Keeping Cats Active
Cats in the wild usually forage several hours a day and eat multiple small meals throughout the day. They burn a lot of calories. Domestication, however, has removed the need for cats to hunt for live prey, decreasing their exercise and their mental stimulation. This has led to weight gain, boredom, and stress in our cats’ daily lives.
As cats leave their kitten year behind, they may not be as good at amusing themselves. They begin to lie around and gain weight. As owners, we accept this as typical cat behavior—the leisurely life of the feline. However, we have to guard against the stereotype leading to an unhealthy lifestyle. While it is normal for a cat to sleep eighteen or more hours a day, we still need to ensure that their daily life is mentally stimulating and that they are getting daily exercise. Dedicating some time every day, even ten to fifteen minutes, playing with our cat, providing an opportunity to "hunt", and basic training can keep our cats healthy physical, mentally, and emotionally.
The Thrill of the Hunt
You can provide "hunting" opportunities for your cat in various ways:
- Don’t provide food in a predictable location. Have several places in the house where you place food on an alternate basis. If you have more than one story in your house, have food locations on all floors. Place food up on a bookshelf or other furniture or hang a few shelves just for him (near windows is best).
- Create or buy "puzzle feeders." Provide the kibble portion of your cat’s diet or treats inside a toy that she has to knock around to get the food out. Start with larger and more holes, then reduce the size and number of holes as your cat becomes more skilled.
- Toilet paper or paper towel rolls: cut holes slightly larger than the size of the kibble in the sides, fill with kibble, and tape or fold the ends.
- Plastic water bottle: cut holes in sides, fill with kibble, replace the cap.
- Yogurt cups, cottage cheese containers, other plastic tubs: clean well, cut holes in sides and tops, fill with kibble, and replace the lid. Try different sizes to see what you cat likes and to keep things changing.
- Plastic cups: cut holes in bottoms of cups, tape the cups together top to top, punch a hole into base of each cup and pass string through them, and hang from cat tree or door knob. The cat has to swing the cups just right to get the kibble to fall out.
- Commercial toys can be found at the Scottsdale Cat Clinic, pet stores, and through catalogs.
- Play with your cat by tossing food down the hall or up onto various chairs and couches to stimulate his prey drive.
Toys
There are many toys available for playing with your cat, both commercially and in your house:
- Laser pointers will give your cat something to chase while you sit watching tv (warning: your cat will probably be more entertaining than your show).
- Poles or a string with feathers or mice on the end
- Crumbled up pieces of paper, the plastic ring from the milk gallon, small stuffed animals
- Catnip mice, balls with bells
- Cat play houses, cat trees
IMPORTANT! Always supervise your cat when he is playing with string so that he does not swallow it and throw away any torn or ragged toys.
Going Outside
If your cat is adventurous and outgoing, taking her outside on a harness and leash can provide exercise, stimulation and socialization. Having your cat accustomed to a leash will also help in emergency situations or on visits to the veterinary clinic.
- Ensure your cat is neutered and up-to-date on all vaccines before you take him outside. Also talk to your vet about regular deworming once your cat is going outside.
- Assess your cat’s personality to see if going out on a leash would be enjoyable or scary.
- Start young if possible; adolescents are usually more adventuresome.
- Ensure that the harness fits snugly so your cat cannot wiggle out but not too tightly to pinch the skin or restrict breathing. If you are unsure of how to attach the harness or how it fits, bring him into the clinic for a fitting.
- Place the harness on your cat inside, give her a treat, and let her wear it inside for short periods to get used to it.
- Carry your cat outside in your arms the first few times. If he tenses or tries to run up your head, take him back inside. If he stays relaxed, place him on the ground and follow him around. Gradually increase your time outside as your cat adapts to it.
- Keep vigilant for any signs of trouble such as stray dogs or cats or wildlife.
The Life of the Party
Cats can be trained to do many tricks with patience, persistence, and food rewards:
- Offer food rewards that your cat really likes but that are not filling, such as turkey baby food, small pieces of treats, or bites of canned food.
- Train before a meal and keep sessions short – 5-10 minutes.
- Praise your cat’s accomplishments.
- "Come"
- Show your cat the reward then say her name pleasantly, "Margie, come".
- When she comes, say "good come" and give the treat.
When she comes consistently, start replacing some of the food reward with praise.- Practice in different places and different situations.
- "Sit"
- Have your cat stand in front of you.
- Show him the treat and raise the treat over his face while you press down on his rump.
- When he sits, say "Good sit" and give him the treat.
Practice "Come" and "Sit" multiple times daily until your cat has perfected them before moving to other tricks.
- "Shake"
- Have your cat sit and offer a reward.
- Touch her on the elbow and bump her paw. When she raises her paw, grab it gently and shake it.
- Say "Good shake" and give a reward.
- "Up"
- Have your cat sit and offer a reward.
- Hold a treat above his nose just out of reach and say "Up".
- He should raise up on his haunches to reach the treat, not reach with his paws.
- When he sits up, say "Good up" and give him the reward.
- "Wave"
- Have your cat sit.
- Hold a treat at eye level, just out of reach.
- When your cat reaches for it with her paw, say "Good Wave" and give her the reward.
- Jump through a hoop
Let your cat investigate a hula-hoop or other circular object that he can easily fit through.- Place two chairs facing each other and touching or a few inches apart.
- Place your cat on one chair, pat the other chair, and show your cat a treat.
- When your cat hops across, say "Good jump" and give him the reward.
- Move the chairs a little further apart and repeat.
- Once he is comfortable jumping across the chairs, push the chairs together and place the hoop so that your cat can walk through it to the other chair and show him the treat.
- Gradually increase the distance so that your cat has to jump through the hoop to get to the other chair.
- Practice until he doesn’t need your finger with the reward to do the jump.
- When he does the jump without any bait, praise him enthusiastically, give a big reward, and call David Letterman.
