they have space horizontally or vertically. Try taking a piece of paper and scrunching it up into a tight ball. Sign up and get the latest pet health tips, news, articles and alerts delivered monthly to your inbox. If your yard is closed, you might be able to get your cat out without the leash. He also loves catnip. Definitely true of cats, too. Avery loves watching cat videos, as does nearly every cat I know. I may have even been inspired for a few things that could work for tiny dogs! One way of spicing up your cats dinner time and turning a meal into a fun activity is by using a puzzle feeder. And if your cats dont get along right away, like my second cat and first cat didnt, try reading through this guide I wrote up on how to get two cats to get along. Leave the blinds open so your cat can view the birds, squirrels and other animals outside the home. Grab a self-groomer or two, and attach them to easily-reached places on walls where kitty frequents. Cats love to hide and feel secure in small spaces. Sometimes a bored cat will spend extra time sleeping, but a wide-awake cat who is bored can do some real damage. Not to mention if they try to eat any pieces, this can choke them or if swallowed block their intestines. This article ROCKS!! If they do, then youll get rid of excess cat hair that would end up all over the apartment, while youre spending some quality time with your cat. Catslove to watch fish. In terms of toys that work out well for this type of thing, Id highly recommend these particular ones: ball track toys (my personal favourite, since they never get lost, and my cats besides Avery love them), cat springs (#1 with all my cats for self-play, including Avery), kick sticks (the only other self-play cat toy Avery will engage with and a massive success with all the cats as well), and bouncy balls (probably my personal least favourite, because they sometimes get fur stuck to them). If your cat is an indoor cat only, chances are they will get bored from time to time. This coming from a cat who weve all suspected has pica because of the fact that hes tried and successfully eaten pretty much everything including the handles of pots and pans, hand towels, shoe laces, and bed covers to name a few things. she is a weird cat. However, big, expensive cat trees are also notorious for being ignored by cats. Your cat will be entertained just by watching the world outside, especially from an elevated area or a cat perch. So over time I have realized that my two cats have very different interests when it comes to playtime. 2-in-1 convertible cat cave / cat bed hybrids, like the Best Pet Supplies Cat Dome, should really help on this front. Visit our corporate site. How to entertain indoor cats: From fishing to bird-watching, these indoor activities will keep them amused for hours. Im convinced that these types of cats are rare, however, and that most cats need a lot more help from people to cure themselves of the boredombug especially when we humans arent around for them to entertain themselves by watching us, say because were at work or (for those of us who work from home) because we go out for hours in a day. Just as kids have playrooms, cats should have their play zone, too. Give these cat tricks a try! Consider the placement and distance carefully. If youve got a cat that needs help curing his/her boredom, and needs help staying entertained indoors, its time to work toward making sure your home has enough engaging things for kitty to do, look at, watch, etc. If theres not enough room to put the bed, Ive seen apractical cat bed on Amazon that can be attached to the window with suction cups. Unfortunately, these are not my kitties nor my photos. 1. At this point, let your cat decide which hand has the treat. Needless to say, I cant wait to try one of these out when I finally get the chance. Some dont have instant appeal and many cats are nervous about changes to their environment. Your cat will love hiding inside together with you. Here are some suggestions on how to enrich your cat's home life. You'll get notified each time there's a new post on the blog. Advice is always welcome! Knowing how to entertain indoor cats will help stave off boredom and bad behavior. Cat still bored? Thank you for your comment, Robin. Try a cat grooming archinstead. In my experience, that didnt happen when I got a second cat, though something else did (check out my experience adopting a second cat here). The trick Ive found works like a charm: make sure theres plenty for your cat to jump on. Even the fussiest felines love a cardboard box, while any spare fabric you have around the home can create a surprisingly fun toy. I have four cats now, and out of the four, all but Avery will incredibly regularly play with toys on their own. Some cats love to play fetch. Cats love to have a hiding place. A cat self-groomer would include archways made out of bristle brushes and wall-mounted self-groomers. - https://animalpath.org/how-to-entertai/ If you have unused space on your walls, adding a few cat-climbing platforms is perfect for adventure cats who love to be up high. How to entertain indoor cats: Providing a wide variety of cat toys will ensure your feline is never bored. Food puzzles make the cat use their hunting and foraging instincts, so it has a positive impact on both their mental and physical health. Here are a few suggestions that are so much fun and don't cost the earth: Moggies famously love a good cardboard box. Behavior & Training | Animalpath.org Try throwing two at a time too! One more note, you may want to edit the spelling of ceiling in that comment. I love all the stimulation games. To prevent your cat from getting bored with their toys, hide a few toys for a little while. She doesn't like toys. Its like breathing new life into a cat product youve already got lying around much better than feeling like you have to grab new products. How To Entertain A Cat That Doesn't Like Toys? It is nice to put a number on playtime for my own peace of mind. Watch your cat's face in fascination as you toss it from side to side on the floor in front of him. I sadly havent been able to get my hands on one of these yet because they arent yet available in Portugal for an affordable price, but based on the reviews Ive seen, cats will often play and hang out in them by themselves for ages some even taking their prey like sisal mice back to their lair hidden away in the depths of one of these. You can do one yourself if you know how to sew you simply sew a small rectangle and fill it with catnip. Did you also make blanket forts when you were a child? Unless you are replacing a worn-out cat tree, its usually a better idea to try a few small, carpeted shelves for your cat to climb on first. While cats are a lot more independent than many other animals, they still are social animals and often do a lot better indoors with company. Put kibble or treats inside an egg carton, 25. If youd like to read more in-depth on what I did, check out this review of the Petsafe Simply Feed, which details the ins and outs of my system and what its helped me with. It is especially important to use a leash for your cats first visitoutside, when you dont know how they will react to the outdoors. Dehydration in cats: symptoms, prevention and treatment, Seven strange things cats do that are actually quite normal. I used to seat Avery in front of my laptop or Chromebook and watch him watch birds & fishes go past, but this would work so much better on a TV with the sound up. Cat really love warm spaces? Heres how it works. Do you do anything special for your cats to keep them from getting bored while youre away from home, say while youre at work? Hello! And yes, they are safe. They bore her; mice, balls and other small toys don't Apart from playing with other cats, most cats really enjoy playing with toys. This is something for your cat to feast her eyes on! The cats bat at each other. My male cat clearly indicates when he wants to play and just wants attention anything will do and any toy. The interactive cat robot fish toys are a great way to help get your cat excited for playtime by stimulating their natural hunter instincts. 1. Signs of a Bored Cat and Tricks to Entertain them When its empty, dont throw it away! The Daily News on Twitter: "Meet Darling. Just like her name, she is Especially with some toys, if your cat grows bored of them, thats it maybe for months or even years and its time to move on to a new type of cat toy. Nov 24, 2021 - How to entertain a cat that does not like toys? Thank you! How do you entertain indoor cats that love to fish? Choosing to keep a cat indoors has become increasingly more common, but owners have to learn how to keep their cats busy in order to stave off boredom. Try it out with your cat, its easy! We recommend pairing with one of our top picks for the best cat hammocks that sit on the inside of the window, so your feline has somewhere comfortable in which to stretch out and get a good view. Sam will play with anything, even the door curtain. The easiest way to make sure this gets done every day? How To Entertain A Cat That Doesn't Like Toys? You can get sisal rope for a few dollars and glue it around the coffee table leg, a piece of wood, or something else that can be used as a scratcher. Your cat needs some exercise and stimulation, including playtime with you. You can install the shelves on the wall for your cat to climb on. This set of cat toys comes with four uniquely colored swimming robot fish toys that your cat is sure to enjoy playing with and catching. So laser pointers work for her, but she will even enjoy a rubber band flicked across the carpet at high speed! You could also provide plastic drinking bottles or ping pong balls for your cat to chase around. Id recommend having a small sofa or couch under a window, then having a tall dresser/chest of drawers right next to the window for kitty to jump onto and peer outside the window from. You can entertain your cat despite her dislike for toys, by letting her watch cat videos on YouTube and other social media sites. Your cat deserves love, attention and furniture! You probably have an egg carton in your home right now. Here are some suggestions on how to enrich your cats home life. For instance, if your cat really likes feathers (totally Avery), get different types of toys with feathers, or if your cat really likes balls (my youngest, Cleo likes these), try out one of the many varieties of cat toy balls. Im still learning with these cats, have realised they need more simulation (especially at night) so seeing your blog is fantastic. How To Entertain A Cat That Doesn't Like Toys? - Pinterest This will make the perfect exercise, plus it is a lot of fun. Apart from playing with other cats, most cats really enjoy playing with toys. Yes, cats are well-known for their love of sleeping, but that doesn't mean they don't need enrichment and exercise throughout the day. When Do Kittens Calm Down? If you'd prefer something more tangible, however, there are also some fish-related toys and games,including their very own pond game complete with robotic fish. You might need to spend a bit more time but it can be done. Wild Birds of Joy Bird House Window Bird Feeder. Id bet while youre shuffling things about, your cat may just stare at you intently the whole time, curiosity brewing, then investigate once you are done, for hours if your change happens to be big or satisfying enough for kitty. Intriguing. When buying cat toys, we suggest you persist several times after buying them. Cats are playful animals and any moment is a good time for them to play. Making biscuits with his paws is his favorite way to relax. There are many different smartphone games to play with your cat try some of these 7 fun apps! Your typical cat will plant itself in any box or basket that is remotely big enough to hold him or at least allow for his overflow. (On the photo: Natures Hangout Window Bird Feeder from Amazon). If you want to refresh your memory of those fun childhood times and have fun with your cat, get those blankets out and start building the fort! The food drops from the timed feeder into the food maze, then my cats have to slowly pick out their kibble preventing them from gobbling down food all too quickly. Does anything do the trick perfectly by itself? Even bringing in items from the outdoors or around the house is sure to pique their curiosity. One day, it may be a catnip toy and the next day, it may be an interactive toy. Interactive cat toys where you only need to press a button are still excellent options to have around, in case there are times you are home, but are just a bit too busy to do the waving around of the cat wand yourself. The Amazon Basics Large. Freddie Mercury was the King of the Cats, Im quite certain (My dads theory is that when Freddie was writing his songs, he was doing so in a house full of cats, so might have wound up preferring/recording those things to which his bebbies responded well. One settles inside the bag, while the other stays outside. How to Entertain a Cat: 5 Creative Ways for Keeping Kitty Happy It may take some training and coaxing before your cat gets used to these items. Now, this won't work out for every cat, as lazy creatures like my own Avery will rarely ever touch a toy on their own, but it does work out for the vast majority of cats. Kitty is much more likely to follow them to a new spot considering his/her scent is already on them after sleeping in them a few times, and theyre one heck of a lot easier to move around for us humans than rearranging furniture. 1. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases; learn more here. Basically, if your cat spends less time on an item after the shift, its time to move things back. Both are 7 years old. Start with a basic puzzle feeder. Find out how to make your small space ideal for indoor cat life here. Turn any extra spaces in your home into a stylish cat bedroom. Fortunately, the first introduction does not have to be negative. Windows are a perfect spot for people-watching and sunbathing. And yes, my dogs love watching the birds too! Grab a box or two for kitty. However, make sure the fish tank or aquarium is properly secured: there should be no way for your cat to get near it. Scatter some pieces of paper or paper bags around the house and your cat will probably play with them or tear some holes in them. To make sure that your kitty doesn't fill up on treats, you can use dehydrated cat food or freeze-dried cat food to fill a interactive cat toy, so that it can be factored into their daily food intake. Some may even try to chew them. Homemade puzzles can also be a lot of fun: try paper towel rolls, empty tissue boxes or cereal boxes with holes cut out of them for making your own. It will be like their own cat HD TV! Play is important to keep your kitty in tip-top shape and mentally stimulated. A paper bag on the floor can keep a cat busy for a long time. She can play in it for hours. to keep away the boredom bug. Cats enjoy being above it all, looking down upon us mere mortals. Some really fun and new ones here. This is one absolutely simple cat toy that will keep your cat occupied for some time. How to Entertain a Cat | Canna-Pet My first cat, Avery, most certainly does. Just make sure the foil has no food scent so the cat doesnt try to eat it and supervise them while they play with the ball. My Okica and my boyfriends cat Minka are not interested in things like that but your cat might be up for it! Theyve learned the hard way. Something like a new scratching post may intimidate them to start with, but cats may ignore toys, trees, and beds for months before suddenly loving them. *Once you've subscribed, check your inbox for the "Please confirm your subscription" email & click the orange "Confirm!" It also boosts cats' confidence and exercises both body and mind. a cat whos hard to get in the mood to engage in a regular playtime try using these techniques to encourage your lazy cat to play, as well as these tips to get your cat to stay fit by passively and actively encouraging exercising. You'll likely find even in the tiniest of space, your cat will be up to the task, even if it takes them a little while to give it a go. Indoor Cat Interactive Swimming Fish Toy $15.99 It's particularly a good idea to collect a few of different sizes. Boxes not only provide a great hiding place but can make a great playroom. Enjoy it! Very well thought out and well written. Grab a couple cat cubes and move these around regularly. Perhaps a bit odd to look at, but I rigged it to be seated on top of a short stool, then strapped a cat food toy the Catit Food Maze right beneath with Velcro to the stool. Trying new toys is something I constantly have to do anyways since my Avery is such a lazy little bug and I really need to make sure I have backups in case he ever goes cold turkey and stops loving a toy hes been obsessing over for months (yes, this has happened with Avery!). Set them up with their very own fish pond, of course! Many cats enjoy playing with toys, such as chasing a ball or a piece of string. They do entertain each other to the point of being irritating sometimes. If your rooms have a view of the outside world, your cat can watch birds and other animals outside; otherwise, a fish tank or a cat enclosure could keep her entertained. Leave out different types of toys that kitty's able to play with on his/her own. Learn more here. A Cat Blog for Cat Lovers & Kitty Keepers. Of course humans do we cant jump on the tops of dressers or stand at the very top of a bookshelf so it matters more to us that theres space in the length and width of the room. If you happen to have a lazy kitty like mine i.e. Great job with this post! Just keep a steady stream of these different sizes and shapes coming if theyre free for you to grab anyway. (On the photo: Trixie 5-in-1 Activity Center from Amazon). Nothing like catnip to help pique a cats senses, whether he or she reacts to it by going crazy or not. Welcome to KittyClysm - a blog for cat lovers & kitty keepers. Try a narrow cat tree or hang a cat climber on a door instead. Use 3 plastic cups such as empty yogurt containers, and a small ball, or pretty much anything that rolls around. She needs attention and things to do and ponder. The hits in my household are ridiculously affordable: cat springs, ball track toys, & kick sticks. Again, relocate and put away if your cats gotten bored of the original location, but simple things like these can really help cats entertain themselves. Just a warning here: the string loop handles on some of the newer grocery paper bags can get caught around a cats neck. As an avid animal lover, you can often find Ashleigh checking out the newest trends in animal care or looking at cute cat videos on TikTok. So, along those lines, I want to give one more tip for people trying to figure out what their cats enjoy playing with. Theres actually a lot you can do to mend a relationship between cats who arent necessarily the best personality fit. Sometimes when one starts playing, others come along and join in. Give Them Treasure to Hunt. There are a bunch of awesome videos made for cats on YouTube that your cat would love to watch! They can entertain themselves for hours moving from spot to spot, taking a nap here or there, checking on birds outside from different vantage points, even if its all from the same window. This will give your cat something to hunt while you're gone. one cat stealing another cats food) became such a likely problem that I decided to just bite the bullet and buy an automatic feeder. Hide and seek 12. What has and has not worked for you? And since I have the feeder go off multiple times a day, if theyre napping, it wakes them up and gets them to engage in some play-for-food, which I find super beneficial to their boredom levels. Hire a pet sitter or get your family member to check on your cat, 49. Your cat could also explore your yard if you place a cat enclosure to allow her to move around safely. Cats spend 2/3 of their lives sleeping but once they are awake, they love to do something active and fun. Luckily, what I think is probably one of the coolest furniture-toy hybrids that will ever hit the market has already been invented: the Snuggly Cat Ripple Rug. Instead of petting your cat as you usually do, give your cat the best massage ever. While this is typically hard to do, toys like these that allow cats to play by themselves make the job one heck of a lot easier. Theres absolutely nothing like a bird feeding near kitty to make him/her completely attentive and in the zone. Some toys, like the Skymee Owl Robot, are like mechanical pet sitters: they play and feed your feline with treats when you're away. There are many cat treats on the market that are both strong tasting and appealing to cats. The occasional bit of greenery makes for a very welcome treat for your cats to chew on. Even though you might love to treat your cat like a prince or princess, it is better for their mental health to work for food.