Cats tend to be unpredictable. Most of the time you wouldn’t know what they want. Sometimes they are the hardest pet to have and sometimes, they are the easiest. The personalities of different cats vary and most of the time, you don’t know what you are going to get when you choose them to go home with you. However, one thing is for sure. They aren’t the easiest of pets to entertain. Some of them get bored easily and it is amazing how some of them can entertain themselves without the help of a human. Therefore, it is very important that you learn how to entertain a bored cat.
When left at home and nothing to do, our feline friends can do whatever they want just to keep themselves entertained. They will do everything and anything just to not feel the boredom they are feeling when left alone.
For most, the use of some best indoor cat toys and cat furniture is needed to keep your cat from destroying your well-designed home. Sometimes they can else get into small spaces that may seem impossible to get them out. Don’t even get me started on cats getting stuck in the trees!
So let’s get right into what you can do to keep your cat entertained and save your furniture from getting scratched and destroyed.
Escaping Boredom: How To Entertain A Bored Cat
Cat Toys
This is probably the most obvious thing to do, even with other pets. There are multitudes of cat toys that are available that you can choose from, especially when figuring out how to entertain a bored cat. Depending on the type of cat that you have, you can pick and purchase a toy that your cat will absolutely love. There are many choices and categories that cat toy producers have made and are making trying to evolve with the current times.
Unlike a couple of decades ago, there are now electronic toys that help entertain, keep an eye on and cure the boredom of your furry friend. There are now toys like the Running Pet Cat Toy and the Interactive Laser Cat toy where your cat can chase the laser around a specific area of your house. We all know how our furry friends love to chase that red light in the attempt to catch it.
If you are a first-time cat owner, the best way that we have found very helpful is to get a bunch of different types of toys and see what your furry friend plays with often. By doing this, you are giving them the chance to chose what toy they want and this will be a lot easier on your the next time that you are going to get them a new toy.
Changing It Up
Now that you have toys that your cat loves, there comes a time that they will also get bored of that beloved toy. One trick to keep them from being bored is to get a new, similar toy that they can play with.
For example, if your furry friend enjoys playing with balls, what you can do is to get a variety of balls with different features and bring them out every time that you feel that your cat is getting bored with the ball that they always play with.
Nowadays, you can get cat toys where they are very interactive and not only thinks about your cat’s physical health but also their mental health as well. Some toy balls are puzzles in their own way where our kitties have to solve a certain puzzle to get a reward hidden inside the toy.
Take treat balls for instance. Treat balls are cat toys that have a certain shape and openings where you can insert treats inside the ball then your cat will try to solve a puzzle, with varying difficulty, to try to get the treat hidden inside the ball. This will be kind of a reward for them for solving the puzzle of the ball.
Again, switching things up every now and then will keep your cat’s mind active and will kill the idea of boredom.
Cat Trees And Cat Furniture
If you thought that you were the only one getting the furniture inside, then you are wrong. Cat furniture today is a big and sometimes necessary part of a cat’s home life. There are a lot of benefits that cat trees and furniture can offer you and your cat at home. Aside from keeping them entertained, some of this furniture has integrated scratching posts, dangling toys, and places to nap in.
You can purchase these in pet stores and online stores. There is a range of cat trees and furniture to choose from. Some of them are tall, some of them are small. Many of them have toys included and some have napping spaces. They are made with different textures and fabric that plays with your cat’s senses. It is something they can enjoy and will stimulate their mental health.
With toys and other included features, this is surely a must-have inside your cat home. This will also allow them to climb up and fulfill their natural desire to be on top, looking over everyone. At least you need not worry about them climbing on trees again.
Small Spaces And Catnaps
As we all know, cats love getting into the tightest of spaces. It makes them feel safe and secure. Sometimes they just want to be alone and take a catnap. Cats often get stuck in spaces such as space under our house or under and between furniture. When they get stuck, it is difficult to get them out. Luring and forcing them out is usually what happens.
There is a way to avoid all that trouble. You can give your cat space where he feels safe and secure to take a load off for a moment. Cats need their naps too.
You need not purchase any other cat furniture to give them this. You can use what you have at home to give them the space that you need. Take for example a bookshelf in your living room. It wouldn’t hurt to leave the bottom shelf for your cat to squeeze into and rest.
You can also do this with other types of furniture in your home. At least have a one for every room in the house. That way, your cat would not go anywhere you don’t want them to go into. It also saves you the trouble of getting them out of other unwanted tight spaces in your home.
Zero Cost Toys
Viral videos of cats playing with cardboard boxes and paper bags are the cutest ones of all. Talking about small and tight spaces, cardboard boxes and paper bags are the best zero cost toys you can get. Who knew?
If you are in a bind financially and can’t get toys for your cat for the moment, these things will keep your cat entertained for quite a while and the best part is that you didn’t even have to pay for it. They will kill their boredom and play with those boxes and bags for hours.
This only shows that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to keep your furry friends entertained. Yes, those expensive toys are good quality but nothing can beat the novelty of paper bags and cardboard boxes. You are sure to have a viral video on your hands when you capture them playing with these.
Automatic Feeders
We aren’t always at home. We have work to do and most of the time we are out of the house. Our cats will take that time to be lazy and just sleep all day.
One thing to get them moving is cat feeders. Some of these may be automatic and some may be cat feeders that are also puzzles that allow your cat to work for their food. One cat feeder that made it to our list of best cat toys for indoor cats is the Catit Senses 2.0 Food Tree. This feeder allows you to feed your cat in a way that will keep your cat moving physically and mentally. There are many benefits to get from cat feeders like this and it is a must-have to keep your cat on their toes and keep them moving while you are away for long hours.
There are also automatic cat feeders to give your cat some food at a certain time. This allows your cat to not be lazy while you are at work. It makes them get up and go to the feeder and eat and move around aside from just laying down and taking catnaps all day.
It is needless to say that your cat should get enough exercise to keep them from becoming overweight like a certain cartoon cat that we all know and love. Although it might look cute and adorable, you want your furry friend to be physically healthy and mentally healthy too.
Window Shopping
Who doesn’t love a good view? Our feline friends also enjoy a good view of looking outside the window. Just like you, sometimes they like watching what is happening outside their home.
Watching the outside world can calm them and keeps them entertained. They can watch the people passing by, the birds and animals outside your home, or maybe just appreciate the wonderful view out on the street. It is best to give them space where they can sit by the window and people watch or just watch in general.
Allow space for them in every room in the house from where they can watch the outside world. Being on the window also satisfies their need to be on higher ground.
A Friend In Need
One of the other things that you can do is to get another cat. Instead of your cat playing by himself, another cat can give your feline friend another friend to play with. Cats may be more independent animals, but they can be sociable too if given the opportunity.
To avoid any trouble with the second cat that you’re going to get, it is best to get a cat that has the same temperament as your first. This will allow them to get along better and live harmoniously inside your home.
It will be a bit difficult in the beginning but rest assured that they will be the best of buddies in no time. Having a well-adjusted cat will be advantageous, however, it doesn’t mean that if your first cat is not well-adjusted that they will not get along. Again, it will take some time to get used to having new company at home.
This choice is not for everyone. Take time to consider if this really is the option for you. Adopting another kitty is not as easy as it sounds. Consider all your options to make sure that you give both cats all their needs in your home.
Engage With Your Kitty
All the tips on this list can surely be a great help for anyone with a cat that has a hard time being alone. However, it is our responsibility as cat owners to take care of them in all aspects.
The best way to keep them entertained is when you engage with them. Take some time out of your busy schedule to play with your furry friend. It will show them that you care about them and will strengthen the bond that you have with your kitty.
Get cat toys that will allow you to play with your cat and enjoy your time with them. Everyone loves a lazy cat, but of course, there are responsibilities that we cannot forgo just because they are lazy. Engaging with them will keep them active physically and mentally. This will allow your cat to be with you longer. Therefore, when figuring out how to entertain a bored cat, be sure to find what works best for your kitty.
Our Final Thoughts
Cats are an amazing species. They are independent, caring, and sweet. However, they are the types of animals that are not the easiest to please. It takes a lot to kill the boredom of cats. Lucky for you if your cat enjoys things as simple as cardboard boxes and paper bags. Although for some, that is just not enough to keep their cats active.
Like what was said in this article, we should provide our feline friends the space that they need to take that time and be alone for a few hours to take a nap or sit by the window and appreciate the view. Cat toys and cat furniture can help a lot with keeping boredom away.
Cat toys are great for cats and humans. It gives the cats a chance to be active and get in some exercise for the day. Humans will get a kick out of the new toys that are available in the market today. From electronic toys to human-powered toys, both you and your cats are sure to enjoy the toys you can get in pet stores and online stores.
You should also take note of what your cat likes to play with so that you wouldn’t have to purchase toys that will end up being thrown in storage and never used again. This might very well happen though in the beginning. As you raise a kitty, it is best to figure out what they like while they are young and change it up every now and then just to keep them on their toes.
Perhaps, the most important information that you can take away from this whole article is that you should be playing with your cat often. Engaging with your feline friend will be the best thing that you can do to keep your cat active and physically and mentally fit. Playing with your cat allows for you and your cat to have a stronger bond and that’s all that we want without furry friends.
