The only way to get a cat
to exercise is to make it FUN.
Start
Early In Life
Kittens
want to play all the time. Because
this often causes mischief,
we sometimes scold the kitten,
or at least do not encourage
play. The ideal is to not only
encourage play, but to teach
appropriate play. Trouble happens
when the kitten makes up the
game. If you play interactively
with the kitten as it grows
up, then this is just part of
life and the expected norm.
The ideal is to not only
encourage play, but to teach
appropriate play. Trouble
happens when the kitten
makes up the game. |
Chase
Games
Cats
love to chase things since it
satisfies the "Chase Instinct"
which is based on chasing prey
to eat. The oldest version of
this is "chase the string"
- still quite popular with
cats. However, the newer version
of this game is to obtain a
cat toy that is designed for
this purpose. These toys usually
have a stiff rod that is attached
by a string to an object. One
criteria is that the object
wobble as it moves across the
floor, since this more closely
approximates a mouse or other
critter.
One
great thing about chase games,
is that they can be continued
up over beds, and around objects
which increases the exercise
potential.
Scratching
Post Exercise
Try
to find a floor to ceiling post,
or at least a very tall one
that has multiple resting pads.
This place can then be used
for climbing. During active
exercise the pole may be run
up and down several times in
a burst of kitty energy. Even
during rest times, it requires
some climbing before the nap.
Provide
floor scratching posts also,
since these require use of forearms,
and results in a good stretch
of the back muscles.
Exploration
Objects
The
idea here is to take advantage
of the cats curiosity to encourage
exercise. Intentionally leave
boxes or bags or suitcases on
the floor for an extra day periodically.
The newness is quite attractive
to most cats who will jump in
and out and prowl around the
new object until it is no longer
new. This is not exactly aerobic but is better than napping.
Boxing
Although
cats seem to like this game,
it promotes aggression toward
humans, and should be avoided.
Chase
Toys
These
toys are usually balls and
do not have any strings attached.
Some cats really go for this,
and will continue to play with
the same toy for long periods.
If a large box becomes available,
try dropping a ping pong ball
inside for the cat to bat around.
Another
idea is to use the plastic top
from a bottle or jar on a slick
surface such as the kitchen.
Part of the fun is to watch
the slip and slide, and the
natural flexibility of the cats
body. This is like a kitty hockey
rink.
One tip on chase toys:
rotate. If the toy is
left around all the time the
cat becomes bored with it
and is less likely to use it
at all. |
If the object only
appears for a brief period,
then reoccurs, it is more likely
to be attractive enough to chase.