What to play with a cat so that she is interested
A bored cat cannot be happy. If you stimulate your pet’s brain and keep him interested through games, it will make him happier. This is especially true if the cat is prone to destructive behavior, such as shredding curtains or digging up flower pots. She may also show that she is bored by being aggressive or showing signs of depression. If this behavior bothers you, take her to the veterinarian first to rule out underlying medical conditions that may be causing the problem behavior. If the veterinarian does not find anything serious, the point is most likely that she is simply bored. How to entertain a pet while the owner is not at home? Here are some simple ideas to keep your cat’s mind busy, whether you’re at home or not:
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1. Let dinner be the prey
Instead of just filling your cat’s bowl, offer her a puzzle feeder. Then she will have to first figure out how to get food out of the maze, or bypass a series of obstacles in order to eat it. You can purchase a puzzle feeder or make your own. Take a clean plastic bottle or other container and cut out holes for the pellets to pass through. Another educational cat game that is easy to do is to hide food all over the house. Finding items for cats is a great and easy-to-implement way to keep your pet busy while you’re away, as well as encourage her to be physically active. Try hiding small amounts of food in different places around the house using the cells cut out from the egg container.
2. Encourage her natural hunting instinct
Mouse-shaped mechanical toys, a laser pointer, or even a simple string that you run across the floor can keep your cat interested and mentally stimulated, awakening their innate hunting instinct. Bonus: The way she behaves as she prepares to attack is sure to make you laugh and entertain your whole family! You can increase her interest by placing boxes everywhere where she can hide while waiting for the “prey” to approach. In addition to mental stimulation, cat games are a great way for you and your family to spend time and make friends with your pet.
3. Let her climb
Cat trees and houses perfectly stimulate the mental and physical activity of pets. Encoded in the DNA of cats is an innate desire to climb higher, where they are less vulnerable to predators. It also makes it easier for them to track down their prey. Cat trees and houses allow the cat to climb and sharpen its claws, as its ancestors did. These fixtures come in all shapes and sizes – find the ones that your pet will love and also distract her from your home decor. You will definitely enjoy watching her climb up and play with her new toy. This will also reduce her destructive behavior around the house, as she will be able to sharpen her claws and climb her tree while leaving your furniture alone.
4. Visibility
How to entertain a cat suffering from loneliness? These animals are curious and love to observe what is happening around. If you have a window overlooking a bird feeder or other equally inviting painting, it makes a great spot for cat sightings. Incredibly, a cat is able to entertain itself for hours, watching the birds outside the window and occupying its mind. If the view from your window is not particularly interesting, you can turn on the TV for her and find a program about birds or squirrels. This, too, can take her a long time. Just make sure the cat can’t reach the screen to poke it with its paw.
There are even mobile apps made specifically for cats. If you have a scratch-resistant tablet, you can download any of these games. They are designed to stimulate cat activity – cats can touch different objects with their paws and watch them slide across the screen.
5. Get her a friend
A second cat might be just what the doctor ordered for your bored pet, according to Companion Animal Psychology. Two cats can keep each other company during your absence, play and lick each other. However, before you get a second pet, think about the extra cost and hassle. You should not do this if you are not sure that you are ready for double responsibility. But if you decide, introduce the animals to each other slowly, because such an experience can be a very strong experience for both cats.
Just like people, pets can get bored sitting at home all day. But with these simple tips, you can help your cat beat boredom and stay alert, engaged, active, and joyful for years to come!