How Can I Stop my Cat Attention Seeking? 3 Tips for Preventing Cat Boredom
Published date: 04 October 2024
Our feline friends certainly know how to get our attention. From knocking items off shelves to pawing at us and of course, meowing incessantly.
If your cat is being particularly pesky, it could be a sign of boredom. Cats are intelligent creatures that need both mental and physical enrichment. In fact, by taking the time to mentally enrich your feline’s life, you can help stave off cat dementia and other age-related brain issues.
So, to keep you sane and your cat happy, here are 5 boredom-busting tips.
Clicker Train your Cat!
It is a misconception that training is just for dogs, cats are just as capable of learning!
Clicker training is a positive and fun way to stimulate your cat’s mind and can even aid in day-to-day husbandry. Imagine how much easier life would be if your cat got into their carrier on command…
This type of training is also very cost-effective, all you need is an easy to use clicker, tasty natural treats, and a little bit of patience.
Clicker training is about making a positive connection between the clicker sound and your furry friend. They learn that the sound of the click means good things! Once this understanding has been established it is about slowly building new commands on top.
Remember the trick is to be patient and keep each session short and sweet. Build training into your routine and try to do it for 15 minutes or so every day.
Read our Step-by-Step Guide on How to Clicker Train.
Make Dinner Time Interactive
Combining dinnertime with fun is a great way to keep your moggy amused.Instead of popping your cat’s delicious natural dinner in a boring bowl, why not make a fun game instead?
One easy and cheap way is to get a shallow cardboard box. Cut circular holes (big enough for a paw to pop through) in the sides and on the top. Next, sprinkle a few kibbles inside and box and let your cat get searching!
This gets cats moving around which is important for their physical health, at the same time it gets their brain working and solving a problem. You could also try hiding food in different places for your cat to find. This helps excite your cats’ predatory senses and encourages movement!
Play Every Day
Regardless of age, all cats benefit from daily playtime. Playing with your cat satisfies their natural hunting instincts, strengthens their muscles, and makes them feel good!
Proper play should take cats through the stages of the hunt. Allowing for the pounce, chase, catch and eventual ‘kill’. Not only will this keep them happy it can also help reduce outside hunting behaviours.
Another way to make playtime even more enticing is to put out boxes and tunnels to encourage cats’ natural ambushing motions. This also provides your cat with a bit of indoor agility! For help making your playtime perfect, head over to our Cat Playing Guide.
So, there you have it three easy tips to keep your cat entertained and your household items safe.
