Cat enrichment.
Our days are so incredibly enriching! We get up, make coffee, exercise, drive to work, engage in challenging daily work tasks, drive home, cook dinner, and do many other interesting activities that keep our mind mentally stimulated throughout the day. This significantly decreased while we were all in lockdown. We were all sitting at home well aware of the potential for our days, unable to make sh*t happen due to being under lockdown. At least now we understand what it’s like to be our pets…
All cats need some form of enrichment, especially cats that are kept indoors. Enrichment is an opportunity for cats to practice natural behaviours and appropriately express mental energy. Environmental enrichment is when you introduce these stimulating smells, sights, tastes sounds and sensations into your cat's environment.
In a cats wild environment they would be required to hunt for their food, our cute and fuzzy feline friends are natural predators! When a cat is hunting its brain produces a chemical called dopamine, commonly referred to as the ‘reward chemical’. Dopamine is produced in humans when we complete a task, engage in self care practices, conquer a challenge or learn something new. Cats release this happy hormone when they catch prey or a toy or mange to win food from a difficult feeder. Cat wands with feathers are a great option to practice hunting prey, this type of activity also encourages your cat to be physically active! Remember to let your catto win every now and then, dopamine is only produced when you feel like you’re getting somewhere!
Enrichment can help improve -
Excessive isolation or hiding as it increases confidence
Keeping owners awake at night because it helps to tire a cats mind and allows them to feel fulfilled
Destroying furniture, enrichment provides appropriate outlets for energy or frustration
Excessive grooming due to boredom or stress which can lead to hairballs
Overeating and obesity, eating too fast or vomiting after feeds, enrichment can help slow cats down
Aggression towards their owners or other pets in the home (again, with the appropriate outlet for frustration or prey drive)
Inappropriate toileting
There are many types of enrichment you can provide for your cat - and it doesn’t need to be expensive! The list of easy DIY projects is long my friends!
Disney doesn’t make this stuff up! Cats like to be able to see all that is theres!
Food Enrichment
Environment Enrichment
Social Enrichment
Play Enrichment.
Treat dispensing puzzle feeders are a great idea for cats who love their food! An example of this may include treat dispensing balls (commonly sold for dogs, but they work awesome for cats too!) or make your own by using the cardboard inserts of toilet rolls or paper towel inserts. Cut some holes in the cardboard big enough for the dry food to fall out and fold the ends over. You might want to start with large inserts to make it super easy for your cat, and then you can make them smaller and increase the difficulty over time!
The KONG Wobbler for cats is a great way to feed your cat their main meal. Cats will have have to make the weighted KONG wobble so that their kibble drops out.
Do you have the newspaper delivered, or like recycling magazines? Lay a piece of newspaper flat and place some dry food or high value treats in the middle - scrunch up the newspaper a little and let your cat pull the newspaper apart to retrieve the goods.
Snuffle mats or snuffle balls can be easily made or purchased if you struggle to find time for DIY projects. You place treats or kibble between the fibres and the cat either has to sniff them out for retrieval or roll the ball around and the treats will fall out.
Licki Mats are one of our newest all time favourites! If you give your cat wet food these are great as you can just spread the wet food along the mat and the cat has to work hard to get all that yummy wet food out of the patterned mat. There is quite a variety of different styles of Licki Mats to purchase, and they can be frozen to increase difficulty if your cat is a smarty pants!
Catit Senses have a range of fantastic cat enrichments toys that encourage the engagement of natural predatory behaviours, the brand is well worth investing in! These can be brought online through sites like Pet Circle, or at your local pet store such as Petbarn.
Bubbles! What a way to get your cat active and have a bit of a laugh? Slowly counter-condition your cat to the sight of bubbles creating a fun game, especially when kids are involved!
What better why to stimulate a cats mind than teaching them some new tricks! Did you know cats can be clicker trained? Condition your cat to a marker, just as you would a dog to get them thinking and performing capable party tricks.
Cats don’t just love walking with their heads held high, they also love being up high! Having tall scratch posts are great, particularly when placed near a window. You will probably find that your cat will hang there quite a lot as there is usually lots of things to look at like birds, passing people and when the weather is nice they usually will enjoy the sun rays. Cats naturally like to sit above the ground to keep eyes on their domain.
For more cat enrichment ideas, particularly DIYs, you can always give Pinterest a suss for endless suggestions. Be sure to check out our online store for cat enrichment toys, or alternatively if you have questions you can always contact Sharon for personalised advice or suggestions.
“Could not recommend Sharon enough! I have struggled to manage my cat’s unfavourable behaviour and Sharon emailed me straight away with guidance as to how to manage Hazel! She was also great in advising me why Hazel acts the way she does, being a stray cat that I adopted! Do yourself a favour and reach out!”
