Get More Exercise for Your Cat
The new year is here and it’s time to make resolutions to live better and healthier lives. If you’re part of the millions of cat owners out there, you may have made the resolution to get your furry friend more exercise. Cats have been known to lead sedentary lifestyles and many owners don’t take the time to help their cats with physical activity. If you’re one of these cat owners, there are plenty of easy ways to help your cat get more exercise with minimal effort on your part.
Why Cats Need Exercise
Just like humans, cats are at risk for developing health problems if they don’t lead an active lifestyle. Because of their more sedentary nature, overweight cats are at even greater risk for heart disease and diabetes than their healthy-weight counterparts. Aside from being an indicator of health problems to come, excess weight can also cause arthritis in older felines. If your cat is overweight or obese, exercising can make all kinds of positive changes in their health, from helping them become more fit to preventing them from becoming diabetic later on in life! It’s never too late to start!
Examples of DIY Toys to Exercise Your Cat
There are many, many things you can make for your cat out of materials lying around your house. Cardboard boxes, balls of yarn, and more. Avoid small parts, like buttons or ribbons, because they may get swallowed. And never leave a toy unattended with your pet. Cats like to play with strings and will use their natural instincts to chase and attack anything that moves. This is why a string dangling from one end of your room may seem to be a useless decoration. But don’t throw it away yet; place some kind of treat (like dry food or catnip) at one end of it and tie the other end to a stable object, so your cat can move around freely while trying to get that tasty snack. Before you know it, you’ll have a new cat exercise machine in your living room! You can also put fishing lines on old CDs or DVDs, as they have become well-known as toys for cats.
Interactive Games That Encourage Exercise
If you’re hoping to get your cat to exercise more, interactive games are a great place to start. As prey animals, cats tend to be curious and respond well to playful interaction with their owners. But you can’t just drag a laser pointer around—you have to make it a game. Cats are by nature incredibly agile and energetic. Interactive games give your pet a natural outlet for their energy and keep them from getting into trouble when you aren’t around. These fun interactive games should bring out your cat’s inner athlete.
Safe, Fun Indoor Activities to Burn Off Energy All Day Long and to Exercise Your Cat
Cats are natural hunters and they love to hunt and stalk. That might mean breaking out one of those new electronic toys or just encouraging free-play with basic playthings like balls and string. You can put together a set of fun, interactive toys for your cat to play with all day long. Great options include laser pointers, on-the-wall toys that allow your cat to jump, crawl and climb, or a string toy that will give them plenty of exercise running after it as it dangles from above. They also make puzzle toys and foraging games for cats that can be great exercise and brain stimulation for them.
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