Relieving Cat Bordom

Idle hands are the devil’s workshop, as the saying goes. The same can be said for your cat’s paws.

Although most cats sleep 20 hours a day, those four hours of awake time can be boring for some cats, and boredom can lead to destructiveness.

Most cat owners believe giving their cats affection when they ask for it, playing with them when they are in the mood, keeping their litterbox clean and feeding them is enough, right? Wrong.

Help your cat enjoy her awake time and keep her from tearing up your couch or crashing lamps to the floor with a few simple tips.

• Stimulate her mind. Mental challenges are the best way to relieve boredom. An empty paper bag, opened with a few peep holes cut in it, can be great fun. An old shirt box with a few holes and a foam ball in it also is an inexpensive and stimulating toy.
• Give her a rainbow. Cats love to chase light; playing with a flashlight on the wall and floor or hanging a crystal in a sunny window will amuse a cat for hours.
• Try light entertainment. Believe it or not, cats love television. They are fascinated with the movement, colors and the sound — especially if it’s something they can relate to.
• Use a window. Place a chair near a busy window. Cats love to watch birds, squirrels and people go by. A bird feeder placed outside a window will be wonderful entertainment.
• Consider an addition to the family. Some cats won’t tolerate another animal in the house, but some crave company, especially when you are gone all day. A friend allows your cat to play and not attack you when you get home.
• Play with your cat. It usually only takes a 15- to 20-minute workout to prepare a cat for a 20-hour nap. The interaction will be good for both of you.
• Try an aquarium. Cats will sit for hours watching the fish. Be sure to keep a cat-proof cover over the top.

Before boredom strikes, prepare. You’ll be doing both yourself and your cat a favor.

Cat Care Tips

• How to Care for Bottle Fed or Nursing Kittens (PDF)
• Litter Box Training
• Relieving Cat Boredom
• Letting the Cat Out
• Spay or Neuter Your Cat
• Educating Miss Kitty
• One Cat or Two?
• Developmental Stages of Kittens (PDF)
• Your New Baby Kitten (PDF)
• Kitten Care
• Please Read Before Declawing (PDF)
• Cold Weather Pet Care (PDF)
• Cat Scratching help, visit: http://www.catscratching.com/