Activities For Your Cat
Climbing tress, chasing prey and basking in the sun are activities that all cats enjoy while outside. With little effort, you can provide these activities indoors for your cat and keep your cat safe at the same time.
There are many ready-made cat trees available, and you can make your own. A cat tree may stretch from floor to ceiling or be shorter. It provides great climbing opportunities and, in multiple-cat households, it creates more play and rest areas for cats by taking advantage of vertical space.
Cat trees (often called “kitty condos”) come with many accessories: shelves for watching “kitty TV” (birds at the feeder), baskets for catnapping in the sun, tunnels for hiding, dangling toys for attacking, and covered parts for scratching.
Window perches placed in a sunny window are another great way to bring the outdoors inside. Another option is an enclosure that sits in a window (much like an air conditioning unit) and provides a secure space in which your kitty can hang out. Larger options are available that attach to the side of a house or ground floor apartment patio. It’s best to allow your cat access to these when someone is home to supervise. And if you already have a sun room, why not share part of it with your cat? Place cat trees and shelves in strategic places for your cat to enjoy.
If you still want to allow your cat outside in the privacy of your backyard, you can purchase or build a specially designed fence or enclosure that will prevent your cat from leaving the yard. However, a fence may not prevent animals from entering your yard and, therefore, you should always be present when you allow your cat this opportunity. And be sure to cat-proof the yard by checking that the fence has no escape routes and by making toxic plants, garden chemicals, and other dangerous objects inaccessible.
If you live in a peaceful neighborhood where you can walk without encountering loose dogs, you might consider buying a special cat harness and training your cat to walk on a leash. This training takes time and patience on the part of both you and your cat, and it is easiest when your cat is young. Some cats can even be trained to sit on your lap while you are on the deck or patio or harnessed and tied to a stationary object to enjoy the outdoors while you are gardening nearby.
Even cats who are protected from roaming free should still be outfitted with a collar and visible identification. The occasional open
window (make sure your windows have secure screens) or door offers a tempting opportunity for your cat to explore the outdoors.
And your cat may become frightened and make her way outside if strangers come to work on your house or if there is a fire or
similar disaster. A collar and visible ID could help someone get your pet back to you. (If you do lose your cat, contact your local animal shelter immediately to file a lost cat report. Shelter workers can give you tips on getting your pet back home safely.)
Above all, give your cat warmth, shelter, affection, nutritious food, exercise, and interesting diversions. These feline essentials, combined with lots of playtime, will give your pet everything he needs and craves right at home.