What can I do to make my cats happier?

Question

I love my cats and I want them to be happy. Generally they're content, but sometimes they seem bored. I want them to be happy. Does any pet owners have any ideas how to make my cats even happier?

Answer 1

Play with them!!  I find my cats absolutely love the 'cat dancer' this

is a piece of wire with a toy attached to the end of it and a wooden

handle at the other end. You hold it in the air and the wire makes it bounce up and down. The cats love this and will jump at it and play with it until my arm feels like it is going to fall off. I also give them

catnip which they just love. In addition, (watch non cat owners roll their eyes) I have a 'cat video; that I play for them.It is a cheap video that you can buy that is live pictures of things like birds, squirrels, mice

etc just doing their usual activities.It lasts about 30 minutes. It takes a bit for the cats to see it. I usually play it at night and turn the lights out so that they see it immediately. Once they are in front of the tv

they are glued there. all six of them. They try to paw the tv set look around the back of it searching for the squirrels.etc. Lastly I have

lots of bird and squirrel feeders and bird baths outside my windows. The cats are fascinated with them and will sit for hours watching the birds feed and bathe.

Answer 2

If your cat is asleep, then its happy. That being said, my cats love it when I come spend time with them. If I see one of my cats curled up on the couch, I will sit at the other end. They love that I came to them and wanted to spend time with them. Makes them feel special.

Do you independent cat areas for your cats, like condos and such? Cats love to explore new things and climbing is always fun. Also, you can try putting down an open paper bag, or throwing down some twist ties. Cats love to smell new things, so naturally they will take a minute or 2 to sniff the bag.

Do you have windows with any kind of a view? Where I live my cats can watch the side street and see the cars go by. They will spend HOURS watching the world go by, doze a bit in the sun, favorite activity of theirs. You can get shelves, or just put a thin pillow on a dresser or table under a window. Folded over towels work too. Beyond that, cats can entertain themselves.

Answer 3

Cats love to explore and scratch on stuff. Make sure that you have plenty of climbing/scratching posts for them to leave their marks on and file their nails on. They also love paper bags so you can just leave a couple empty paper shopping bags on the floor and they'll make their own fun. Make sure they have a variety of small cat toys with catnip to excite them. Feed them a well balanced diet with access to fresh water at all times. Cats love running water so if you can afford it you may want to buy a water dish that constantly recycles and refreshes the water.  

Answer 4

Play with them.  Do things to keep them interested and satisfy their need to stalk and pounce by using a wand toy.  Or use a laser pointer (do NOT point the laser at their eyes!) and let them chase it.  It's your responsiblilty to make sure they are active when they are awake and happy - it sounds like you are doing a good job if the cats are content, just punch it up a bit on the play time :)

Answer 5

buy them toys and have kids play with him.  Everything you use can be a toy for a cat!

Answer 6

I just invested in a new "cat condo," a 7 foot high lookout with shelves all the way down for the cats to climb over, under and through. My cats are about 9 years old so they aren't as playful as they used to be and one of the two could care less about the new furniture. But I am getting a new Abyssinian boy in a month and he will love it.

The other thing you can do is get a laser pointer at the pet shop. I got one for about $6 and the cats love that thing. It is really funny to watch them chase the little beam of light all around the whole house and great exercise for them.  Be warned that if the laser gets in their eyes it could quickly blind them.

Good luck and thanks for asking here on YA!

Answer 7

cat nip and love <3