Dear Miss Behavin’: I recently adopted a cat that will be indoors-only. I worry that she will be bored and less enriched than an outdoor cat. How can I make sure she stays happy indoors?
It’s actually quite easy to make sure your indoor cat leads a fun and enriching life. Cats love to observe the world from above, so get a cat tree or two for her to climb. Cat trees usually double as scratching posts, so she’ll scratch on those instead of your couch or curtains. If possible, put the cat tree in front of a window so kitty can safely watch the outside world. If your window has a ledge you can put a blanket or cat bed there to make it comfortable.
Set aside playtime every day with your cat. Playing with your cat ensures exercise and bonding with their owner and keeps them (and you) entertained. Buy her different types of toys to keep it interesting. Cats love mice toys, crinkle balls, and string and feather wands. You can hide treats in puzzle feeders or put catnip in a paper bag and watch her go wild! When done playing you can put the toys away to keep the novelty factor.
Don’t leave out toys that your cat could tear apart or swallow, especially string. That can quickly lead to an emergency vet visit. If you put the time in to playing with your cat and offering her different forms of enrichment, you’ll have yourself a satisfied and happy cat.
Alex Elias is the Assistant for the Behavior and Training Department at the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA. For more information, visit www.PHS-SPCA.org, call 650-340-7022, ext. 416, or e-mail aelias@phs-spca.org.