Cats are great actors and try to convince pet parents they’re already purr-fectly healthy and happy. With cats, it’s Valentine’s Day every day and a good time to think “outside the litter box” and find special ways to love your cat.
Your fur kids are more interested in playtime and fun activities, and these do help kitties both emotionally healthy and happy. Figure out what makes your cat purr delight. Depending on the cat, the emotional connection with their pet parents is top of the list. That’s not to say that all cats are cuddle-bugs or touchy-feely felines. For some cats, simply spending time in the same room and gazing with adoration is the ultimate in cat love.
Cat comfort is another important issue for your pets. Every cat is an individual, so while one cat loves to swing from the drapes and meet new people, strangers could be a horror movie for other cats. A lot of that has to do with your cat’s socialization and parentage. One of the most generous resolutions is to accept each cat as an individual and adjust our expectations—and resolutions—to each special cat. Here are six ways you can share Valentine’s love and increase your cat’s purrs.
Schedule Play. Not every cat enjoys play and mostly the youngsters under a year go nuts for interactive play. Cat teasers like fishing pole lures offer a great aerobic workout for cats. It gets them off their tubby tails to help slim them down. Play increases the bond you share with your cat and can boost the confidence of shy felines and burn off the energy of bully cats that pick on others. Cats play in short bursts so schedule 10 minutes a couple times a day to play with your cats.
Provide Scratch Ops. Cats scratch to exercise, mark territory and relieve stress. Offering your cat legal scratching outlets makes her happy and keeps her physically healthy as well. Some cats won’t want to share their favorite scratch post so be sure you have at least one for each kitty.
Offer A Bed. Cozy fuzzy beds make cats purr with delight. Set a bed under a lamp and you’ll be your feline’s favorite buddy ever! Older cats especially appreciate soft spots to lounge, especially since cats spend up to 16 hours a day napping.
Provide Hideouts. Cats love hiding spots. You can offer an empty box or shopping bag to satisfy many cats. Cat tunnels work great in multiple pet households to reduce feline stress, too. Cats don’t like other pets to stare at them, so a cat tunnel lets kitty travel “under the radar” to reach important locations such as the litter box. Cat tunnels can reduce the hissy behavior between cats since they don’t have to face each other. Learn more about soothing cat angst in the ComPETability: Cat book. It’s just been published in audio version, too!
Create Entertainment. You wouldn’t think cats get bored but they evolved as hunting machines. Sleeping all day stores up enormous energy and indoor cats look for entertainment outlets. Set up bird houses and bird baths near windows for your cat’s viewing pleasure, as a sort of “kitty TV.”
Understand Kittens. I’m sure you’re already a savvy kitty “parent” but purr-haps you know someone who’d like extra help. As a Valentine’s gift for kitten lovers, I’ve dropped the Ebook price of Complete Kitten Care to 99-cents for Feb 14, 15 & 16.
How do you love your cat? Are there special toys or activities that your felines particularly enjoy?
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I am great about showing love for Cody except for one thing…I do NOT play enough! Part of the problem is when I try to he just rolls around like a cobra and doesn’t do ANYTHING! He is soooooooo lazy!! I even mentioned my guilt to the Vet (because I used to play with my Angel Bobo all of the time) and he said that because Cody has Dakota to play with he might not be as interested in actual “play” with me. We have our cuddles (he is next to me on the chair right now)…but actual play, no. I DO have to try and engage him more though!
Seren’s not a big one for interactive play these days, either. She wants to cheek-rub feather wands, and sometimes will carry sparkle balls around late at night while announcing her “kill.”
Great post!
An additional suggestion: for those cats who just won’t quite get in your lap — keep a fake fur blanket folded on your favorite sofa, and pull it next to you when you’re glued there (working on your laptop, of course, not watching TV!), with just a little of it over your lap. Your non-lap cat will love a furry place to cuddle up next to you; and in time might slide bits and pieces of himself up onto the part of the blanket on your lap!
Good idea! The fuzzies can be very attractive to the kitties.
Great tips. My grandmother’s cat loves to play with the weirdest things. She steals plastic bottle caps to bat around, but ignores all the cool toys bought for her.
Hi Kourtney–that’s typical. Cats spurn the high dollar toys and go for the “cheap thrills” like empty paper bags.
Oscar loves to play “bushwhack”! I try to remember to jump a little as though surprised (when I am not actually surprised) as he loves to see that. At nearly 8 he can still leap into the air for one of his favorite games. He used to act up when we did not give him enough attention and playtime. (He is part Burmese, a feral juvenile turned indoor cat at his behest.)
Ha! Brenda, that sounds hilarious! That’s great he’s still actively leaping.
Awww, I miss my kitty, Cinnamon. We are skiing in Canada, and he had to stay home, but he’s well taken care of by my neighbor’s teenage daughter. But even knowing that he is in good hands doesn’t help. I wish he was here, with us.
Oh, the hideouts! Cinnamon loves them. Anything works – boxes, purses, bags, even a laundry hamper, as long as he can pretend it is his and only his special place.
Love the name, Cinnamon. They find the coolest places to hide out, LOL!
Trust me, we know how to love cats…I live with 2 of those felines…one thinks he is a dog, is always getting in big trouble but he and I play together a lot or just hang out together, the other one does not like us dogs at all. Mom also plays and snuggles with the kitties.
Emmadog, you’re a very perceptive fur-kid! It’s great fun when cats and dogs can play together. The other kitty just doesn’t know what their missing, eh?
Seren-kitty rolls and “flips” in front of Magical-Dawg teasing him to sniff, and then hisses and yowls when he tries. He’s very frustrated–and Seren thinks it’s a great game.
[...] Cats are great actors and try to convince pet parents they’re already purr-fectly healthy and happy. With cats, it’s Valentine’s Day every day and a good time to think “outside the litter box” and find special ways to love your cat. One of the most generous New Year resolutions is to accept each cat as an individual and adjust our expectations — and resolutions — to each special cat. Check out Amy Shojai’s blog to learn six ways you can increase your cat’s purrs. [...]