Ways To Make Your Cat Feel Closer to Nature While Indoors
Our feline friends may be little and have a soft purr, but behind all that sweetness and calm appearance beats a wild heart that desires nothing more than to explore the world by hunting, hiding, scratching, and climbing. You will likely prefer that these activities occur outside, away from the sofa, bookcases, and carpets. But how can a cat use all its energy or feel closer to nature when it has to stay indoors?
This is where indoor activities for cats can play their part in making your cat happy. There are numerous ways to exercise your indoor cat’s hunting instincts and keep it entertained. Here are some of the most effective ways to provide mental stimulation to your cat without leaving the living room, ranging from DIY toys to stimulating cat toys.
WAYS TO MAKE YOUR CAT HAPPY WHILE INDOORS
Grow cat grass patch
Cat-safe “cat grass” is typically cultivated from barley, rye, wheat, alfalfa seeds, or oat. It resembles the grass in your yard but is not the same. Cat grass is stuffed with dietary fiber that aids digestion, antioxidants, vitamins, chlorophyll, minerals, and other components that are beneficial to health.
Indigestion is another digestive issue that growing a cat grass patch might help with. Some studies showed that cats’ natural inclination to graze on grass in the wild may have arisen so that they can more easily vomit up the indigestible remnants of the tiny creatures they eat. Having a cat grass patch indoors eliminates the need for your cat to seek grass patches outside.
Develop a vertical play area for your cat
Cats are an exceptional species as they’re both predators and prey. They like climbing to greater heights to view their territory or rest safely. Creating a vertical playground with several climbing structures, wall shelves and vantage points for your feline companion’s split personality helps keep them happy and safe.
Most cats will love watching the flying entertainment. While it’s excellent to place a climbing tower next to a window with a view, putting a birdbath and a bird feeder close by will look more appealing and offer visual stimulation.
Provide your cat with various scratching options
Cats like to scratch for a few distinct causes, including establishing their territory, cleaning their nails, and stretching after resting. You may satisfy your cat’s scratching needs by putting multiple scratching posts of varying textures in its preferred areas.
Providing prey-like toys
Several cat toys satisfy a cat’s drive to hunt by stimulating pouncing, stalking, chasing, and capturing activities. Feather wands, kickers, fishing poles, and robotic toys satisfy your cat’s instincts by letting them chase and pounce on prey.
Feed your cat using food puzzles
If you’re feeding your cat, don’t use a dish. Most individuals keep their cats’ food bowls constantly full, which causes more than half of the country’s feline population to be overweight or obese. Food puzzles give your cat mental enrichment and encourage it to spend time and energy before eating more food.
Wrap some kibble in a crumpled paper ball to make a snuffle box. The treats will encourage your cat to “sniff” for it and struggle to unwrap it, spending more energy than they would when eating in a bowl.
Why keep your cat indoors
Free-roaming cats risk a shorter lifespan, whereas an indoor cat may enjoy living up to 15 years or longer. Cats living indoors are typically healthier, which reduces the cost of treating bacterial infections, viruses, and injuries from fights with other cats or animals. This can help indoor cats live happy and satisfying life. Undoubtedly, cats appreciate fresh air, sunshine, and exercise, but they don’t have to go outside to be happy. Keeping a cat indoors from the beginning is recommended given the many benefits, particularly if you’re starting with a young adult or kitten. Most indoor-raised cats have no desire to leave the safety of their home. Other cats who are used to going outside can make life terrible for the entire family by scratching at windows, meowing, and attempting to escape through open doors. But, although the transition might take some time and effort, even the most persistent outdoor cat can finally be trained to enjoy the comforts of living indoors.
THE BOTTOM LINE!
We detailed some ways to make your cats feel closer to nature indoors and reduce the danger of serious injury or death from vehicular collisions. These suggestions also help you reduce the cost of treating bacterial infections, viruses and injuries that your cat may suffer from fights with other outside cats or animals.