Cats can be adventurous pets seeking to explore the world outside. Of course, not all pet owners feel comfortable having their pet cat outdoors. After all, the great outdoors poses a many dangers. Getting run over, catching disease and being preyed on are just some of the possible risks the world outside.
According to research cats that leave the home have an average life span of two to three years. On the other hand, felines that are kept indoors can live anywhere from 12 to 20 years. While some may say that keeping a cat indoors all the time is cruel, this is not necessarily true. As a matter of fact, there are many ways to keep your indoor cat perfectly happy.
Let Your cat Climb – Felines are climbers by nature and any indoor cat will surely appreciate having somewhere to perch. There are a number of ways that you can provide your pet with a space to climb. Build a play gym with PVC pipes wrapped in rope, or invest in a climbing tree or kitty condo. These are perfect even for homes with limited space since they are vertical.
Provide Entertainment – Imagine if you had to sit around at home all day doing nothing. You would surely want to go outdoors after sometime, but it would be a different story if you had something better to do. The same goes for an indoor cat, unless there are mice to catch, a bird to try and reach or fish to fish out of the tank life will be boring. Make sure that you provide your cat with some toys that it can play with. Felines are easy to please and do well with simple toys like string or a ball of yarn.
Offer a Window View – Cats are the kind of animals that need a constant source of stimulation. Unless your pet finds the television visually stimulating, you’ll be in trouble. A window view is always a good option for providing visual stimulation for cats. Pull the curtains apart so that your pet has a good view of the world outside. Put shelves near windows or install a perch where your cat can see through the window. Not only will this allow your pet to get a peek of the outside world but it is also an opportunity for it to sun bath, which most cats love to do.
Lure Nature – Being predatory, cats are often entertained and amused by small animals. Consider putting a bird feeder by the window to draw birds, squirrels and other small animals into sight. This will make sitting by the window extra fun for your pet. Not to mention that your cat will likely spend time trying to figure out how to get to its prey.
Give Your Cat a Taste of the Outdoors – Sure the world outside is dangerous, but your pet cat can get a taste of it without the risks. If you have enough space in your yard you may want to consider building an enclosed space where your cat can romp around. Securing a small portion with some screen will allow your cat some play time outside without a risk of ending up in your neighborhood dumpster.
Add Plants – Part of being outdoors is being exposed to plants, which is why many felines have a natural affinity to grass and other greens including your neighbor’s flower beds. Adding some potted plants inside your home will surely delight your pet. Of course, you’ll want to make sure that you check which plants are safe for your cats, and which are not. Cat grass and catnip are both excellent choices. If your pet has a tendency to dig through the dirt, just put a layer of pebbles over the soil to keep things from getting messy.
Give You Cat Treats – It’s always fun for pets to get a treat or two out of the blue. Rather than just giving your cat some treats out of the container or from your hand, make it an activity. Many pet stores sell treat dispensers for cats which you can put in an accessible place in your home. If you would rather control the amount of treats your cat gets, hide these in random places around the house every now and then. Your cat will surely spend hours pre-occupied with trying to find these goodies. You can buy the tastiest treats at Petco.
