Enrichment activities for cats: ideas to keep kitty happy

As loving pet parents, keeping our feline friends happy is at the top of our priority list. So how exactly (aside from TLC on tap), can we do that? Well here we’re exploring enrichment activities for cats that’ll tease out their natural instincts, provide mental stimulation, improve behavior and strengthen your bond. Ready to get stuck in? 

How long should I play with my cat?

Play with your cat for up to one hour daily, split into ten to 15 minute sessions (as cats are active in short bursts). Playing with your cat is essential - it provides mental stimulation, encourages exercise, reduces stress, improves behavior, and helps them to express natural instincts. 

So with that in mind, let’s get into our suggestions on how to keep cats entertained.

Enrichment activities for cats & how to keep cats entertained

Cat toys

If you want to know how to tire out an outdoor kitten or cat, or indoor house cat, a great place to start is investing in a few cat toys for stimulation - physical and mental. Whether it’s a toy that replicates hunting, chew toys or a kicker toy, there are heaps on the market to choose from.

Scratching posts

A scratching post isn’t just about pure fun, sharpening claws and avoiding nail trims. Nope - a scratching post also provides mental stimulation for cats, helps them stretch their bodies, mark their territory and reduce stress.

Catnip

Some felines will react to catnip, whereas others might not feel any effects. Either way, catnip can be an enjoyable journey for your feline, providing them with a mellowing effect that can reduce stress.

Cat training & tricks

Yup, enrichment activities for cats can involve training them to perform a few envy-worthy tricks. Have a go at training your feline to fetch, high five, jump through a hoop or play dead.

Create a cat corner

One of the cutest enrichment ideas for cats is to create a dedicated corner (or area) for your feline. Whether it’s an old (open) suitcase, giant cardboard box or a sectioned-off comfy cat bed laden with blankets and soft toys, giving your kitty the time out they need will enhance your cat’s wellbeing.

Cat puzzle feeders

Mental stimulation for cats is simple once you enter the world of cat puzzle toys. Also known as food puzzles and treat dispensers, these encourage your cat’s natural instinct to hunt and forage for food. Explore those on the market or create your own using an old cardboard box - simply cut holes and place small amounts of cat treats inside for your feline to find.

Clicker training

If you’re after enrichment activities for cats that provide both mental and physical stimulation and help the two of you bond, why not try clicker training? Simply invest in a clicker (or make a particular noise from your phone) and teach your feline to associate performing a particular trick or behavior when they hear the noise, rewarding them for performing it correctly.

Climbing

Playing on your cat’s natural instinct to climb is a sure way to tire them out and make sure your kitty is stimulated. So, if you’re wondering how to keep cats entertained indoors, invest in a cat tree so that even when it’s raining outside, your kitty can climb to her heart’s content.

Play music

Aside from enrichment activities for cats, you can also provide your feline with environmental enrichment through enhancing their sensory surroundings. One easy way to do this is to play some cat-friendly music to calm and stimulate your feline friend.

Walkies

If you’re after activities with cats that involve exercise, did you know that you can train your cat to walk on a leash? Yup, walkies isn’t just for dogs.

Catios

If you’d love your cat to be able to feel the wind on their face without the risk of veering off around the neighborhood, investing in a catio (an outdoor enclosure for cats) is a great way to get your feline outside. They’re a safe way to make sure your feline gets the exercise and outdoor time he needs.

Bird baths

If you enjoy playing with your cat but you’d also like a cat enrichment activity that’s pretty self serving, play on your cat’s love for birds. Either invest in a bird bath (your kitty watching from the window is priceless entertainment for pet parents), or simply stick on a bird video and watch the drama unfold.

Keep your trash

Last but not least, keep your trash. The possibilities are endless when it comes to how to keep cats entertained using what would have been chucked in the trash can. 

Cats simply love paper towel rolls, paper bags and of course, the infamous cardboard box. Below are a few ideas on DIY mental stimulation for cats using materials that might have once been thrown in the trash.

• Cardboard boxes. Keep them whole and your feline will have the time of their life laying in it. Cut them into pieces and create a maze and you’ll have a mentally and physically stimulating activity den for your feline. And if you’re after fun things to do with your cat, create additions to the maze and move sections around to keep their brain ticking.
• Milk caps and wine corks. Simply attach a piece of string and your feline will be transfixed.
• Pizza boxes. As long as they’re empty and clean, pizza boxes are a super cheap alternative to a cat puzzle toy if you want to know how to keep cats entertained on a budget. Simply cut a few holes in the top and sides and place their favorite cat treats inside.
• Shower curtain rings. Fix on a length of string, attach them together or link them onto a cage door and your feline will be stimulated in no time.
• Paper bags and scrap paper. Rip them in half to avoid any suffocation hazards, and your kitty will be scratching and pouncing away simply at the sight and sound of it.
• Carpet scraps. Any old carpet cut-offs are ideal for cats who simply love to scratch.
• Paper towel rolls. Yup, just a simple, ready-to-recycle cardboard paper towel roll will entertain your cat. To spice things up though, you could puncture holes and attach string with a milk bottle cap tied to the end.

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