Does your cat wake you up at 2 am? My kitten used to jump onto my bed, basically from the ceiling, in the middle of the night; talk about a rude awakening! Maybe your problem isn’t nighttime antics, but are you finding that your furniture is being shredded to pieces? Before you send your cat off to kitty jail, I’m here to offer some advice! Today we are going to talk about cat enrichment. We are going to explore ways to keep your cat entertained and prevent that annoying and sometimes destructive behavior! Ok, get your catnip tea, and let’s talk about feline enrichment, and that is how to entertain your cat!
Why do cats act out?
If your cat is keeping you awake, or scratching up your furniture, or acting in other ways that you might not like, I promise that it isn’t intended to spite you! There is something your cat needs or wants, and that is the key to solving the problem. Most behavior issues arise from a lack of physical or mental stimulation. So, let’s talk about what to do! We are going to talk about how, through toys, environment, and games, you can provide your cat with plenty to keep them active, engaged, and believe it or not, entertained! So let’s get right to the enrichment strategy- which we are going to think about in terms of the five senses to cover all our kitty friends’ needs!
The Five Senses and your Cat’s Needs
Sounds
Cats have incredible hearing, and they will be interested by a variety of sounds. Luckily, the cat industry has done its research and you can find toys that make sounds such as crinkling paper, rattling sounds, and squeaky sounds to mimic birds and mice. By mimicking their natural predatory drive, you can hold your cat’s interest and provide excellent mental stimulation.
Smells
We associate dogs with a strong sense of smell, but your cats have an equally strong sense of smell. Introducing new scents from time to time can give your cat a great sensory experience!
Touch
Different textures and materials are very interesting for your cat. In the wild, a cat might experience soft grass, rough tree bark, crunchy leaves, snow, wet surfaces, etc. You can provide your cat with the same rich tactile experience by giving them access to a variety of materials such as soft toys, rope toys, scratching posts, lick mats, and really an endless variety of things!
Taste
Sense of taste is another strong sense for cats. Eating the same food with nothing else can be monotonous. It isn’t good to change their food too often, but you can give your cat various treats of different textures. You can also use puzzle feeders that make a cat have to solve a puzzle to release the food. This gives your cat a chance to ‘earn’ that meal and also slow down her eating so that she’s not eating too much too fast!
Sight
Although not as visual as a human, cats respond very well to moving objects! Toys, birds, and even watching fish in an aquarium can be a great source of curiosity! Whether it’s through toys or by watching the world from a perch, giving your cat a chance to use its sense of sight, you’re giving them a great opportunity for enrichment.
Feline Enrichment Toys
These enrichment items are what I use with my own cats. Each one is an important part of creating the perfect overall plan for your cat’s well-being!
Flirt Pole
A flirt pole is a toy that is attached to a wand by a string. It is a great way to engage your cat using multiple senses. The movement of the toy appeals to your cat’s sense of sight. The feel of the toy appeals to your cat’s sense of touch. The sound of the toy engages your cat’s hearing. This toy is especially wonderful because you can play with your cat and strengthen your bond! By encouraging your cat to chase, pounce, jump, and leap, you are appealing to your cat’s natural instinct for hunting and providing amazing exercise!
Laser Pointer
I love laser pointers because I can sit lazily and watch my cat chase the red dot up and down the hallway! This toy is great for stimulating your cat’s sense of sight, and if you move it quickly in short, jerky movements, you’ll watch your cat’s head move in hilarious ways as it tracks that dot. Just be careful because the fast-moving red dot can be extremely stimulating. If you don’t allow your cat to catch a reward at the end, that fun game can quickly become frustrating for your cat! I always keep some treats in my pocket and at the end of the game, I let the cat ‘catch’ a treat.
Mice Toys
You can find all kinds of mouse toys, and they do a great job of mimicking prey! You can get really inexpensive ones made of various materials and sizes. You can find them with catnip, jingle bells, rattles, on wheels, magnets, and I’m sure I’m forgetting some. These toys let your cat stalk, pounce, and bat. You can play with your cat, or your cat can chase them around on their own. Depending on what kind of mouse toy you get for your cat, they can stimulate your cat’s sense of touch, sight, smell, sound, and even taste if you get one that has treats inside it!
Balls
This is the classic cat toy, but they come in just about any material! Crinkle balls, chirping balls, squeaky balls, and jingle balls, or any that make any kind of sound will stimulate that sense of sound. The rolling or bouncing of the ball is perfect for the sense of sight–all of them are great for touch. My cats love balls, but I think most of them are now hidden under a dresser. Which is fine, by the time I drag them out, my cat will have forgotten about them, and they’ll be good as new again!
Puzzle Games
Puzzle games for cats are great for cognitive enrichment. Typically, your cat must try to find the treats that are hidden within the toy. It can be sliding compartments or opening a lid. I have one for my cat that is a ball that she bats around in a certain way to make the treats fall out. This gives your cats a chance to work on problem-solving, exploration, and hunting. One thing to consider is that sometimes these games have difficulty levels- no matter how smart your cat is, it’s important to start your cat at the right level. It’s a new concept, and you don’t want to make it so difficult that your cat gets frustrated too quickly!
Lick Mat
A lick mat is a great way to give your cat a treat along with a new texture to experience! You can use baby food, churu, or any other soft and spreadable treat!
Feline Environmental Enrichment
Window Perches
Cats love to bask in the sun and watch Cat TV (Birds). Right there we have the sense of touch with the texture of the perch, and the warmth of the sun. The sense of sight is engaged with all the birds, squirrels, and other wildlife they can watch from the window! Window perches really help reduce stress by providing your cat with a nice and relaxing place to relax and satisfy their natural instincts. Window perches can be something purchased just for that purpose, or even a cat tree or table that is just the right height.
Scratching posts and boards:
Your cats need to scratch. Cats regularly shed their outer layer of claw and need something to help them accomplish this. Cats also like to claw to relieve stress and anxiety. The material is excellent for satisfying your cat’s sense of touch while keeping their paws healthy. Scratching posts are often scented with pheromone sprays or catnip, so they provide scent stimulation along with the sense of touch. A scratching post is multi-functional and an excellent tool for enriching your cat’s life. I have a blog post on the topic of cat scratching with tips to preventing unwanting scratching here: https://toebeansandtales.com/cat-is-scratching/
Cat Trees
Cat trees allow a cat to climb and scratch. They naturally want to sharpen their claws, and a cat tree can be perfect- they are usually sturdy and tall enough for your cat to stretch up and grab onto it, leaving your furniture alone (you may need to work with your cat a bit to stop cats from scratching, you can read about it here: _) The sense of touch is satisfied with the materials of the tree including carpet and sisal rope, among other possible materials. You can even spray pheromone spray or catnip to go a step further with the sense of smell. Cats also naturally love being up high and watching the world from above–excellent for the sense of sight!
Hiding Places
Just as your cat likes to climb high above everything, cats also love to hide. Providing a cozy and secure place for your cat to hide can do a lot to prevent or alleviate stress and anxiety because it gives your cat a place to retreat from perceived threats. These hiding places also give your cat another place to hunt and explore. They can even use it to hide in and ambush their toys, other pets, or even you! Remember when you were a kid and made blanket forts? It’s the same kind of concept. You can make them from a cardboard box or a basket lined with blankets; you can buy them made of cardboard in various styles, and they even have them as part of many cat trees. Your cat carrier is also an excellent choice- if you make the carrier inviting, your cat will use it as a hiding space, and then when you need to transport your cat, it will be much easier to get them in the carrier because they will already consider their carrier as a safe place. Hiding places are great and you can really design them to incorporate as many of the five senses as you want!
Cat Fountains
I swear by cat fountains. The sound of the water flowing will stimulate their sense of hearing, while the sight of the water moving will get their attention for visual stimulation. The sense of taste is also satisfied with the delicious, fresh water. It’s very important for cats to drink enough water, but they don’t naturally have a strong thirst drive. Cats rely on their food as a major source of water, but may not get enough from food alone, especially if your cat eats a lot of dry food.
Plants
Be careful with plants as many of them are poisonous to cats. However, providing cat-friendly plants is an excellent way to enrich your cat’s environment. Plants with soft, fuzzy leaves are a great source of tactile stimulation. Bright, colorful flowers and interesting shapes provide visual appeal. Catnip is a favorite for the sense of smell, and some plants like wheatgrass are edible for a cat. When they walk through the plants, they will make a natural rustling sound. Overall, plants are great for your cat- just remember to research cat-safe plants.
Catios
If you have a porch, you can screen it in and turn it into a nice catio for your cat. You can also build a separate outdoor area for your cats, but remember, cats can climb and jump, so it needs to be fully enclosed. Catios provide wonderful opportunities for your cat to enjoy the great outdoors from the safety of an enclosed space and provide stimulation of all five senses!
Feline Enrichment and your night-time routine!
In my introduction, I mentioned that my cat used to jump from the ceiling onto my bed in the middle of the night. Let me tell you a little bit more of that story! So, the reason she had to do that is because I locked her out of my bedroom at night- well, I tried. My bedroom at the time had been an old doctor’s office remade into an apartment building. There were window frames separating my bedroom from the living room, but it didn’t have any glass. My kitten was banished to the living room because of night-time zoomies. Well, my little kitten figured out how to climb to the window and then jumped down on me- scared me to death. It taught me that I can’t solve the problem by banishing the cat.
Cats have trouble sleeping through the night because their instinct is to hunt and be active at dawn and dusk. You have to help your cat adjust to your schedule. My kitten and I established a routine where we’d go to bed, and she’d run laps around the room for about 15 minutes and then come to bed. You and your cat will also find a routine.
To help with the adjustment period, what can you do? I recommend providing a comfortable sleeping environment. A cozy bed or blanket can help your kitty feel content- and resist the urge to wash your cat’s blanket too often, they actually feel very reassured by their own smells- this is why a new cat will often hide in its litter box.
Your cat may not sleep through the night, so I like to leave a scratching post and a few non-jingly toys available for my cats. I also leave access to water and a small snack out for my cat so that she won’t wake me up to tell me she’s hungry. My cat likes to slap my face when she wants me to wake up– it’s cute, but not at 3 am. Your cat will adjust to your schedule, but in the meantime,
Conclusion
Cat enrichment is so important and essential for preventing unwanted behavior and promoting a happy, healthy life for your feline friend. By engaging the five senses through toys and environment, you can provide everything your cat needs to feel happy in our human world.
To read more about providing what your cat needs, read this post: https://toebeansandtales.com/building-a-strong-connection-with-your-purr-baby/
