Leaving your cats at home while you are at work can pull at the heartstrings, but I have ways to keep them engaged so that they don’t feel bored. It is rare that a cat would die for companionship because it might be a little too needy.
Although known for their independence, cats still require some stimulation to keep them happy and healthy. In fact, boredom in cat tends to cause the most stress, destructive behavior, or health issues. The good news is that keeping your furry friend comfy, even while you tackle your 9-5, could be very easy.
Here’s how you can make sure your cat stays engaged and happy while you’re away:
Make Playtime Solo with Toys
Cats mostly thrive in playing to stimulate hunter instincts, get active, and have their minds busy with all the playful things. Hence, toys that induce solo play are the following:
Interactive Toys: Puzzle feeders or treat-dispensing toys should turn playtime into a hunt while your cat is in chase of his treats.
Wand Toys with Motion: Auto-feather wand toys or laser pointers (auto shut-off) are reminiscent of prey movement-your cat could also be given the excitement of the chase.
Catnip and Kick Toys: Many cats indeed crave catnip-infused toys while others kick toys allow them to learn to pounce or wrestle.
Continuously change them every couple of days to preserve freshness.
Create a Cat Wonderland with Climbing Options
Cats love to climb and perch-it’s part of their instincts. Verticalize some of the aspects in your home to make it safe for them to create a land of fun:
Cat Trees: A multi-story cat tree with platforms, scratching posts, and a hideaway or two for sleeping is just what one cat ordered.
Window Perches: Stick in a perch or two near a sunny window, where cats have great sun bathing or bird watching.
Wall Shelves: Install sturdy shelves or steps your cat can climb on or perch upon to satisfy their curiosity; almost any purpose can be achieved here.
Your cat will learn to think by having such height-friendly spaces that stimulate his brain and encourage some physical exercise.
Encourage the Huntress within Them Using Food Puzzles
Wild-caught cats work for their dinners. Why start the process at all when you have a whole day to work?
Keep cat food puzzles around the house; the cat will run around searching for treats.
Challenge the cat level by level so that they are all worked up.
Turn the mealtime into a fun hunt dinner course on soil feeders.
Food puzzles not only do the trick of keeping the little fuzzy entertained, but they are also great inhibitors of boredom overeating.
Bring the Outdoors Indoors
Even if your precious cats are indoor felines, they can still enjoy some aspects of nature at a safe distance away:
Interactive Windows: Place birdfeeders outside these windows-your cat will love them.
Natural Sounds: Play soothing ambient bird or forest-noises music.
Videos for Cats: Use YouTube videos that feature birds, squirrels, or fish, aggregating examples of the things that keep your cat entertained.
It’s like the “window to the wild” as it makes their senses quite sharp and reduces stress.
Get ‘Em Busy with Scratchers
It is a stress reliever for cats in more than merely sharpening their claws into surfaces where they like to leave their marks. Prevent unwanted scratching on furniture by strategically setting up scratchers:
Thus, they can scratch in a vertical and horizontal position.
Use sisal, cardboard, or wood-all things your cat adores.
Place it near their favorite snooze zones-they wake up and go poke at it.
Scratching is a natural act; therefore, it must be provided with acceptable channels.
Leave Behind a Companion for Comfort
For self-proclaimed lovers of company, it’s something you may consider doing as it might be beneficial to your feline companions:
Scented Blanket: Leave a piece of your scent behind by using a blanket or a shirt.
Interactive Cat Buddy: Some cats love the plush moving toy that chirps or makes some sound; it imitates a play pal.
Heals them up quickly while you are not there.
Set Up Remotely Check-in Times
For advanced pet parents, devices have now come up with which you can communicate with your cat while you are at work:
Pet Cameras: Install Furbo or Petcube to monitor your cat-live and dispense treats or communicate through voice messages.
Automated Toys with Timers: Set them up at different times of the day, surprising the cat with their “activities.”
Not only is the cat kept entertained, but this kind of checking ensures you are able to leave for work without obsessing too much about your cat.
Obtain a Feline Pal
Where the lifestyle and material resources allow, another whole cat could ease the problem of boredom. Bonded cats may play, groom, and all. One makes the other’s company if you go to the office and are in the house for a regular weekend away. However, the key is to make sure your cat is willing to share space with other cats before committing to it.
Keep the Routine:
Cats love a schedule as much as everything else. Leave all the above without disrupting their days.
Feed them and change the water on your way out to work.
Stay near them and indulge in your activities of closeness, whether playing together, snuggling, or just being around.
Make a timeless and attention-worthy talk session yours for the most quality time.
Final Thoughts
Just because you’re at work doesn’t mean your cat should feel bored or abandoned. By enriching their world with toys, vertical climbing elements and lots of enrichment activities, your pet cat may have lifelong happiness borne of simple, achievable measures.
Got great tips-like putting LED bulbs all over their tiny little “rooms” or making wallpaper of the owner’s face-something? Leave it in the comments! The cat will thank you, even profusely, for your effort.
Also Check: Can Cats Have Bee Pollen? A Natural Superfood or a Hidden Risk