By Tanya M. Ursual

From The Lanark Animal Welfare Society (LAWS) L.A.W.S., P.O. Box 156, Smiths Falls, ON, K7A 4T1:

RELIEVING FELINE BOREDOM:

With so many resources telling us to keep our cats safe by keeping them indoors, one has to wonder how our once feral furry friends are able to cope. A cat’s natural instincts are expected to be abandoned in place of a food bowl, soft couch and human time clock. It might sounds great to us, but fighting thousands of years of instinct isn’t always easy. Feline boredom, from a lack of stimulation or loneliness, can lead to aggression, depression, obsession or other behavioural problems. Here are some suggestions on how to keep your cat happy and stimulated indoors:

• Place a bird Feeder outside of a favourite window. This will supply hours of entertainment.
• Leave the radio or television on while you are away
• Provide your cat with a feline friend. A compatible (and that’s important) feline companion can provide much needed company.
• Consider getting an aquarium. Your cat will spend hours fascinated with the fish. Make sure the top of the lid is secure!
• Paper bags and boxes provide hours of free fun for your cat. A closed cardboard box with cut-out holes and filled with crumpled newspaper are a great idea.
• Consider leaving your cat a food trail. Hide cat treats in strategic places throughout the house. Your cat will have fun for hours trying to find every last one of them.
• Kitty trees and condos will provide your cat with a place to scratch, climb, explore and snooze.
• Here are some great home-made cat toy ideas: tied up sock stuffed with cotton balls and catnip ; ping pong balls, a home-made cat fishing rod toy made from a stick with scrunched up paper at the end; empty plastic eggs or plastic containers filled with dried beans

  You might find that your cat isn’t the only one having fun!