Dear Critter Corner: At the end of last year, I adopted a kitten from my local shelter, and she has grown quite a bit over the last few months. She is very active and has required a lot of attention throughout the day, which has been manageable in the past since I have worked remotely. I am now being asked to work a more hybrid schedule, but I worry that my kitty will get into things that she is not supposed to when I am away. Do you have any suggestions on how I can keep her entertained while I am at work?
Now that remote work requirements have been changing, many companies are asking people to either return to the office or work a hybrid schedule. This change of schedule can cause quite a bit of stress on our animals that are used to having their owners around all the time. It is important to plan ahead for this and slowly work on increasing the time you are away from your home in preparation for being away for a whole workday.
First, I would suggest that in the morning, before you leave for work, you make time to have a long and rigorous play session with your cat. During this time, your cat should be running, jumping, and expending as much energy as possible. After the play session you can then give her the first meal of the day and create a routine schedule that will encourage your kitty to take a much-needed nap to start the day.
I would then suggest preparing a couple enrichment activities that your kitty can complete while you are out of the house. One very easy do-it-yourself enrichment toy can be rolling up a towel and placing a couple pieces of treats that your cat can fish out of it. This can help offer some mental stimulation during the day to tire out your kitty. It is very important to provide mental and physical stimulation for your cats to keep them busy and healthy!