what can i do to make my cat happy
We recently published an commodity inNational Wildlife magazine looking at the enormous cost that free-ranging domesticated cats take on wild fauna in the Us. The latest written report has conservatively concluded that between 1.iii–4.0 billion birds and 6.3–22.iii billion mammals are killed annually by cats, making them one of the largest homo-influenced sources of mortality for birds and mammals in the state.
Cats are not inherently villains, of grade. They are beloved pets and for thousands of years have been used as working animals to help control rats and mice that are urban and farm pests. When domesticated cats casualty on wild birds and other wild fauna they are simply following their natural instinct. Ecologically, withal, the consequence of that predation is anything simply natural and has fifty-fifty resulted in the wildlife extinctions. As a species imported past humans around the globe and supported past united states in numbers dwarfing that of natural predators, the massive predation by cats on wildlife is an extension of our own negative bear on on our environment. It's up to us to forestall information technology.
Ane matter we can all do to aid solve this problem is to keep our pet cats indoors. Not but is this ameliorate for wildlife, it's also better for our cats. Outdoor cats face threats from predators, cars and disease and equally a upshot, have much shorter lifespans compared to indoor cats. Keeping your cat indoors is a win-win for both wildlife and cats.
That said, we recognize that keeping your cat indoors tin can be easier said than done. Speaking from personal experience, turning an outdoor cat into an indoor one tin be a claiming, even for naturalists and experienced pet owners similar me. I once adopted an outdoor cat that I tried to proceed indoors, but to have him start using my bed equally a litter box until I allow him back outside. Don't trounce yourself upward if you notice yourself in this situation–again, our goal is non to villainize cats or cat owners–but now that you know the major toll cats accept on wildlife, the right thing to do is to brand the delivery to practice everything you can to keep your true cat indoors and also to start off your adjacent kitten as an indoor cat from the beginning.
Here are our tips for keeping your indoor cat happy and healthy.
A Tired Cat is a Happy Cat
Cats are natural athletes and information technology'south all too like shooting fish in a barrel for an indoor cat to get stir crazy if it can't work out that excess free energy. The skillful news is there'due south no shortage of awesome cat toys that will go along your true cat moving. There are toys that expect like mice, toys with feathers, bombardment-powered toys with flashing light and sound, laser pointers, toys that motion, toys on strings–everything that you lot need to aid continue your cat pouncing and stalking safely indoors.
Keep your indoor cat active and engaged with toys.
Bird Viewing Stations
The reason that domesticated cats kill so many birds and small mammals is that those animals are the natural casualty of their antecedent, a pocket-sized wild true cat species institute in parts of Africa, Asia and Europe called the wildcat (Felis silvestris). Even well-fed pet cats still retain the wildcat's natural attraction to small animals. You lot can indulge that attraction past setting up a bird viewing station inside. Simply install a true cat window perch and put up a bird feeder or bath right exterior the window. Your pet cat will have hours of viewing pleasance and the wildlife will be condom. An added benefit is that placing feeders and baths close to windows helps reduce bird window strikes, another significant source of bird mortality. (You can club a variety of bird feeders and baths from our itemize, sales of which get directly to support our wild animals conservation programs.)
Let Your True cat Go Hunting
Cats are inherently curious animals. If an indoor true cat doesn't take enough stimulation indoors it's going to get bored and try to become outside. In addition to toys, you can assistance your true cat exercise its natural hunting instinct by hiding its favorite treats effectually the house. Freeze treats in water ice cubes or employ special cat treat puzzles and toys that make your cat work to extract its advantage to offer hours of mental stimulation. These are the same enrichment tactics used to keep lions, tigers and other predators in good mental and physical condition in zoos.
Pets in Pairs
Few of us can exist home all day to love on our cats, so consider getting a 2nd cat as a companion. Having a buddy to run and play with can become a long way in keeping indoor cats happy and stimulated. There's no shortage of homeless cats at your local shelter just waiting for someone to take them abode.
Having a feline companion can assist keep indoor cats happy.
Utilise Catnip
Catnip is a establish in the mint family (Nepeta cataria) that contains a natural oil called nepetalactone which has a unique consequence on cats. When inhaled, nepetalactone is interpreted by the feline olfactory organization equally a natural cat pheromone. When cats rub on or chew catnip, it produces a mild natural high that is both harmless and temporary, simply that is pleasurable to cats. Not all cats are affected by catnip, and information technology has no event on kittens under six months of age, but if your cat does answer to it, information technology can be one more tool to help go on your indoor true cat stimulated and happy. Catnip comes in dried course to fill up sachets or special cat toys, every bit well as in spray form to mist toys or cat beds. You can grow catnip plants in pots in a sunny window for your kitty as well. Everything in moderation, right?
End Door Dashing
Watch this segment on NatGeo WILD's Pet Talk for my tips on how to keep your cats from dashing out the door.
Let Your Cat Climb
Wild cats are natural climbers, pursuing prey into the trees and seeking high places when frightened. Your pet cat retains those same climbing instincts. True cat trees are a tried and true style of allowing your true cat to exercise its urge to climb, and they come in all shapes and sizes to fit your space and decor. If you lot're handy, you tin build your own. Take it to the next level past adding "cat shelves" throughout your dwelling to take reward of vertical infinite for your feline family members. It can be as simple as a few floating shelves mounted to the wall or more than involved "catwalks" that wrap around unabridged rooms. Either manner, cat shelves will permit your kitty to go upwardly high and go places merely cats can go.
Go for a Walk
It might sound crazy and be the subject of hilarious YouTube videos, simply believe it or not it is possible to train your cat to walk on a leash. If you must let your cat outside, this is the about responsible way to do information technology. It'south easiest to start training your cat when it'south just a kitten, but even older cats can learn. Offset past getting your cat used to wearing a harness for short periods of fourth dimension indoors, then move on to attaching the leash and rewarding the cat with treats when information technology walks with you. Never pull on the ternion. Once the cat is comfy with the harness and leash, information technology's time to endeavour it outside. Showtime slowly, with only curt trips exterior and gradually increase the length of the walks every bit your true cat gets more than comfortable. If it'southward too much of a challenge, work with a professional animal trainer. Remember, the idea of walking dogs on leashes once seemed weird, only now it's the standard. We can do the same with cats.
With patience, you can teach your cat to walk on a leash.
Build a Catio
Another way to give your kitty some fresh air is to install a "catio." A catio is an enclosed construction that you lot can install in your grand or on your deck or patio to requite your true cat some fourth dimension outside without having to put it on a leash or putting wildlife in danger (or your cat in danger from wild fauna). Call back of information technology similar of like a true cat playpen, or the cat version of an outdoor domestic dog run. You tin buy premade catios or plans, hire a contractor to build i, or just exercise it yourself.
Spay and Neuter
Always spay and neuter your pet cats. Intact cats tin can exist driven past hormones to try to escape outside to try to find a mate. By spaying and neutering, you eliminate this added stress on your pet cat while at the same time minimizing the allure of the outdoors and eliminating whatever hazard that it could contribute to the unwanted true cat population.
The author's cat Bug getting his daily snuggle fourth dimension.
Love Your Cat
This last ane is simple. You love your cat, and that dearest can be the most powerful tool you take to keeping it happy. Dissimilar their wild ancestors, domesticated cats crave human attention. Oftentimes the about effective mode of keeping your indoor cat happy is to just pay attention to it. Snuggle your cat, pet your true cat, and play with your cat every twenty-four hour period. You'll be surprised at how far a piddling attention from its homo can go in ensuring your indoor true cat's wellbeing.
Source: https://blog.nwf.org/2017/09/11-tips-to-keep-your-indoor-cat-happy/
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