Cat Enrichment: How to Make Your Cat Happy at Home

Cats commonly live indoor-only lifestyles, which puts the responsibility of maintaining their mental stimulation on us. Providing enrichment for cats can create a happy home for everyone. There are many options and opportunities for socialization and entertainment for your cat, which can be customized based on their daily routine, favorite activities, and age. Mental stimulation can include feline enrichment activities and ideas for DIY enrichment at home.

How to Socialize Your Cat

Despite the myth that cats are loners, they do need socialization. The key is to identify the type of socialization that works best for your cat. Some cats enjoy the company of other animals in the home, new people, or only their own family members. For example, your cat may not respond well to a play date with a cat they don’t know.

However, your cat will likely respond well to playtime with you. Regular quality time with you — including brushing, petting, cuddling, or playtime — is an inexpensive and easy way to provide enrichment for your cat. If your cat is new to your home and still warming up to you, don’t be discouraged. Cats often need weeks or months to adjust and build trust, and you can help them do so by providing regular attention. On their terms, of course. This may mean keeping a distance, tossing toys nearby, or providing treats.

Some cats also enjoy socialization with other animals. If you are planning to adopt a kitten, consider adopting a pair of littermates or similarly aged kittens, who often form a profound and lifelong bond. Adult cats may even respond well to living with an unrelated cat or other animal, depending on their comfort level. When introducing a new pet, go slow over weeks or even months, allowing them to get used to each other's smells, and interacting only when both pets seem comfortable. Be ready to recognize that for some cats the stress may outweigh the benefits of a new friend.

How to Provide Entertainment for Your Cat

While socialization can be entertaining, your cat will need additional enrichment activities to keep from getting bored, especially if they live solely indoors. Providing a view is a great way to keep your cat entertained, and can take the form of a window perch or strategically placed furniture to allow your cat access to an outside view. Make sure the window stays closed, or you have sturdy screens in place, to ensure your cat remains safely inside. Some cats also enjoy ‘cat TV,’ which includes videos of nature (including birds, squirrels and chipmunks), which can be a nice supplement if your view is limited or unsafe.

Toys are another easy way to keep your cat entertained. Cat tunnels, treat puzzles, wand toys, balls, catnip mice, and countless other toys are available. For those wondering how to make cat enrichment toys, try sewing a pinch of catnip into a piece of old, freshly cleaned clothing. As long as the toy is small and light enough to toss around, your cat won’t notice the difference between homemade or storebought.

You can also use your furniture to create a home entertainment zone for your cat, who may enjoy a place to run and jump. A cat tree can be an excellent investment that will give your cat years of enjoyment, and might also serve as a handy window perch. Or you can make your own vertical space for your cat by arranging furniture in a way that allows your cat to be on different levels or mounting shelves along the wall.

Your cat will also appreciate open space to run, either down an unobstructed hallway or through a path in the furniture. Be sure to provide non slip surfaces to avoid injuries.

How to Maintain a Routine and Provide Stress Outlets for Your Cat

Safety and predictability are crucial aspects of feline enrichment. Make an effort to create routines for your cat, which can include feeding them at the same time every day, brushing and/or playing with them at the same time every day, and keeping your own schedule as consistent as possible. When life inevitably happens and your cat’s routine is upended, try to find at least one small routine that can stay the same, then start a new routine to replace the others that have changed.

It’s also important to minimize stress, and allow your cat opportunities to exercise their instincts. Play, which can simulate hunting and help cats’ social development, is one way to do that. Another is to provide your cat with an outlet for scratching, which fulfills a natural behavior to dig and shred. In addition to scratching posts, you can get creative with cat enrichment DIY by using sisal rope to turn furniture legs into scratching posts and leaving out an old rug or piece of carpet to scratch. Give your cat as many places to scratch as possible, and they’ll be much less likely to turn your favorite piece of furniture into a scratching post.

Finally, every cat needs a quiet place where they can get away from other cats, pets, or people when they want to do so. Their favorite spot could be a quiet room, cat perch, or designated hiding place behind a piece of furniture. Or turn a dog crate into a kitty hideaway, which can double as a mobile hideaway if you travel with your cat. Be sure this area is always maintained and secure so that your cat can take time away whenever needed.

How to Enrich the Lives of Senior Cats

Feline enrichment is not just for youngsters. Providing enrichment for senior cats helps them continue to enjoy life even as they begin to slow down. You’ll still want to address the above issues, and also consider your cat’s health, mobility, and comfort level as you decide how best to enrich their environment. 

Consider ways to accommodate your home for your senior cat. As your cat ages and their energy and mobility change, you may need to devise alternative ways to structure playtime. For example, a senior cat may enjoy a game of hide and seek, which gives them lots of attention from you and lets them move at their own pace. Senior cats often value predictability and routine even more than younger cats, and may have a more difficult time adapting to change. When possible, provide routine and structured care.

At Gentle Journey Vet Care, we know how important it is to give your cat enrichment and keep them happy at home. If you want to be sure you are creating a healthy and safe routine for your cat, schedule a virtual consultation. We specialize in palliative care and caring for the emotional and physical health of your pet.