Some cats live entirely indoors, while others enjoy time in the great outdoors as well as time inside with their humans. Either way, having the opportunity to play and get some exercise indoors is important for all cats – especially a rainy climate. If a cat is inside without appropriate ways to entertain themselves, they will find all sorts of less appropriate ways.
Cats need to climb and jump. Because of the way their claws grow and shed old outer layers, they need to scratch things. It removes the old husk from their claws. Our feline friends also need to play to keep their brains active. A bored cat will find ways to entertain themselves. Basically, our cats hold us to ransom. Give us good toys, they might say, or the sofa and curtains will pay. But what is a good cat toy? What does your kitty really need to live their best life when they are inside?
Do Cats Need Cat Tree?
A cat tree takes up space, but it also provides a lot of what your cat needs in one package. These clever pieces of feline furniture give your cat the chance to climb, jump, lounge, hide and scratch. You can find a huge variety of designs on the market from the minimalist to the extravagant, but in general they have the same basic components: a scratching post that serves as a trunk and at least one raised platform to snooze on with a box at the base or sometimes higher up to lurk in.
Quality matters. A good cat tree is an investment that your cat will enjoy for the rest of their life. If you move house, you can take it with you providing some familiar comfort for your old pal in your new home. Choose a sturdy, easy to assemble model that fits in your home. A corner by a window is perfect. If you build it, your cat will soon claim it as their own little castle.
What toys to get an indoor cat?
Cats are predators by nature. Keeping them inside protects the birds their instincts drive them to kill, but that instinct is still there. But most cats are quite happy to just ‘murder’ their toys. Having a variety of cat toys will keep your cat mentally engaged and prevent boredom.
A staple is a small pole for you to hold with a toy attached to a string at one end. It’s so simple, but it can give you and your cat so much entertainment and bonding time. You can dangle the prey while you’re lounging on the sofa, or you can run through the house with the cat chasing it. Another essential is the faux prey. Be it a little toy mouse, bird of whimsical creature, be sure to choose a good quality one so your cat doesn’t pull it apart and put themselves at risk of choking on broken pieces. The newest type of cat toy is one that your cat manipulates to get treats. These are a variation on a popular dog toys, and cats love them too. They can keep your kitty engaged and out of trouble when you can’t play.
With a sturdy cat tree, a variety of toys and a bit of your time and attention, your cat’s time inside the house can be as full of fun and exercise as time outside. Just remember that being cats, they love their rest too!
Written by Irene Hislop
