5 tips to get a cat to move more

Although cats are naturally active and will play and move around when given the opportunity, it is not necessarily a cause for concern if your cat sleeps a lot during the day. Many cats sleep during the day and save their energy for hunting and playing at night. For indoor cats, things are often a little different; they generally receive few stimuli. Boredom, other behavioral problems, and weight gain can then become issues. That is why it is important to provide a cat with enough stimulation and exercise, even if it seems as though they would rather spend the whole day curled up comfortably on the sofa. But what is the best way to encourage your cat to get physically active? In this blog, we give you 5 tips for helping your cat move more around the house.

Playing with a cat

Although a lounging cat may look as if they are having the time of their life, a cat that gets too little exercise can indeed develop health problems over time. There are many risks associated with being overweight in pets. For example, did you know that an overweight cat lives an average of 2 to 3 years less? In this blog, you can find more information about obesity in pets.

So sufficient exercise really is vital! Because it is less easy to take a cat outside on a leash for a walk, playing with a cat is not only a good solution but also a fun one. Below, we give you 5 tips for the most enjoyable cat workouts:

Tip 1: Find the right toys

Cats need variety, just like people do. This means that cats can also get bored with their toys. Rotating toys is an easy way to prevent playtime fatigue and also keeps our feline friends interested. Fortunately, there is an enormous amount of choice when it comes to cat toys these days. If you have a cat that enjoys chasing and jumping at moving objects, interactive toys may be an ideal solution. These toys move by themselves and can trigger a response in the cat. Catnip toys are also often a favorite among cats. Catnip toys are specially designed to stimulate the senses and awaken a cat’s natural instincts. It may also be that you have toys at home that your cat ignores, while they absolutely love a crumpled-up piece of paper. In that case, you can take your cat’s ‘feedback’ into account and buy toys that make a crinkling sound.

Another good tip is to put the toys away when the cat has finished playing. If they have constant access to their toys, they are more likely to lose interest in them quickly.

Tip 2: Use food puzzles

Food puzzles are a wonderfully fun way to turn mealtimes and treat time into stimulating, enjoyable games that get a cat moving and thinking. There are various types of food puzzles available at pet stores, but you can also make them yourself. For example, consider toilet paper rolls, egg cartons, plastic containers, or cardboard boxes in which you can hide food or treats. A towel or old clothing can also be used as a food puzzle. Place the kibble or treat inside, roll it up, and you have a great puzzle for your cat.

Tip 3: Provide enough (vertical) scratching posts

Providing plenty of climbing opportunities encourages cats to move more. Think of a cat tree and scratching posts. As natural hunters, cats benefit from high places because they can survey their territory from above. The more levels and hiding places there are, the more challenging and fun it is for a cat. It also encourages them to jump and climb. A scratching post or cat tree near a window encourages a cat to climb even more, as it allows them to look outside and discover where sounds and smells are coming from. In addition, a scratching post helps a cat bend and stretch their body.

To encourage even more movement, you can also choose to serve your cat’s food up high and, if desired, offer it in different places around the house. This partly mimics nature, where a cat has to search for and catch its prey. By spreading out the food, you can make a cat ‘hunt’ for their meal.