What To Do When Your Cat Is Bored

House cats have a crushing and boring life. They don't have real prey to chase nor real grass to crawl and play on. What they only have is hard wood floors and food.

In the bright side, they remain safe. They are away from danger, harmful diseases and other bad things outdoor life offers. According to WebMD, house cats can live up to 12 to 18 years while a free-roaming cat can live for as little as 3 years.

However, that doesn't mean your cat has to live up the boring life just to  live longer. Their hunting, scratching and stalking instincts remain and when they don't do these things comfortably like they should, they have the tendency to be depressed, bored or even sick!

Take our feline friend, Scott, for example. He was once an outdoor cat when I took him in. So he was used to roaming around freely, hunting and chasing. But when he was left indoors, he got really bored. He isn't as jolly as he was before. He keeps on sleeping and his aura is very different, very sad.

It is still important that your cat stays active, even indoors. You should enrich your cat's environment indoor to keep them fit and active. It is said that a little creativity can go a long way for your cat. With this, you can keep your cat stimulated and interest even with just a small space and limited budget. In addition, new enrichment researches state that toys that are removed and then returned after several weeks regain much of their novelty. Therefore, you can extend your budget by rotating your cat's toys regularly.

Various cat toys for cats. From: Pinterest.com

Toys spark a great interest in cats. It's one of the easiest ways to amuse your cat. Plus, they can come in various shapes, sizes, uses and different types of fun! Offer lots of great toys for your kitty. This can keep your cat's interest going. Also, as stated, rotate your toy stash regularly and don't be afraid to remove toys and introduced new ones every week or two.

Scott has two favorite toys as of the moment, the cat wand toy he gets crazy about when I play with him and the treat-dispensing toy he just loves. I found out that playing bird calls or bird songs on the background while playing with the cat feather toy gives much more excitement and amusement for him. I also had this big box for him since he likes stuffing himself in it. I had plans on buying a cat tunnel though because cat tunnels are without a doubt more spacious. Also, I learned that wind-up mice is a cute and effective toy too. Scott is really happy now. He's more active and more playful. He just can't resist his favorite cat toy wand.

Furthermore, always play with your cat. According to WebMD, playing with your cat twice a day helps keep kitty fit by maintaining muscle tone and circulation. Plus, it relieves stress and boredom (yours and his) and strengthens the bond between you.

So if your cat is bored don't wait for him to reach out to you and tell you he's bored, because he won't. He'll just sit there and be depressed all day and we don't want that to happen. Engage with your cat with toys immediately. It's easy and effective. Make toys or buy toys for him. It's totally in your hands in making your housecat's life not only long but also happy. It ain't easy but when you see your cat happy, safe and contented, it's worth the time and effort.