Cat obesity is a serious health problem. Besides a well-balanced diet, exercise is a great way to fight it. However, making a cat do that might not be as easy as it is with a dog.
It’s quite easy for domestic cats to get obese. They don’t have as many opportunities for exercise as outdoor cats. Therefore, it's important to encourage your pets in exercising and playing games. Especially if we can’t resist and give them some small treats from time to time. If their weight is getting out of control, it can lead to future health problems such as joint pains, breathing problems, or diabetes. Some cats (such as those that are neutered) are more prone to obesity, while others tend to be coach potatoes, and this is a really easy way to put on weight. The first step in this case should be to changing the cat’s diet. However, we will focus on how to make a cat exercise in this article. Let’s face it, it’s not that easy to do that.
In the wilderness, cats are night creatures and not all of them get used to a different schedule when living inside. So, the best time for them to play is early morning or evening. It's especially a good idea to let cats use more of their energy before bedtime, if you’re not a heavy sleeper and cat rustling wakes you up. When you think about what kind of activity will entertain your furry friends, keep in mind that they are small beasts and hunting is natural for them. Anything with prey is likely to attract them.
Encourage Your Cat to Climb and Scratch
Cats like climbing. Make a good cat tree for your furry friend. Of course, the taller the better, but a small scraper will also do its job. It's good to tap into the natural instinct of cats to mark the territory by scratching, which perfectly stretches the cat's muscles and, as a bonus, blunts and and shortens its claws. If it is possible to climb up the poles to higher levels, the muscles will quickly replace the cat’s bigger belly. You can support it by putting your cat’s favourite toy or a treat on higher levels. If your cat isn’t interested in the scratcher, don’t give up it and try other materials. Some prefer a rough sisal; others prefer a soft cardboard scratcher.
Offer More Toys and Change Them after a While
A toy can easily become hackneyed. So, always offer your cat only a few of them and change them frequently. This way, your furry friend will still be amazed by them. Fishing poles or interactive toys that appeal to the hunting instinct of almost every cat are great. Ball tracks are also useful for good exercise. However, I recommend building it as a long track. If you make it a circuit, your furry friend will soon understand it can only sit in the middle of the circuit and wait until the ball shows up in front of it. So, this wild game can easily turn into fun for lazybones. Some cats even like fetching, so you can try it with your cat. And we can’t forget about a laser which makes probably every little beast move and you will all have fun with it.
Let It Explore the World behind the Door
If you have some suitable space around, such as a garden, a courtyard in a peaceful block of apartment buildings or you can enjoy the countryside right behind your house, let your indoor cat “taste” walking outside. Some cats have an explorer’s spirit and even when they are not allowed to go outside freely, they enjoy short outdoor adventures in a harness or on a leash. Of course, your companion has to get used to the harness first. And don’t forget about fleas and ticks when on a walk and protect your cat against them.
Activate Their Skills and Musculoskeletal System with Treat Toys
Of course, you can’t provide your cat with too many treats – and if you are going to offer it some, they should be of high quality and with low number of calories in a perfect case. But there’s no reason why they shouldn’t serve as exercise motivators. There are toys on the market that make the cat use its skills so the treats would come out. It's a great exercise for both physical and emotional well-being of your cat. Hollow balls with holes or different puzzles belong to those. “Food hunting” is also a great way to get your cat moving. Divide its food into a few bowls and hide goodies all over your apartment. It makes it thoroughly go through all the rooms.
Use Catnip or Other “Cat Drugs”
Not all cats react to catnip, but fortunately we still have valerian or silver vine. Cats usually have strong reactions to all of these plants or at least to some of them (you can find more here). For some cats, it’s enough to spread some on the floor and they start rolling in it and run crazily around. Others will enjoy playing with toys filled with these plants better. Also, balls solely made of pressed catnip are made. However, they should only play with them when you’re around and for a limited period of time.
Keeping your cat in shape may not always be easy and it requires a lot of patience and endurance. However, the health benefits it brings are worth the effort. What games make your cat move? Share your tips with us!
If you have decided to buy a purebred cat, you still have a lot of questions ahead of you. Which breed should you choose? A female cat or a tomcat? A kitten or an adult? Only if you consider everything carefully, you'll get the right companion for...
Lots of rabbit lovers choose this breed mainly by its appearance. The cuter, the better. But maybe they don’t know that a certain kind from the order of lagomorphs lives in nature, and hardly any domestic rabbit can match it in its cuteness. The same...
If you've noticed that your fluffy friend excessively licks and nibbles at his paws, you should not leave it like that. It might have several causes. Whether it's a psychological problem, allergy, yeast or other problem, the situation must be...
Did you know that our senses include the perception of the magnetic field? While we have almost lost this ability already, dogs still have it and use it every day. Do you know for what?
The British Shorthair cat is without a doubt the most popular cat breed not only in the Czech Republic, but also in the rest of Europe. This is caused not only by its appearance of a small Teddy bear, but also a mild, trouble-free nature.
In individual rodents, we’ll find breeds that are more popular with breeders than others. One of those is the American Teddy, typical with its peculiar hair structure that gives it the appearance of a teddy bear.
There is certainly no doubt that the Labrador belongs among the best known and most popular dog breeds. The reason is his extraordinary versatility, adaptability, intelligence and loyalty. Like the British Shorthair cat, the Labrador Retriever can be...
To spend a few days outside of civilisation - in the forest, on the ridges of the mountains - away from the hustle of the cities, in the wilderness and ideally with your dog. An imaginary return back to nature is the trend that did not avoid even the...
Hunting and exercise. If the dog loves both these activities, then coursing is the perfect activity for it. This cross-country race is based exactly on the desire of the dog to catch its prey.
No matter how thorough we are with the prevention, a situation might come up when a dog or a cat will get to a poisonous thing, whether it’s by our inattention or it's somebody else’s fault. That’s why it’s not off-topic to prepare yourself for the...