In honor of January and many of our own goals to get more active, it’s only fitting that we talking about getting our pets more active and healthy in the New Year—specifically our kitties. That’s right! This is our first blog specifically about our furry little kitties. Cats love to lounge all day on the window sills and stare out the windows. They also love taking long cat naps! While this is all great, it’s still important to keep our cats playing and active. Indoor cats can be at risk for obesity if they lack proper exercise and a balanced diet. In addition to monitoring your cat’s food intake, it’s important to set aside time every day to play with your cat. Here are some of my favorite ways to play with kitty friends.
1. The Feather Sticks—Lots of furry felines love playing with a feather stick. Feather sticks are a good way for your cat to channel its natural hunting instincts. The feather acts as the prey and your cat can practice stalking and chasing the feather around. Letting your cat win the game is the key to keeping your cat engaged and interested in play.
Image from google images.
2. Catnip Toys (and little mice toys)— If you have a hard time engaging your cat, try a cat toy that smells like cat nip. The smell of catnip can entice your feline to get up and get active. Catnip toys can come in all sorts of types such as mice, crinkle balls and other mini stuffed animals.
Image from google images.
3. Crinkle Balls (and other balls that make sound) – Some cats are enticed by sounds. If that describes your cat, then your cat may be interested in playing with a crinkle ball. This kind of toy makes noise as your cat bats it around the room and can engage your cat when you are not around. My own kitten, Zorro, loves playing with ping pong balls in the middle of the night to get out energy. Nothing excites her more than the sound of a ping pong ball bounce down the hall. You can almost guarantee that she will be soon chasing the ball down the hall.
4. Laser Pointers—If all else fails, your cat may enjoy playing with a laser pointer. Many cats love chasing the little red dot around the room for fun. Once your cat is engaged in play with the laser pointer, it’s hard for them to stop. Even my cat, Cali enjoys coming inside after a long day of hunting outside to play with the laser pointer!
Playing with your cat is about more than getting your cat to exercise, it’s about the bonding experience you have with your cat during play. It’s a fun activity for both of you! Cynthia Rinehart of PetzRFamily2 started playing with her rescue kitty, Cassie (adopted from Whiskers, Tails and Ferals) from the time she was a kitten using strings, foil balls and Cassie’s personal favorite, the feather stick. Now that Cassie is four years old, she does not quite play as a kitten, but she still enjoys the activity time with Cynthia or her daughter. As a petsitter, I see all sorts of feline products and toys, but I have seen more kitties happily jumping into empty boxes, running into paper bags or batting homemade foil balls! Whatever types of toys or exercise your furry feline enjoys most, getting rid of excessive energy while sharing in this experience is really key. To keep your cat happy and healthy, make kitty play a part of this year’s New Year’s resolutions. Think of how much YOU will benefit! And, of course your kitty will too!
This is my cat Patches relaxing after playing in a box.
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