Indoor Cat Exercise Ideas
Exercise is essential for cats, but getting an indoor cat to play can seem like an impossible task. Playtime can help your cat maintain a healthy weight and boost the bond with you.
In the wild, cats’ sleek and nimble bodies are built for running at high speeds, climbing trees and hunting prey. These activities can be replicated with toys and other activities in your home.
Motion-Activated Toys
Cats naturally chase and hunt prey in nature, but indoor cats do not have the opportunity to exercise in that way. Fortunately, there are ways to make exercise easier for your pet and encourage her to get moving.
For example, a cat tree or multi-storey cat tower provides your feline with a vertical climbing space, which is important to their instinctive movement needs. These can be bought or built at home, and often have attachable feather and rope toys for the catty to bat around and explore. Likewise, food puzzles like the KONG Active Treat Ball toy prevent your cat from eating too quickly and turn mealtime into an exciting exercise game.
Other fun cat toys include a laser pointer, which many cats love to chase around the room, up and down walls and along floors. Just be careful not to shine the light directly into your catty’s eyes, as it can damage them.
If your cat is a frisky, high-energy cat, she may enjoy a cat wheel, which Kelsey says provides her clients with “high-energy play sessions.
Cat Wheels
Cats who don’t get enough exercise can be at risk for weight gain and a variety of health issues. They may also become bored and develop stress, which can manifest in destructive or aggressive behaviors. An innovative solution to the problem is a cat wheel, which offers an effective and safe way for indoor cats to burn calories, build muscle, and let off some pent-up energy.
Cat wheels, or feline treadmills, are similar to giant hamster wheels that rotate under your cat’s weight. They’re becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to plush toys and crinkle balls, especially for busy pet parents who don’t have time to play with their kitty or are concerned about how much physical activity their cat is getting.
Some models, like this one from One Fast Cat, are free-standing; others, such as the Penn-Plax model, are combined with a cat tree for added stability and safety. They’re typically expensive, however, and they can be difficult to train a cat to use.
To help entice your cat to take to the wheel, try adding some treats or a dangling toy in the middle of it, which will make them run faster for the chance to grab it. Once they’ve mastered the technique, it should be fairly easy to convince them to use it regularly.
Cat Towers
If your cat is prone to scaling furniture or curtains, a cat tower can be an excellent way to redirect that behavior and give your pet the exercise they need. These structures offer a place for cats to hide, climb, perch, and play, while keeping them safely away from countertops or refrigerators. Some even double as scratching posts. To help your cat find their inner hunter, add toys throughout the structure for them to chase and grab.
Many cat towers come with a combination of elements to engage your cat, including a bed or nooks for napping, and places for climbing and perching. This model from Amazon Basics has seven pillars wrapped in jute rope to satisfy your cat’s scratching needs, and it’s easy to assemble.
If you want to go all out, this huge cat jungle gym offers ten sisal scratching posts, two condos, a ladder, and more. It also comes in various finishes, so you can choose the one that matches your home best. This is more of a statement piece than a practical cat tower, but it can provide your cat with all the entertainment and exercise they need. Plus, it’s a great solution if you have multiple cats that often fight over the highest spot.
Hide and Seek
Playing hide and seek stimulates a cat’s natural hunting instincts to stalk, ambush, and pounce. It’s also a great way to exercise them without having to take them out for a walk. Try hiding a treat under a couch or rug and watching them hunt it down — you can even use a stuffed toy that you wiggle to encourage hunting.
Another great way to get cats exercise is by playing fetch with them. Many cats love to play fetch just as much as dogs do, and it can help them burn energy. Just make sure to give them plenty of opportunities to rest after a game of fetch, and don’t push them too hard to avoid overexertion.
Finally, giving a cat the opportunity to climb will help them build their agility and balance. A kitty tower or simply leaving space available on a shelf can offer this great form of indoor cat exercise. A window perch can be a great option as well. Many birds can be spied from these types of perches, and watching them can stimulate a cat’s natural curiosity.
Remember, it is important for indoor cats to get plenty of exercise every day in order to release their playful energy. Just be mindful of how much you are exercising them, as they don’t have a high tolerance for extended levels of exercise and can quickly become bored.
