How to keep your indoor cat active, motivated and happy

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How to keep your indoor cat active, motivated and happy

Being an indoor cat myself, I know firsthand that it has not always been easy to be motivated, active and happy when your whole universe is just as small as your apartment, which you’ll have to share with your own Human.

But, with some adjustments and improvements, there is absolutely no reason to be just another indoor cat with a boring indoor life. Human and I have made our own adjustments and improvements and keep on trying to make some new ones to keep me active and happy.

 

How to keep your indoor cat active, motivated and happy

1. Move to a bigger house

It sounds a little bit dramatic but it was exactly what Human and I did. Our old apartment was an open studio apartment that was just big enough for one person but it was certainly too small for a growing up cat. So, we moved to a bigger house with a lot of windows and window sills. So, I have now had enough space for myself to run, play, hide and do whatever I want without bumping on Human’s stuff.

 

How to keep your indoor cat active, motivated and happy

2. Create a cat nook

Of course, I have access to every inch of my house but it is also absolutely important to have my very own space that is meant only for me and myself. Human has created a cat nook for moi with my own cat tree, scratching posts, big tent, toys (lots of them), snack corner with my interactive food dispenserΒ and soft bed so, I can just nap away before, during and after playing.

 

How to keep your indoor cat active, motivated and happy

3. Create a clear view

My bare windows and windows sills are definitely the best parts of my house because they allow me to have a clear view to the outside world. Now, I love them ever more because Human got me a taller cat tree for my second birthday’s present, so I can see everyone and everything through my windows from up above.

 

How to keep your indoor cat active, motivated and happy

4. DIY using boxes

Being active does not always require designed cat trees or other expensive cat stuffΒ as I love Human’s DIYs using empty boxes just as much. And of course, playing in an empty box is fun.

 

How to keep your indoor cat active, motivated and happy

But playing with an empty box with a few hols and some snacks inside it is a lot more fun!

 

How to keep your indoor cat active, motivated and happy

5. Work for food

Well, I don’t actually have to work to have my food but Human always lets me “do something” to get my food. For instance, I have my wet food in my own bowl in the kitchen. Here come the fun parts: Human hides my dried food somewhere in my cat trees so, I will have to look for them to get them. I also have my afternoon snacks in Human’s old muffin pan, which is obviously too small for my head so, I will have to use my paws to get the snacks out of the pan one by one. It is not only fun but also healthy because it slows down my eating process.

 

How to keep your indoor cat active, motivated and happy

6. Cats will be cats

True. Cats will always be cats. Respect it. Accept it. When you do,Β give your catsΒ the freedom to do so, even when theyΒ are in the mood for being naughty like jumping, running, and/or hiding inside your precious bedding with dirty paws as I often do. Human doesn’t like it but she has accepted it because well, cats will always be cats.

 

How to keep your indoor cat active, motivated and happy

7. Find common hobbies

Human loves edible gardening and I love cat grass. So, we have found our common hobbies. We love to do some gardening on the balcony in the warm weathers, and some indoor gardening in the cold weathers. Whatever we plant. Whenever we plant. We do it together and it is fun!

Human does it: How to grow cat grass from seed

How to keep your indoor cat active, motivated and happy

8. We are family

I love Human (well, at least I always make her believe that I love her πŸ™‚ ) but I hate the rest of the humans. It doesn’t matter whether Human calls them friends or relatives. I hate them equally, especially when they visit us on weekends, holidays and so on.

However, it doesn’t mean that I am not curious about them and what they’re all doing in my house. So, Human always gives the other humans some instructions on how they must behave around me. I don’t have to behave myself because I live there, and I am family. And as a family member, I am allowed to watch, to stare and to sniff them and their food!

 

How to keep your indoor cat active, motivated and happy

9. Go outside

Not only am I an indoor cat but I am also afraid to go outside alone, by myself. But, I find it exciting every timeΒ Human takes me outside to go the parks and sniff the greenies, or window shopping and checking out some strangers in the bookstores, and so on and so fort. So, going outside together with Human has become one of our weekly routines, which I have started to enjoy very much.

 

How to keep your indoor cat active, motivated and happy

10. Go on adventures

Thanks to those weekly routines, I have also started to enjoy our cycling adventures on Human’s tricycle. Last week we were on our cycling adventure in and round our city. Next time, we are going to cycle further away, outside our city. It is Human’s greatest dream to go on holiday in foreign countries together with me!!!

Bonus tips from Human:

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Cuddler in Chief

Adopted and toilet-trained cat who loves blogging

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