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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Keeping kitty happy


A cat basks in the afternoon sun. Many cats live their entire lives indoors. Most veterinarians welcome this trend toward indoor living.
 (Brian Plonka / The Spokesman-Review)
Carolyn Morrill Correspondent

More and more of us are sharing our homes with cats. There are approximately 90 million pet cats in the United States. Cat ownership has increased while dog ownership has remained stable over the past 10 years.

Increasingly, many of these cats live their entire lives indoors. Most veterinarians and humane societies welcome this trend toward indoor living. It keeps the cats safer and healthier, and it helps protect wild bird populations from excess predation.

However, along with the benefits of indoor life come some downsides. Obesity is one major drawback. Indoor cats get less exercise than do outdoor cats. Indoor cats also have fewer opportunities to practice their instinctive hunting and foraging skills. They may not have areas where they can hide when they feel threatened. They may not be provided with appropriate scratching materials. For some cats, these stresses can lead to behavior problems such as aggression, destructive behavior and inappropriate urination.

Indoor cats need more from us than food, water and a litter box. Fortunately, there are many things we can do to enrich our cats’ indoor environment and reduce the occurrences of medical or behavioral problems.

Here are a few suggestions:

•Schedule at least one 10 minute “play period” for your cat every day. Buy wand toys with feathers on them, laser mice, or other toys that mimic the movement of a cat’s prey, or make your own toys with a sock or small stuffed animal tied to a shoelace. You can teach some cats to fetch a soft toy or even a crumpled piece of paper. Your cat will look forward to this time each day. She will be able to practice her natural hunting skills, get some exercise and bond more closely with you. Put toys away out of sight between play periods, and rotate toys every few days.

•Entertain your cat when you’re away from home. Put a bird feeder outside a window where your cat can watch birds come and go during the day. Hide toys around the house for your cat to find while you’re away. Put a few pieces of kibble or hard treats in a spent toilet paper roll, put masking tape on either end and punch a couple of holes in the tube so your cat can work on getting to the treat inside. In nature, cats have to work for their food. Their lives will be more interesting and satisfying if we provide them opportunities to exercise their natural instincts.

•Create safe zones where cats can go to escape from visitors, children or dogs. Ideally, cats should have some high perch from which they can observe the household but not feel threatened. Cats in the wild are hunters, but they are also small and vulnerable to being hunted themselves. That is why hiding spots where your cat feels secure are so important.

•Provide at least one very sturdy and not too out-of-the-way scratching post. Cats stake their territory in nature, and they do the same in our homes. The visible mark, as well as the scent left by scratching, helps them feel secure in their territory. This can reduce the likelihood that indoor cats will feel compelled to mark their territories in other ways that humans may find unpleasant.

It is never too late to start these techniques. You may see a change in your previously reclusive older cat. He may become more active, especially when he knows playtime is at hand. He may seek you out more and be more sociable.

Remember to have fun with your cat, and at the same time you’ll be making his life indoors more complete.