Indoor cat enrichment is super important to keep cats engaged and happy. It provides mental stimulation and can build confidence and sometimes decrease unwanted behaviors. For cats prone to weight gain, enrichment provides opportunities to move their body and burn calories. There are tons of options for providing enrichment depending on your cat’s personality!
Vertical Space
Kitties love vertical space! Having safe spaces for your cat at multiple heights is important for them to feel good in their environment. Try to make sure you have at least one space for them that is higher than the tallest person in the house. For example, cats love to sleep on the top shelf of a cat tower (look for one that is at least 5 feet tall).
An inexpensive option is to put some bedding or towels on top of a cabinet, fridge, bookshelf, or inside a closet. Installing shelving on a wall is a great way to provide cats vertical space and can even add to the decor in your house depending on the brand! If you are on a budget, it isn’t difficult to make your own cat shelves.
Toy Ideas
Aim to incorporate 10 minutes of active play time 1-3 times daily, which can make a big difference in your cat’s attitude. This can be with a Cat Dancer, laser pointer, kickaroo, etc.
Some other cat favorites:
Fling-ama-string (make sure to put it away when not in use)
The Jackson Galaxy toys are really great as well. The wand toys are awesome: https://shop.jacksongalaxy.com/collections/toys
If you use a laser pointer, make sure to also give your kitty a treat or toy at the end of the session to physically reward and satiate their hunting behavior.
When you get a package in the mail, an easy DIY activity is to get catnip or silvervine and sprinkle it into an empty box. You can also mix in some kibbles or crunchy treats for a fun hunt.
Many cats also enjoy snuffling for treats or catnip rolled up in a dish rag or towel.
(Supervised) Access to Outdoors
Many cats prefer their safe and predictable indoor environment, so there is no need to push outdoor time if this causes your cat stress. However, some cats really enjoy supervised access to the outdoors.
Options for safe time outdoors could be taking your cat for a walk or using a catio or tent. Cats can easily slide out of a dog harness, so make sure to use a harness specifically for cats.
For cats that prefer to live life calmly indoors but might want a little taste of the outdoors, you can try playing videos of birds and squirrels.
Clicker Training
Cats can learn commands just like dogs! Plenty of cats know “sit,” “spin,” “high five,” etc. It is possible to teach them just using treats, but clicker training can be a more precise way to communicate with your kitty about the behavior you are trying to see. Training is a great bonding activity and is super fun for cats and their humans!
Food Puzzles
Food puzzles are so much fun and make cats “work” for their food, providing cats with mental stimulation and a little bit of exercise! Puzzle feeders can also be useful for pets who eat too fast, helping prevent regurgitation and upset stomachs. Some examples are the Pioneer Pet Tiger Diner Bowl and Messy Mutts Interactive Slow Feeder, which can be purchased online. Check out these great websites for more information:
Many cats also enjoy water play or drinking water from fountains or a running tap.
Toy Rotation
We very commonly hear “my cat has tons of toys but never plays with them.” This could be because they are present all the time and they have lost their novelty.
A commonly used technique for animals is to rotate the toys so that they remain novel and exciting. This is a standard used for zoo animals and is super effective for our cats at home.
Keep a cubby or drawer with all the toys and select 1-3 to be present for a few days or weeks at a time. You can pick a day of the week for toy rotation so that you remember to swap them out regularly.
Calm Areas
In addition to exciting activities, cats also need calm areas to relax. These “safe spaces” should be easily accessible to that cat but not accessible to dogs, kids, or guests. This should be somewhere that the kitty feels they have autonomy and can enter as they please. This could be a cat bed, box, closet, or a whole room.
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It can be fun to mix and match different indoor cat enrichment activities to see what works best with your cat's personality. If you have concerns that your cat is experiencing behavioral issues or having trouble losing weight, then definitely reach out to your vet to get specific recommendations for your kitty.
As always, feel free to send us cute photos or videos of your cat playing at home. We always love to see our patients having fun in their true environment!
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