Like people, cats can get bored if they don’t have enough to do. Whether it’s exploring, chasing, pouncing, climbing, or problem-solving—cats need to regularly exercise their minds and bodies for their wellbeing.
Pono Cat Parents create a home environment that provides these activities and can also include access to outdoor stimulation. Focusing on your cat’s behavioral needs indoors also strengthens your bond with your cat, prevents behavioral problems, and keeps wildlife safe.
Tips for Enriching Your Cat’s Home Life
Design with your cat in mind
Creating a cat-friendly space can be a lot of fun. Cats are natural climbers and need vertical spaces, hiding places where they can feel secure, and scratching posts where they can stretch, mark their territory, and file their nails. There are many stylish options that can blend with your home decor.
- Use your wall space! Wall mounted cat shelves, perches, and walkways can increase the amount of space available for your cat to explore.
- If you can’t mount cat furniture on your wall, buy a free-standing cat climber or create one from upcycled materials.
- Cats love to claim space, make sure they have a cozy bed or nook to snuggle in. Cardboard boxes work great!
- Make your scratching posts more enticing than your furniture by considering placement and incorporating scents and different textures that appeal to your cat.
Make time to play every day
Make it the new norm to do fun things with your cat. Setting aside even just a few minutes per day to enjoy playtime is healthy for both you and your pet. When you’re not at home, a pet puzzle, puzzle feeders, or treat toys can keep idle—or overly active!—paws occupied.
Cat toys to support an enriching home environment >
Get into a routine with your cat
Like many animals, cats are creatures of habit and thrive with routines. You can include your cat in daily rituals that improve wellbeing. A consistent schedule that incorporates play, treats, and cuddling will help strengthen your bond with your cat and keep them engaged in behaviors you want to see—and that your cat enjoys!
Try clicker training
Sit, speak and stand aren’t only for pet dogs. Cats are eager learners if we teach them to associate a desired behavior with a reward, such as food or attention. Clicker training is one of the fastest ways to train an animal. It uses positive reinforcement paired with a marker sound (the “click”) to let your cat know when it has done what you want it to do. Cats can be trained to come when called, walk on a leash, sit on a scale, and even let you brush their teeth. You will also learn more about your cat’s individual likes and dislikes. Get creative and see what you can do together.
Solutions for Challenging Behaviors
Setting up an enriching home environment for your cat doesn’t mean you might not encounter difficult behaviors. Learn how to anticipate and address nuisance behaviors with these helpful tips.