Momma Told Me: Keep Your Cat Young- Tips To Engage Felines At Any Age!

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Keep Your Cat Young- Tips To Engage Felines At Any Age!

Maintain your cat's health at any age with structured play times and toys that foster their natural instinct to hunt and play at night!
Momma Told Me: Go play with the cat!


From a young age us 'hoomans' are groomed to be active. In elementary school we are given breaks multiple times throughout the day to expend energy, re-channel our focus, and refuel our bodies. As adults, especially in less active lifestyles and jobs, we are reminded that we need to get up and moving every hour to increase circulation and general cardio health. So it stands to reason that your fur children require no less motivation and attention when it comes to the subject of being active. Many modern cat parents would argue that Fluffy is simply 'too old' or 'never was the playing type,' and that their indoor lifestyle has given them a predisposition to discard nature's hunting tendencies for a more sedentary lifestyle. While some of thee things may be true to an extant, the level of activity your cat requires (at any age) to maintain optimal health does not change.
An active cat is possible at any age, engage your cat's natural instinct of night time activity and need to hunt!
There has been much debate as to whether domestic cats maintain their nocturnal lifestyle when home bound- most studies seem to reveal that, while cats will adapt to their owner's lifestyles, for the most part felines are most energetic and active during the day. If you've ever contemplated putting a night-cam in your living room or bathroom due to midnight crashes and cat-related disturbances, you likely agree.

Now, naturally, you can't uproot your entire sleeping arrangements to occupy your cat overnight, right? What you can do, however, is place toys in strategic places throughout the house to engage them during their nightly hunting excursions. In most cases the toys picky, or 'non playful' cats will respond to are those that look like innocuously misplaced pieces of trash. Consider placing crumpled paper balls or yarn knots at the edge of furniture and hallway corners- Cats are notorious for maintaining boundaries and following the same 'patrol' nightly.
An active cat is possible at any age, engage your cat's natural instinct of night time activity and need to hunt!
If you have a cat that is active during the day, and you are either too busy to take time to engage them- or simply not home, consider placing some plastic cat 'ball' toys in the bathtub or a large box/tub without a lid- cats love the action of its m bouncing and ricocheting. This personal hockey rink of sorts can make for great exercise! Most felines will also respond to the kitten-like instinct of swatting anything that is dangling. You can make a simple and engaging toy for your cat by tying a toy mouse to some old shoelaces or yarn and looping it around a door knob. If you have some elastic string, even better!
An active cat is possible at any age, engage your cat's natural instinct of night time activity and need to hunt!
Idealy, you and your cat will engage in play time and activity more than not. Truffles is forever a kitten, and at 4, still plays just as much (if not more) than her first year. The best way to keep your ct active is to engage them with toys and activities that match their natural instincts in nature. Pay attention to places where your cat seems most active or even causes trouble and inspect the surroundings an involved items. Try to mimic these places and scenarios and you will soon see your cat come to life. Of course, if you have a particularly sedentary or lazy feline you just may have to break out the laser pointer or catnip!

What are your best tips for an active cat? Any favorite toys?

What Daughter Says: Don't forget your pets need active lifestyles too!

16 comments:

  1. KITTY!!! First of all, what a beautiful cat you have! Second, regardless of what type of pet you have it really is important to promote a healthy, active lifestyle as well. Human or animal alike, exercise is IMPORTANT :)

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  2. We have two farm cats and they are crazy active but so happy and healthy as a result.

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  3. Harry the Farm cat goes mousie hunting during the day so he sleeps all night. Sherpa is unpredictable. He gets a wild hair now and then and will go CRAZY. Stinky is an old girl now so she usually just sleeps. Pumpkin is a bit of a wraith - we don't see much of him except at dinner time.

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  4. I need to use these tips for our cat, Candie! She needs to be more active!

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  5. What a cute kitty! I love your suggestions! They will definitely keep any cat active and young

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  6. I guess it works for dogs and cats just like people. Stay active = live longer!

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  7. Your cat looks a lot like my cat! I agree, you need to keep your cat young

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  8. How adorable and great ways to keep them active!

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  9. You have such a gorgeous cat! What great tips!! This makes me really miss my first cat named Sassy!

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  10. Great tips. I don't think all pet owners really think about keeping them active. It's important.

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  11. I am such a cat person. I love my cat. Our cat's favorite toy currently is a feather on a cat fishing pole.

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  12. These are some great tips--keeping pets happy and healthy is good for their owners--less $$ going to the vet

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  13. Those are great tips. My parents still have the cat I got when I was in high school. Let's just say he's a very old cat!

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  14. My Lillian has these crazy energy spurts where she zips through the house like a maniac for a minute or so and then goes back to her napping. She is quite fond of the laser pointer as well.

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  15. My cat's favorite toy was the faucet. He loved to empty our tank of water!

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  16. I'm guilty of this with our dog and not playing enough with him as he got older. Wish we could turn back the clock.

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