Did you know that you can arrange your feline’s environment in a way that will help your cat to feel safe, happy, and comfortable in your home? Here’s how you can enrich your cat’s environment:

Eating:

To make breakfast or dinner time more enriching and engaging, try:

Hiding treats around the house when you’re away
Alternating textures of treats and food
Creating a food puzzle by placing kibble inside an empty bottle, or poking holes into a shoebox filled with food

Remember, treats should not make up more than 10% of your cat’s daily caloric intake.

Sleeping:

Like us, cats love a good place to sleep. Here are some ways to provide your cat a comfortable place to sleep and hide. Cardboard boxes, empty baskets and bins make wonderful sleeping and hiding places. For bedding, use soft materials such as blankets and unused pillows. Catnip can be sprinkled near these locations to encourage relaxation. Place some of these resting spots near windows, and others in quiet, calm areas of your home.

Playing:

Playtime nurtures a healthy, mutual bond with your feline friend. To start, try playing with your cat for 15 minutes at a time, with a daily goal of 60 minutes per day. Choose toys that stimulate your cat’s hunting senses- furry, auditory or mobile toys imitate prey. You can make your own “mouse” by attaching a sock to a lanyard and tugging it along the floor to mimic a mouse’s movement. Gentle tugging as the toy is in mid-air will mimic a bird!

Teaching Tricks:

Cats are impressively smart! Teaching your cat tricks is one way to strengthen your bond. Use positive reinforcement by pairing a gentle command with a reward, such as a small treat. Some tricks you could try are…

Sit: hold a treat in your hand and direct the treat upwards from their chest to just above their head to encourage the sitting position.
Shake a paw: Gently lift your cats paw while they are in a sitting position and immediately reward them with a treat

Repeat these motions until your cat responds appropriately

Health:

It is important to note that enrichment includes keeping your cat healthy.

If possible, bring your cat for yearly veterinary appointments and vaccines
Provide appropriate food and safe shelter for your cat, especially if they roam outdoors
Spay or neuter your cats to prevent unplanned litters and to avoid potential health complications associated with intact cats, such as mammary cancer and pyometra (infection of the uterus)

Repetition:

The most important part of enriching your cats environment is to be consistent. Make these changes as part of a long-term plan to enrich your cat’s surroundings, improve their quality of life and to strengthen your bond.

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