Your cat is probably living a good life. Her food bowl is filled according to a predictable schedule and she soft sleeping place,all best cat toys Something that piques her interest and a soft wrap waiting for her when she needs some cuddle time. However, you may be surprised to learn that cats can still be stressed out if they miss out on an important part of their lives: daily enrichment.
Do cats get bored?
Yes, cats can get bored. If your cat is pacing, Behaviors like grooming yourself too much or whining a lot can mean she’s bored.
Christine Vitale, a cat researcher and doctoral candidate at Oregon State University, said this type of repetitive behavior is known as stereotypy and can be a sign of psychological stress in the animal. states. Vitale added that animals often engage in repetitive behaviors when there is no change in the environment.
“Pet parents may also notice an increase in cat behavior problems, such as excessive vocalization or biting,” Vitale says. “If a cat does not have an appropriate outlet to practice its normal biting behavior, for example due to a lack of fulfillment or play time, it will direct its biting behavior to inappropriate outlets, just like humans do. It may get lost.”
Adding enriching activities to your cat’s daily routine can help reduce this type of stress behavior.
What is enrichment?
Enrichment improves animal health by harnessing instinctive behaviors such as stalking, pouncing, and biting, while promoting play and creativity. of Mental stimulation through cat enrichment activities can help improve your cat’s behavior while strengthening your relationship with your cat.
Enrichment also allows you to safely engage in other normal cat behaviors, such as scratching, sniffing, and scent exploration, in a way that satisfies your cat (as well as keeping the couch clean). can).
How to make your cat happier with enrichment
Incorporating variety into your cat’s life is easier than you think. The options below are just a few of the ways you can provide learning opportunities and stimulation for your feline best friend.
1. Cat training
Training your cat to follow simple (or not-so-simple) cues is a great way to activate your cat’s brain. Many cats respond well Clicker training. The trainer is small noise maker Mark the moment when the animal performs the correct behavior, and then give it a small treat.
To teach your cat to sit in order, either “capture” your cat with a click and a treat when it sits naturally, or use a treat to guide your cat’s body into position and click when it sits. You can.
To induce this behavior, place the treat near your cat’s head and move it in a straight line from your cat’s nose, over the top of his head, and back between his ears. This action allows her to shift her weight into a sitting position. Then associate the word with the action by saying the word “sit” as she performs the action.
After repeating this a few times, your cat will be able to respond by saying “sit.” A “high five” that takes advantage of your cat’s natural paw behavior is also a fun and easy trick to add to your cat’s repertoire.
2. Puzzle feeder
Treat toys aren’t just for dogs. cat puzzle feeder and cat treat toy They range from simple ball shapes that release cat treats when you hit them, to complex brain teasers that test your cat’s problem-solving skills.
Some of the more difficult options may require you to serve as an assistant coach. If your cat is reluctant to be fed or gives up easily, Vitale explains, you may need to train your cat to associate paw movements with retrieving food.
If you’re not sure how your kitty will react to puzzle toys, you can create an upcycled version before investing in a puzzle toy. Vitale suggests punching a small hole in an empty paper towel roll, filling it with food, and folding the end over. You can adjust the difficulty of the feeder by changing the number and size of holes.
3. Lead walking
Taking your cat for outdoor leash walks is a great way to expand your cat’s horizons.
The first step is to get her used to the equipment so she is willing to wear new things. cat harness and leash. Before putting on the gear, allow your cat to explore the parts at his or her own pace, then combine the process of putting on the gear with something positive, like enjoying treats from the cat tube that can be licked with a spoon.
Some cats may refuse to walk because they are not used to being on a leash. Treat it like a Churu® To seduce her. Invite your cat to come forward and lick the churu a little. Then ask him to walk a little farther so he can lick more of the treat. Your cat’s dependence on treats will gradually fade and your cat will begin to interact with the world around it.
4.Fragrance items
We often ignore cats’ sense of smell, but encouraging scent exploration is an easy way to enrich their day.
Vitale said that presenting cats with unfamiliar odors in their home environment is important for their welfare, as outdoor cats are naturally more likely to explore their range, encountering many unfamiliar odors. It is pointed out that there is. She adds that research into cats’ scent preferences has found that the scent itself is less important than giving cats a rotation of different scents.
Introducing your cat to new scents, such as exchanging cat toys with a friend or rubbing a neighbor’s dog with a washcloth, creates rich scent opportunities.
5. Outdoor catio
At Vitale, we believe safe access to the outdoors is essential to a cat’s health. Whether it’s as simple as a screened window perch where your cat can watch (and smell) the world, or as elaborate as a homemade outdoor catio.
By allowing your cat to interact with the natural world outside your front door, you’ll increase your cat’s daily happiness. Vitale and her husband built a simple outdoor catwalk for their cat out of plywood and wire mesh, allowing them access at any time as long as the partition door was open.
Can a cat have too much nutrition?
While it may be tempting to provide your cat with a million different nutritional options, you can overwhelm your cat and cause her to become inactive.
Vitale said research has found that when animals are given too many options, they are less likely to choose any of them than if they were given a more limited set of options. Also, providing the same type of enrichment without variety can become boring for cats. She suggests rotating options instead of giving your cat everything at once.
And remember that scratching is an important part of a cat’s well-being. Cats naturally scratch scent marks, Vitale says, so if you don’t provide them with an approved outlet, they could use your couch. Many cats like to relax in high places, so cat tree and tower A built-in cat scratcher is an ideal way to enrich your cat’s environment while saving on furniture.
