{"id":1160,"date":"2018-01-19T20:04:31","date_gmt":"2018-01-19T20:04:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kitnipbox.com\/meow\/?p=1160"},"modified":"2023-03-10T10:09:24","modified_gmt":"2023-03-10T10:09:24","slug":"8-ways-provide-mental-stimulation-cats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kitnipbox.com\/meow\/index.php\/2018\/01\/19\/8-ways-provide-mental-stimulation-cats\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Pawfect Ways To Make Your Apartment Way More Fun For Your Kitty"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve seen <\/span>The Lion In Your Living Room<\/span><\/i><\/a>, then you know beneath the purrs of your cuddling companion beats the heart of a wild beast. Our feline friends are hunters by nature, meaning a happy cat is an active one with lots of mental stimulation. <\/span>But if you and kitty live the city life, your den descendent is likely confined to the great indoors. Of course, modern cats can totally thrive inside \u2013 so long as they have the right environment.<\/p>\n

In other words: Indoor cats bore easily. <\/span><\/p>\n

And boredom can leave to some behavioral issues. Great news for anyone whose cat has ever pounced on them at 3 AM: more stimulation during the day will cause less bad behavior by night. <\/span><\/p>\n

Here are eight hacks, products, and ideas guaranteed to keep your indoor cats cool. All are totally feasible, even if you live in a small apartment. Your cat may be king, but you don\u2019t need a palace to keep him happy. <\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Embrace cat-specific IKEA hacks <\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \"photo-1465077135029-626d853c33dc\"<\/span><\/p>\n

    Did you think IKEA hacks were just for humans? Scratch that. <\/span><\/p>\n

    From a picture-frame scratching post to a compost-bin-turned-exercise-wheel, these <\/span>four IKEA hacks are specifically for cats<\/span><\/a>. They\u2019re the purrfect DIY ideas for keeping kitty mentally and physically occupied. <\/span><\/p>\n

    The best part? <\/span><\/p>\n

    Each hack is so easy, all you\u2019ll need to pull one off is opposable thumbs. <\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Allow your cat to access multiple height levels<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      \"2.<\/p>\n

      Like their tree-climbing, prey-stalking ancestors before them, today\u2019s cats have a <\/span>natural drive to scale<\/span><\/a> heights.  <\/span><\/p>\n

      And though the threats inside your home (hopefully) aren\u2019t as perilous as those in the jungle, some cats feel safest when they\u2019re at a vertical advantage. <\/span><\/p>\n

      Give your kitty peace of mind \u2013 not to mention, <\/span>mental stimulation<\/span><\/a> \u2013 with access to multiple height levels. <\/span><\/p>\n

      A <\/span>climbing tree<\/span><\/a> is the perfect solution for an apartment that lacks width, but not height. But if you don\u2019t have space or the DIY skills required for crafting one yourself, here\u2019s another way to help your cat \u201cget high\u201d: c<\/span>lear off the top of the fridge, and coax your kitty onto it with catnip or a cozy cushion. It\u2019ll quickly become their favorite spot to watch and listen to kitchen activity.<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Clear your window so kitty can see outside of it  <\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        \"Windows<\/span><\/p>\n

        Fact: <\/span>cats love windows<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

        Not only do the glass walls offer sunshine, but they provide plenty of entertainment for your feline, too. For them, just on the other side of that glass is a world teeming with bugs, riveting noises, and passersbys. No wonder they often stay perched on the sill for hours. <\/span><\/p>\n

        To really keep your cat\u2019s curiosity sated, make the window as cozy and accessible as possible. Clear off the window (put those old books and knick-knacks into storage). <\/span>Petfinder suggests<\/span><\/a> installing a bird feeder on the other side for particularly exciting viewings. <\/span><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. \n
            \n
          1. Get creative with where you place your cat\u2019s food\u2026<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            \"photo-1505015306469-3b734c70fea7\"<\/p>\n

            Feeding kitty is pretty much a no-brainer, right? <\/span><\/p>\n

            Actually, <\/span>according to Animal Planet<\/span><\/a>, there\u2019s room for improvement in <\/span>how <\/span><\/i>you feed them. <\/span><\/p>\n

            If you simply pour the kibble twice a day without encouraging any physical activity, chances are your little lion will pack on the ounces. <\/span><\/p>\n

            Embrace the innate skills of your mini hunters instead \u2013 by making them work for their food. <\/span><\/p>\n

            Poke holes in the lids of an old, reclosable yogurt container and fill it with pellets. Mealtime, meet a riveting round of <\/span>maracas<\/span><\/i>. <\/span><\/p>\n

              \n
            1. \n
                \n
              1. \n
                  \n
                1. \u2026 And their water <\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  \"pexels-photo-723130\"<\/span><\/p>\n

                  Have you ever noticed your cat takes licks of water from cups you left lying around the house? It\u2019s not just because he loves you (although <\/span>science promises he does<\/span><\/a>!). It\u2019s likely because <\/span>cats don\u2019t typically drink near their food<\/span><\/a>, and vice versa. <\/span><\/p>\n

                  Rather than placing the water bowl near the food bowl, satisfy two needs in one by scattering the <\/span>H2O<\/span> throughout your home. Hunting, hydration, check. <\/span><\/p>\n

                    \n
                  1. \n
                      \n
                    1. \n
                        \n
                      1. Turn up the meow-sic <\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                        \"6.<\/p>\n

                        Do your kitty\u2019s ears perk up when listening to Meowtzart? <\/span>According to PetMD<\/span><\/a>, they might feel soothed when exposed to certain types of music. If you\u2019re out for long periods at a time (say, if you commute to work), consider turning on some jams in your absence. <\/span><\/p>\n

                        The jury\u2019s out on which melodies are best, though you <\/span>can<\/span><\/i> order <\/span>music made specifically with feline frequencies in mind<\/span><\/a>. Just remember, those perky little ears are highly sensitive. So make sure whatever you play <\/span>isn\u2019t too loud<\/span><\/a>.  <\/span><\/p>\n

                          \n
                        1. \n
                            \n
                          1. \n
                              \n
                            1. Schedule playtime every day <\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                              \"photo-1513360371669-4adf3dd7dff8\"<\/span><\/p>\n

                              Playtime is more than just a fun way to exert a ton of energy for kittens (of all ages). <\/span>According to The Spruce<\/span><\/a>, it\u2019s also a great way to strengthen the feline-human bond. <\/span><\/p>\n

                              How much playtime is enough, you ask? At a minimum, schedule 10 to 15 minutes per day. <\/span><\/p>\n

                              Some pointers: if your cat is reluctant to come out of hiding at first, try dimming the light. And don\u2019t let him play with your hands (trust, you <\/span>will<\/span><\/i> regret it). <\/span><\/p>\n

                              End every session on a high note by providing a small treat or two. <\/span><\/p>\n

                                \n
                              1. \n
                                  \n
                                1. \n
                                    \n
                                  1. Provide lots of stimulating toys   <\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                                    \"Cat<\/p>\n

                                    Last, but certainly not least: the surest way to keep your cat entertained is with plenty of stimulating toys. The more they crinkle, dazzle, and can be batted around, the better. <\/span><\/p>\n

                                    Not sure which toys are the best for mental stimulation? That\u2019s where KitNipbox comes in. Sign up to ensure a monthly delivery of curated, top-quality goodies guaranteed to tickle your feline\u2019s fancy. <\/span><\/p>\n

                                    Remember to continuously swap out toys, so your cat doesn\u2019t tire of any particular one. And only leave out the safe toys \u2013 ones without any attachable sticks or sharp edges \u2013 when you\u2019re not home. <\/span><\/p>\n

                                    \n

                                    This article was written by MakeSpace<\/span><\/i>, a convenient alternative to renting a <\/span><\/i>self-storage unit in New York City<\/span><\/i><\/a>, that also serves <\/span><\/i>Chicago<\/span><\/i><\/a>, <\/span><\/i>Washington DC<\/span><\/i><\/a>, and <\/span><\/i>Los Angeles<\/span><\/i><\/a>.  <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                    If you\u2019ve seen The Lion In Your Living Room, then you know beneath the purrs of your cuddling companion beats the heart of a wild beast. Our feline friends are hunters by nature, meaning a happy cat is an active…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":1161,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,202],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1160","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cat-diy-and-crafts","category-guest-blogs"],"yoast_head":"\nHow A Small Apartment Can Provide Your Cat With Mental Stimulation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Small apartment and bored cat? 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