by Janet Farricelli CPDT-KA

Created on: January 20, 2009

Is your cat entertained enough? If in doubt or if you never gave it a thought, the best way to know is to simply watch your cat for cues. Is your cat sleeping most of the day? Is your cat yawning from boredom and paying too many visits to his or her best friend, the refrigerator? Do you ever feel like your cat sees you as an automated live food dispenser? Does your cat warm up your sofa pretty much for most of the day? If you said yes to any of the above, very likely your cat is infact uhhmm, bored.

Bored cats may indeed give food too much importance, this is how they ultimately get that belly fat. Add then the fact that they are mostly allergic to exercise and you will get the picture, the picture of a lazy, bored cat. However, the good news is that there are many things that owners may do in order to keep their cats entertained, stimulated and mentally equilibrated.

1) Cat tree

It is not a new fact that cats love heights. While natural trees are out of reach for most csts, a cat tree will allow the cat to enjoy the views form the above. Many cat trees also come with many bonuses such as holes to snug into, amacas, and toys.

2) Window perches

Just as we humans like to watch television, cats like to watch butterlfies hover around and birds chirping. A window perch will make a great gift, guaranteed!

3) Laser toys

Lazy cats will test their hunting and stalking skills by chasing laser lights. Watch your cat run and jump while you simply move about the beam from the comfort of your couch.

4) Catnip

Catnip is more than just a herb that makes your cat act silly. It has proven to be a great stress reliever that may relax anxious cats. Kittens may not respond to catnip until they are older, but cats will surely enjoy their temporary "high'.

5) Cat grass

Cats just as humans need their greenies. Most cats will crave a bit of grass especially when they have hairball issues. Cat grass may be bought from the seed aisle of garden centers or you can grow your own from oat or barley seeds.

6) Harness and leash

If your cat loves the outdoors (most cats do) you can take him or her out for a nice stroll. Make sure to purchase a good harness that will not be too loose for your cat to escape.

7) Cat videos

Yes, these do infact esist. They are recorded tv programs you may find in DVD' s that feature birds and bugs for your cat's entertainment. Simply pop a video in your DVD recorder before heading out for work.

8) Give a box

Sometimes owners buy their cats expensive toys when the best entertainment devices are free of charge or best, already in the home. A box may provide hours of entertainment as your cat will love the noise produced from jumping in and out of it and they will love to hide in it.

9) An aquarium

Cats may watch fish for hours as they happily swim in their aquatic environment. Just make sure there is no way for the cat to get in touch with the fish. Accidents do happen and your cat may go fishing for his next meal.

10) A feline friend

Yes, you heard right. Some times the best solution to keeping your cat entertained is to simply add another feline friend to your household. Senior cats in particular may gain back a few years by appearing youthful again when paired to another cat or kitten.

An entertained cat is a happy cat. Owners should be concerned about their cats should they display signs of boredom and stress. Cats were meant to live an adventureous life. As humans, it is our responsability to ensure their wellbeing. As cats become more entertained owners will suddenly notice a major plus: they will also be entertained by their cat's entertainment!

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