by Raven Lebeau

Created on: March 12, 2009   Last Updated: March 26, 2009

When cats are kept indoors, they are safer and healthier than their outdoor counterparts, but they do need appropriate amounts of physical exercise as well as mental stimulation. Keeping your cat entertained is an important part of being a responsible pet owner and providing proper cat care. Here are some ways to make sure your feline friends don't suffer from boredom.

1. Have several cats.

When adopting kittens take home at least two from the litter. Litter mates are very closely bonded with each other and will remain friends for life. If you already have a cat, bringing a new cat into your home can work, but it will take time for the animals to tolerate each other, and even longer for them to bond.

The benefits of having multiple cats far outweigh the added responsibility. Your cats will enjoy grooming each other as well as playing games that involve chasing and batting each other.

2. Keep empty cardboard boxes for your cats to play in.

Cats love to crawl into small spaces, and a cardboard box makes an ideal playhouse for your kitties. They also love to take turns "defending" and "attacking" their corrugated fortress. Sometimes they will chew the cardboard or scratch a hole in it. When the box becomes very damaged, simply discard it and replace it with a new one. Try saving boxes from purchased items such as appliances or decorations or asking for empty boxes at a grocery store or liquor store. Your employer may also have boxes you can bring home from work.

3. Brown bag your groceries.

Paper, not plastic. Your cat will love running in and out of a brown paper bag. Much like a cardboard box, a paper bag provides an ideally-sized cat space.

4. Grow a cat-friendly garden.

Cats are technically carnivores, but you wouldn't know it from the way they love to munch on fresh cat grass. Cat grass easy to grow on your window sill or in a pot on your door step. Occasionally set the pot on the floor for cats to "mow".

Catnip is easy to grow as well. Being a perennial herb, a catnip plant will live indefinitely. Every so often, you can pinch off a few leaves and place them on a plate for your cats to sniff. Each cat responds differently to catnip. Some cats will become lazy after a whiff. Others will become very active, so take the opportunity to spend a few minutes dangling a string or rolling a toy for your catnip-crazed feline to play with. Dried catnip can also be stuffed inside of toys to make them more enticing to your cats.

5. Blow catnip bubbles.

Bubbles are a classic entertainment for all children, even the furry, feline kind. Catnip-laced soap bubbles will have your cats jumping, chasing, and popping with joy.

6. Get cat furniture.

Simple scratching posts are a necessity for owners who allow their cats to keep their claws. However, even declawed cats will enjoy climbing on or hiding in a piece of elaborate cat furniture. A cat "jungle gym will make your home into a feline playground.

7. Provide a view.

Make sure your cat has access to a window. You can do this by leaving a small table near the window and keeping the surface of that table clear or placing a cat bed or blanket on it. Cats enjoy looking outside, especially if there are birds or other animals to watch. If setting a table in front of the window won't work, there are special carpeted window seats designed for cats.

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