Exercising your indoor cat

As cute as a chubby cat can be it does mean they’re susceptible to certain conditions and diseases connected to the feline obesity epidemic. It might seem an impossible task to make sure your indoor cat receives the exercise it needs from the confinement of your four walls, but it might be easier than you think.

An outdoor cat will use their energy in short bursts when hunting so it’s important to try and mimic this indoors.

Scavenger hunt

Provide your cat with the satisfaction of an indoor hunt just as they would do outside. You’ll want to use treats that have a strong odour so they can find them around the house. The key to a good scavenger hunt is to make sure your cat works for its treats by hiding them in places they’ll have to get creative to reach.

Water and food

If your cat loves food, then why not keep their food and water in separate rooms of the house? This simple notion means your cat will burn some calories while on their journey between bowls.

Climbing towers

It’s a good idea to invest in a cat tower so they can climb, scratch, hide, sleep and exercise all in one. You could also incorporate the tower into your scavenger hunt. With so many towers out there to choose from you’re sure to find one to suit your house and cat.

Create vertical space

If your cat loves climbing or looking down at everyone around them but you don’t have enough space for a climbing tower why not use some free space on a wall? There are some beautiful examples all over the internet and would be easy to copy.

All you’d need is some shelves dotted across a wall, used only by your cat. You could pop a crate on the wall, too, as a bed or a place for your cat to hide in. This would be incredibly handy if you have more than one cat and is guaranteed to keep them occupied and happy.

Simple toys

If you don’t want to spend too much time or money, then you could make the most of your cat’s most simple toys. Play wands or dangler toys are just as effective and you could incorporate them into any of the ideas above.

Feeding time

When your cat’s eating why not move their bowl so they have to follow it? Say they’re fed by the backdoor on the floor, why not move it to the other side of the kitchen. This means they’ll have to work a little harder to eat their dinner. Getting your cat to jump would be even better so why not move the bowl onto the windowsill and back onto the floor again?

Making sure your indoor cat is exercised should be fun for both of you, so don’t be afraid to let your imagination run wild. Anything that will help your cat stay fit is good, complicated or easy. If you’re struggling for ideas don’t be afraid to speak to your vet as they should be able to provide you with some ideas, too.