Dear Critter Corner: I recently adopted a two-year-old cat from my local shelter, and we have bonded a lot over the past couple of months. He is easily excited and loves to run around the house and at times gets into things that he isn’t supposed to. What are some other ways that I can keep my cat busy throughout the day and give him more of a challenge during playtime?
Congratulations on the new addition to your family! Finding new activities that your new cat or kitten likes to do can sometimes be a challenge, and a trial-and-error test. To provide enrichment for your cat, there are many activities that you can try. Adding activities to your cat’s daily life will help burn physical energy and also provide mental stimulation!
There are an infinite number of do-it-yourself enrichment toys you can make for your furry friend. Here are a couple of simple examples. You can place cat treats in the wells of an empty egg carton and set it out so your cat can fish out the treats. It will keep him busy for some time and focused on using his paws to obtain treats. You can also fill a pan with water and place treats in floating containers such as small tins. Your cat will then need to work and figure out how to get his treats! These enrichment toys are simple to put together, and everything required can be found in your home. With just a little effort, you can add great enrichment to your cat’s life. Use your imagination to dream up more fun games for your cat!
Since it has been quite warm over the past few weeks, it is important to make sure that your cat is able to take breaks during rigorous play sessions and can have access to multiple clean water stations. To help him cool down during the summer, you can make little ice cube treats by freezing some wet treats and offering them to your kitty. This will allow him to get a tasty treat and help him cool down from the heat!
Cats are natural-born hunters and have an instinct to hunt for their food. Using these methods will not only make playtime more enjoyable for your cats but also give them a challenge to work for their food.