Is your cat bored? Our cats need a variety of activities to keep them entertained. Here are 5 signs that your house or apartment - or rather, their palace - is not fun enough for your cat.
You work a lot, you are often absent... And during this time, your little cat stays all alone at home.
Unlike dogs, cats are independent animals that can handle long periods of solitude. That said, even with a comfortable home, a clean litter box, and food available, they can still get bored. Yes, just like us, our cats can suffer from boredom.
In cats, boredom can manifest itself in different ways. Some whiskered cats will spend their time eating and sleeping, while others will adopt aggressive behavior. Paw strikes, claw strikes... Even furniture gets its share.
Just like stress in cats, boredom is not to be taken lightly. It affects their mental and physical health. Here are 5 signs that your little companion is probably lacking stimulation.
5 Signs Your Cat Is Bored
1/ Your cat is no longer eating or is eating too much
What do we do when we're bored? We eat (and not just carrots). Well, for our cats, it's the same thing. A bored cat often tends to eat too quickly, to take refuge in its food. Its bowl of kibble and/or pâté is its only attraction of the day.
If your cat is greedy , be careful. A bored cat does not move much, drags its feet. It can thus gain weight and gradually become obese . Overweight and obesity can lead to urinary or kidney disease or diabetes. So be careful!
Note that an unsuitable diet can also be the cause of his gluttonous attitude. Since it is not nutritious enough, he is simply hungry! His food must not sufficiently meet his nutritional needs: poor quality animal proteins, without much nutritional interest, too high quantities of lipids (fats that are quickly metabolized by the body).
For your little cat, choose a food that contains enough animal protein, and above all, quality proteins that have real nutritional value.
Happy Cat Food
At Ziggy, our cat food is very rich in protein (+60%)… quality!
We do not use reconstituted meat, MSM (mechanically separated meat) or animal “waste” such as carcasses, skin, feathers or bones.
You will find only real pieces of muscle and noble offal (chicken, beef, pork). In addition, they contain a minimum of carbohydrates (-2%), which, namely, are not essential to our cats' diet.
Conversely, we also observe a loss of appetite in bored cats. They are no longer attracted to their bowl, they no longer eat , not even their delicious kibble. They prefer to stay in their corner and wait for time to pass...
Here too this attitude can be serious for their health. A cat that does not eat risks suffering from dehydration, deficiencies...
2/ Your cat grooms itself excessively
A bored cat may indeed seek to comfort itself and occupy itself by licking itself intensely , by nibbling its fur or its skin. It may also, in the most serious cases, pull out its hair . Actions that can cause irritation and injury in the short or medium term.
And this behavior creates a vicious circle: as his irritated skin bothers him, he will lick himself even more to try to relieve himself...
If you notice this behavior in your cat, however, make sure that it does not have fleas or insect bites. Also check that it does not have skin lesions in the form of small blisters. This could be a sign of an allergic reaction.
And if he pulls out a lot of hair, leaving his skin visible, do not hesitate to consult your veterinarian . Your cat may be suffering from a parasitic infection such as ringworm and mange.
As explained in our article on hair loss in cats , mange, for example, causes intense itching and significant skin irritation. Caused by mites, mange causes kitty to lick and scratch the affected area a lot, whether it's around the ears or all over the body.
3/ Your cat sleeps (really) a lot
The cat is the world champion of napping. On average, our felines sleep about fifteen hours a day, if not more for kittens and older cats .
But if your cat spends more time in Morpheus' arms, it's not insignificant. Long naps are a sign to take into consideration. With nothing to do, kitty prefers to sleep. Maybe they see beautiful things when they dream ...
4/ Your cat lacks curiosity
Other signs to watch for: lack of curiosity.
Our cats are naturally curious animals. They are constantly monitoring their territory: they look out the window, watch us in the shower, inspect our shopping bags, etc.
If your cat no longer has this natural curiosity and does nothing but sleep and eat, this should alert you.
5/ Your cat becomes aggressive/destructive
Your cat has suddenly become the boss of the house, he attacks you for no reason, even attacks your guests and your furniture. Kitty probably lacks something to do.
An animal that finds the time long will indeed try at all costs to occupy itself, and unfortunately you can be its main target.
He may also have destructive behavior : scratching your sofa, climbing the curtains, chewing the fringes of your carpet, etc. Just like dogs who love to attack shoes and turn them into confetti.
What can I do to prevent my cat from getting bored?
Mental and physical stimulation are essential to keep your cat from getting bored. Here are some tips.
Toys and hiding places for your cat
If your cat doesn't have access to the outdoors and you're often away, it's possible to stimulate him mentally and physically by providing him with toys. However, there's no need to buy a whole pet store. Our cats can have fun with just a water bottle cap or a hair tie.
Also offer him hiding places. Our little friends love to hide in boxes , for example. And even more so in our Ziggy boxes which can be transformed into a cabin or a Catmobile.
Also, think about giving him a little access to your windows so that he can observe the outside. Our cats are concierges; they like to know what's going on outside, watch the birds, the cars, the passers-by. In short, everything that moves. They analyze the outside of their territory, in case there is ever an invasion. 😼
You can also arrange your interior, by installing a cat tree or shelves on the wall to create an adventure course. Our cats love to position themselves high up to observe their environment.
And of course, don't hesitate to play with your cat. Playing stimulates your cat, but also creates complicity between you.
Find our advice on our blog for choosing the best games for your cat.
Quality food to delight your cat
To keep your cat happy in its pads, give it quality food. Among the foods to favor: pâté!
Wet food offers many benefits. Rich in water, it is filling and less caloric than kibble. It is ideal for cats who are a little too greedy. And above all, pâté increases the activity level of our cats. We do not know if this is due to hydration or the frequency of urination, but several studies agree that felines who eat wet food have a higher physical activity than those who eat dry food.
At Ziggy, we take care of our cats so that they are happy and healthy. Healthy, balanced and French pâtés and kibbles that already make more than 100,000 cats purr. 💛
L’un de mes chats vomissant à chaque prise de pâtée, je me suis renseignée auprès de mon véto ; il se pourrait qu’il digère moins bien vu son âge (9 ans) et que la nourriture soit trop riche. Merci pour l’article sur l’ennui, mes deux chats s’ennuient un peu l’hiver car ils sortent moins mais jouets et câlins sont là.
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