Have you noticed your cat turning moody at times and demanding more attention? While there can be many reasons for this, it might be that your cat is bored. This isn’t a new issue for cat owners but it is one we have learned to deal with by keeping our cats entertained.
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If your cat appears to be bored, you can employ one or all of these five techniques to keep your cat from becoming moody or having behavioral problems due to lack of stimulation.
Toys are always a great way to keep your cat entertained, so you’ll find some of our favorite cat toys below, but also a few tricks we have up our sleeve for those times when we aren’t around to play entertainer.
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5 Ways to Entertain Your Cat
1. Catnip
Cats react to this herb through their olfactory glands. When a cat smells catnip, they go absolutely nuts! They start sniffing things, trying to chew the plant or stuffed toy, jumping around, sliding across the floor, and just start acting like a fool.
They love the feeling that comes from catnip and you will get a kick out of watching them bound around. It will truly be an entertaining experience, for the both of you.
Now comes some scientific bad news: catnip does not work on all cats. Some cats are genetically immune to the effects of catnip. On average about seventy to eighty percent of cats will entertain themselves and you when they are exposed to catnip.
Also, cats younger than 3 months or older than 8 years usually do not react to catnip. A kitten’s olfactory glands have not yet developed enough to be affected, and a senior cat’s olfactory glands have ceased to function after a certain point. They can still smell, but the chemical reaction that causes them to get “high” no longer affects them.
2. Laser Pointers
Laser pointers are an inexpensive way to keep you and your cat entertained for hours. You can buy a laser pointer at just about any toy store or electronics store, or on Amazon. Just bring it home and let the fun begin.
They will chase that laser across the floor, into other rooms, up the wall, outside, and just about anywhere you point it. Try not to point it at other people, on furniture, or anything you don’t want your feline companion to accidentally scratch or knock over.
This can keep you and your cat entertained for hours, not to mention it is good exercise for your cat and good laughs for you. You don’t need to be fully engaged while doing it either, so it’s a good way to distract your cat while you’re getting something else done.
Stock up on Cat Supplies
Our favorite place to buy pet supplies online is Amazon because you can Subscribe & Save to automatically reorder everything you need at a great discount.
Meow Mix Dry Food (save ~$9) Purina Fancy Feast Pack (save ~$18) Fresh Step Litter (save 5%)
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3. Pet Grass
This is one of the most overlooked options that pet owners completely miss. Pet grass is just a patch of specially designed grass for your pet to play in. Most people don’t realize that grass is a natural part of most animals’ diets.
It aids in digestion, constipation, nausea, and other digestive problems. Your cat instinctively knows this and eats it when necessary. Aside from being a good health supplement, it can also be a fun thing for your cat.
Cats can tend to have an overactive imagination. Their little patch of pet grass can be anything they want. To them, it can be a jungle or a green toy that moves when they run their paws through it.
Occasionally your pet grass will get a bug or two in it. This is perfectly ok. Bugs can be hours of entertainment. Your cat loves chasing and tormenting them, and you enjoy watching them chase and torment the poor bugs.
4. Homemade Toys
You could fork out the money and buy your pet toys or chew toys. Most of the time when you do your cat will ignore the expensive gift because they are more interested in the packaging it came in. It makes crinkling noises and slides on the floor.
They will entertain themselves for a good while with, not the toys, but the package it came in. After doing this a few times, you will probably stop buying the expensive toys and get creative at homemaking toys.
Two things that cats go nuts over will give you a solid example: throw a balled up piece of aluminum foil at your cat. They will chase it all over. Fill a sock up with a few pieces of catnip and tie it off. Throw it to your cat and watch them go nuts!
5. Give Into Their Demands
If all else fails, give into the purring and meowing and pet your cat. Sounds simple, but they can be content for hours just sitting in your lap. When they have had enough of you, they will politely excuse themselves.
Paying attention to your cat is one of the best ways to alleviate any bad behavior or moodiness. Cats don’t ask for alot, but they will ask for your love and attention when they need it. Here are some natural calming cat remedies, if all else fails.
Conclusion
Cats can be easily entertained in many different ways. It is all a matter of finding enough for your cat to do during the day. Really, it is easy to keep cats entertained if you know what to do.
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