Dear Critter Corner: My cat had his annual vet check-up last week and the vet said he could use some more exercise to help maintain his weight. He has lots of toys but doesn’t play with them. Any ideas?
A good start would be to try to figure out what type of activities your cat enjoys, whether chasing toys on the ground, climbing up cat trees, or perching on a ledge watching the outdoors. Once you have an idea of this, you can then introduce toys and activities in your home that will be more engaging to your cat. If he likes to chase after toys, try playing with him with a toy attached to a string or a wand, and entice him to chase and jump or spring in the air for the toy. If he prefers pouncing on toys, try hiding them in a few boxes around the house or in a tunnel, so he can search for them and then pounce. We’re trying to home in on your cat’s natural instincts and translate it into fun indoor activities. You’ll know when your cat is truly tired when he’s choosing to rest or lounge after a play session. Give your cat a few minutes to catch his breath and then see if he’d like to restart any of the games. A few play sessions per day will help provide much needed exercise as well as mental stimulation for your cat to enjoy.
Some cats prefer high perches, such as hammocks, cat trees, or shelves along the walls creating a cat highway. If you’re able to include these in your home, try luring your cat from perch to perch with toys or his kibble. This will help motivate him to explore and move around.
If your cat is food motivated, a simple kibble toss game can be played a few times a day to help exercise him and reward him as he chases after the kibble. You can also hide some of the kibble around your home, creating a treasure hunt for when you’re not around. Be sure to portion this out from his daily ration so that he is not overfed. If he tends to gobble down his food quickly, you can also try placing his food in a puzzle feeder to help him to slow down. In addition, consider checking with your vet whether free feeding, automatic feeders, or smaller portions would be suitable for your cat, as well as other types of cat food for weight management.