Cats and Exercise

I tried everything to get my cat Uba outdoors. I put a leash around her neck and she freaked out. That's actually putting it mildly. Her muscles tensed as she used every bit of strength in her body to try to get the offending object from around her neck. I tried a body harness with the same result. Short of letting her run wild outside I have to make sure she gets her exercise indoors.

Some cats are experts at getting their own exercise. I would say they are creatively evil about it at times. I've woken many nights to the sounds of my cat on a rampage. The morning light would reveal balled up carpets, destroyed newspapers and my cat hanging from the drapes unable to get down.

Uba is not as young as she used to be though. She's just turned ten and is now decidedly lazier. She's also packed on a few pounds, which leads me to be concerned about her health. Just a few extra pounds on kitty can lead to serious health complications down the road. The best things you can do are to monitor their food intake and encourage them to get some exercise.

Toys (From the Store)

One of the best cat toys I ever purchased I got at a cat show. It was a long, plastic, flexible stick with a feathery-type toy hanging from the end of it. My cat went nuts when I presented it to her. I simply held the end of it, much like a fishing pole, and shook it. There was nothing in the world that would have stopped her from getting her paws on those feathers.

Another popular cat toy is the catnip mouse. These toys come in a variety of sizes and shapes and are filled with catnip. You may find these on a rope or even with a built in motor.

There are many toys made that have a ball contained within a circular plastic ring. Not all cats will love these but I know both of mine do. They only have limited access to the ball as it rolls around in the circular tube. It's great exercise because they refuse to give up on trying to get that ball out of there!

Toys (Homemade)

Most cats will go nuts for a balled up newspaper page or a ball of aluminum foil. Take your ball and sit down on the floor near where your can is napping. Make some noises with the ball and call your cat. If you are greeted with a quick one-eye-open glance and a look of disinterest you may have to try harder. Throw the ball in the air a few times to really get their attention. When kitty gets up and comes to investigate let the fun begin. Throw the ball across the floor and watch them give chase. You can even try this on the stairs.

One thing that my cat loves is the plastic ring from the top of a gallon of milk. I really don't know why but I suspect it has something to do with the slight odor of milk and the ability of the ring to roll across the floor. I moved once and found a stack of these hidden away under my dresser. How she got under there to hide her stash I'll never know. Use this the same way you would a ball of newspaper by whipping it across the floor.

You can also go with the standard ball of yarn. Roll the ball across the floor to pique kitty's interest. If they just give you a dirty look try unrolling a bit of the yarn and dangle it in front of them. Chances are they can't resist pawing at it. Drag the string across the floor and kitty will delight in pouncing on his or her new found prey. If you play with yarn with kitty make sure you put it up when you are done so kitty doesn't decide to ingest their new toy.

If you have a fishing pole you already have a great toy for kitty. Remember to remove any hooks and tie feathers or even a milk ring on the end of the fishing line. Just cast the toy across the room and reel it towards you. The hunter in your cat will come bounding out.

Treats

Treats can be the great motivator. If you cat stubbornly refuses to get up and move you may have to bribe them. Use cat treats or catnip to get them up and moving. You can hide treats around so kitty has to find them or simply toss them across the floor.

Furniture

I knew a girl a while ago who had the best cat toy I had ever seen. Her cats loved it and spent a lot of time running up and down and around it. It was as a cat tree that reached up to her ceiling. It looked much like a real tree complete with green carpeting at the top. You can find similar trees or houses at pet stores or if you know someone who is good with a hammer you can build one yourself.

You can also buy pet furniture in smaller sizes. They make small two-foot high carpeted pet condos and window perches. Buy one that comes with toys attached to keep kitty moving. The most common toy is the ball on a spring. All kitty has to do is barely nudge the spring and the ball goes nuts and so will you cat.

Kitty tunnels have toys attached to the inside of the tunnel. The tunnel is made of lightweight fabric and will take the abuse of your cat's claws while sustaining minimal damage. The tunnel will roll along with your cat, which gives them even more of a thrill.