Curing Kitty Boredom?

Question

My cat Willow seems very bored with me recently. I have lots of feather things, mice toys, bits of string - but she's just stopped being interested. Instead, she sits on my coffee table and just yowls at me, and then looks at me like I'm crazy when I wave the feathery thing at her.

I do have savings dedicated to my pets - but I'm not the most wealthy of teens, and the savings are to donate to my mother for vets bills (she can pay for them herself, I just like to chip in when I can since Im the reason we're a kitty house). However, I've decided that I should use these savings for stuff to make her happier now - my Mum has agreed and said that we'll always be able to afford the vet bills anyway, so it's on!

I just wondered what things I can buy to help my cat? I really dont want her to be unhappy.. She was content with playtime before (I am at home 24/7 so she has my full attention all the time!) but I think she just wants some more excitement.

I was thinking about getting a big ol' cat tree first. One with platforms and dangly things. Do you find that this helps cure kitty boredom?

What other playthings are available for cats? I have all kinds of toys that I can dangle, and wind up, and wriggle infront of her - but nothing that she can just explore or play with, and now she seems to desperately want more than just feathery stick thing!

Answer 1

In my opinion, most of the expensive cat toys are a waste of money.  Our cats like their toy mice, their ball-in-a-circular-track toy, among others, but we've never seen them have as much fun as they do with a big cardboard box and crumpled newspaper.  I bought some large fragile items off of ebay, and even while I was unpacking them, the kitties were jumping in and out of the box and playing in the newspaper.

Also, the answer sometimes lies in the arrangement of the toys.  We have  a $20 2-level cat fort from Target (with those nylon cubes with holes in the sides).  The cats didn't really take to it at first, but once we put the ball-in-a-track thing next to it, they just couldn't get enough.  They'd spend forever just hiding in the fort, peeking out, then batting the ball and retreating back inside.

In my experience, cats basically see any enclosed space as a den to explore, and any small moving object as prey to hunt down.  If you combine the two, it's even better.  Trust me when I say that you don't need expensive toys.  If you're clever, you can find ways to re-use everyday things (and never have a shortage of new playthings for your cat).  They'll eventually get bored with anything you buy them, regardless of price.  Might as well have them get bored of a big recycled cardboard box than a giant cat tree (which doesn't have any use other than being a cat tree).

Answer 2

Cats like interactive games and they can become bored very quickly with some toys.  From experience, I've found that the most expensive toys are not always the most popular.  I bought the Flingamastring toy (had it shipped from the US) and my two were more interested in the cardboard box it was packed in :o)

I've found a shop on eBay UK that has lots of great things for cats.  Mine especially love the pop-up play cubes.  (I've also brought these for friends' cats and they seem to be popular with all age groups.)  When they're shredded beyond use, I keep the small ball and the cats love batting those about because they're lightweight.

My two aren't particularly interested in catnip, but they enjoy  Honeysuckle knotty toys and they go wild for the chicken flavoured Craze Cat Treats.  (These treats are great because they can be offered wet or dry, and powdered they can be sprinkled on food to tempt a fussy or unwell cat to eat).

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/PINKY-PAWZ_CAT-...

Cat treat balls are something else I use to keep cats entertained.

http://www.woofnwhiskers.co.uk/cat-treat...

You can make a frantic box for your cat.  Line a cardboard box with several inches of shredded paper and hide dry cat treats inside there so that she has to forage around for them.  Even moving her food dish around the home on a daily basis so that she has to "hunt" for her meal will keep her stimulated mentally.

Hope some of these suggestions help.

Answer 3

A long tube or tunnel that she can crawl in and hide in.  It should have holes in the side for her to peek out.  A large, 6-foot-long cardboard interior of a roll of butcher's paper would work.  You could  tape 2 of them together.  Cats love to explore in tunnels.

Answer 4

That's so sweet of you! I think most cats like tunnels. Like the really tall ones where they can climb up and down as they please. I bought that for my 2 cats and they both take turns sitting at the top lol. I would try going to petco or any local petstore and see if they have any of those.

Feel better soon! God bless.

Answer 5

You should definitely get the big cat tree. she will love it. I realized once I got that for my two cats they were as happy as can be. they absolutely love it and are on it allllllllllllllll the time. Also, try keeping window curtains open so she can look out. If your cat is an indoor cat she will love it. my cats are indoor cats and they love to spend lots of time by the window. Another thing you should try once you have that tree or even sooner buy cat nip organic is usually the best. they love it. it stimulates them and they go buck wild. My cats have races from tree to tree once I give them cat nip.  I have two trees too. Have fun. Cats will be cats don't worry if she looks bored sometimes that's just how they are.  

Answer 6

This might sound silly, but sometimes when a cat yowls at you, it might mean she wants to talk to you. Have you tried talking to her? lol But really, I think cats do like to engage with others. When you have her interest, try making scratchy noises on something that she can't see. The noise will bemuse her & you might notice those cat-hunting instincts kick in when she tries to discover what it is & where it's coming from.

Try flicking or bouncing a pingpong/table tennis ball in front of her. I always had a pack of six in the house, because cats sometimes lose or hide them hehe

Notice her body language, cats show you when they are thinking of playing.

You could buy a small catnip plant, they're easy to grow, even in a pot (they grow to about 60cm) . Cut some catnip off & 1) bind it up, then dangle it near her. 2) use it as stuffing for her cat toys or rub her toys with a hand full of catnip