Interactive toys

Interactive toys help strengthen the bond between you and your cat by letting you share fun and positive experiences. Both you and your cat can have a great time playing with wand-type toys with strings, feathers and fabric strips attached. One popular product is the Cat Dancer, which can function as either a self-play or an interactive toy.

Some cats enjoy playing with laser pointers, chasing the point of light around the house. Make sure that your cat is eventually able to “catch” something while playing with the laser pointer; point it at a toy that your cat can then play with, so she doesn’t get too frustrated.

Low-cost (or no cost) items are often a cat’s preferred toys. Some suggestions are wadded-up paper, foil balls, string and plastic rings from milk jugs. Throw a variety of objects for your cat to see which ones they are most interested in chasing.

Using vertical space for cat enrichment

Upright structures and elevated perches will serve your cat’s climbing and clawing needs. To let your cat experience a bit of the outdoors while indoors, place perches, cat furniture (such as cat trees) or resting areas by the windows in your home. Cat furniture can be quite expensive to purchase, so you might want to try the DIY approach. For more information, search online for “DIY cat furniture” ideas.

Something as easy as clearing off the back of a couch that’s near a window can expand your cat’s horizons. A birdbath or bird feeder placed within sight of the window can increase her enjoyment. (Don’t worry about the birds — they easily become habituated to their “admirers.”)

One note of caution: Watch out for roaming cats in your yard, since the sight of those other cats can trigger stress and possibly urine marking.

Aromatherapy for cats

Cats can benefit from aromatherapy, just like humans, so using scent is another way to provide enrichment. Catnip, of course, is the most common type of scent enrichment for felines. Other options include getting used food-packaging boxes (e.g., the boxes that fruit and vegetables come in) from your local grocery store, bringing in items from outside (e.g., sticks or leaves), and spritzing diluted essential oils onto blankets.

Cats get used to smells quickly, so make sure you rotate the scents often and replace items frequently. Also, keep in mind that certain smells can be unpleasant or even harmful to your cat so research is required if you’re using essential oils or man-made scents.

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Teaching your cat tricks

Training, including teaching tricks, provides great mental stimulation for pets. Cats can be taught to respond to any number of cues, from “sit” to “down” to “wave.” Using positive reinforcement is a great way to be successful with training your cat. Not only will it be more fun for both of you, it will also be more effective and efficient.

One of the best methods using positive reinforcement is clicker training. It’s also a fantastic method for trick training because it allows you to teach complicated tricks, such as piano playing. For more information about clicker training, search “Clicker Training for cats” on the internet.

Cat comfort zones

Calming activities are just as much a part of enrichment as stimulating activities. In addition, every animal needs a “comfort zone” where he or she can go to feel safe and relax. Closets, open crates, high shelves, cat trees, the space under beds and rooms sectioned off with baby gates are great places to put a comfy cat bed or blanket to create a safe place. If your cat is resting in her safe place, make sure to leave her alone; this is her quiet time away from everyone.

To enhance your cat’s comfort zone, you may want to add calming products. Some examples are Feliway spray and diffuser, a Sentry Calming collar, the scent of lavender.

Playing it safe

Whatever types of enrichment you choose for your cat, make sure you play safe. Cats are capable of eating almost any object, and many objects can cause serious problems if they are ingested. For example, string toys should be used only with supervision. Remember to supervise your cat with any new toy to make sure it’s safe.

Caution must also be used when playing with a laser pointer. The laser can damage your cat’s vision, and some cats may begin to focus too much on the moving light. Also, keep in mind that any other pets or children in your house can potentially choke on smaller toys or pieces of toys. Consult with your veterinarian if you have any questions.

Video and audio products

Videos specifically designed to interest cats have recently been developed, and some cats do enjoy them. Some CDs, such as “Through a Cat’s Ear,” have also been designed specifically for cat enrichment. Little research exists regarding the effect of music on cats, but anecdotally many cats seem to respond favorably.

 _{Adapted from: http://bestfriends.org/resources/cat-enrichment}

Consider if your cat is a candidate for harness training

 It seems unlikely (and might earn you a few double glances from the neighbours at first!), but yes, many cats can indeed be trained to walk with a harness. (It’s best to use a harness rather than a collar and leash, which can cause injury to the cat).

_{Adapted from: http://bestfriends.org/resources/cat-enrichment}