Cats are healthier and safer when they live indoors, avoiding the dangers of traffic, predators, and disease. However, an indoor lifestyle can suppress your feline friend’s natural instincts, leading to complications such as stress and boredom. Our Arcata Animal Hospital team wants to help unleash your cat’s inner wild side, and we provide tips to let them express their natural behaviors. 

Why expressing natural behavior is important for cats

Your cat may seem like a docile and domesticated pet, but they have their wild ancestors’ instincts, and if they don’t get the opportunity to express these behaviors, complications can arise, including:

  • Stress — Cats who don’t receive appropriate mental and physical stimulation can easily become stressed, leading to issues such as health and behavioral problems. 
  • Feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) — Stress is a significant contributing factor to FIC, an inflammatory condition affecting the cat’s urinary bladder and urethra. 
  • Overgrooming — Cats often groom to help calm themselves when they are stressed, and if they can’t express their natural behaviors, they may over-groom, leading to hair loss and potentially ulcerations in the skin.
  • Inappropriate behavior — When prevented from expressing their natural behaviors, some cats exhibit inappropriate behaviors such as eliminating outside the litter box and scratching furniture, carpet, or curtains.

Tips to help your cat express their natural behaviors

To help your feline friend unleash their wild side, our team offers the following tips:

  • Create vertical space — Cats feel more comfortable when they are lounging up high. They can peruse their environment without worrying that a predator (e.g., another cat, dog, small child, or you looking for a cuddle) will attack. Creating vertical space for your feline friend is as easy as clearing space on top of your fridge or bookcase so they can get to a lofty location. You can also build or purchase a cat tree. These structures typically have the added benefit of cubby holes and hammocks where your cat can relax. If you are super-motivated to create vertical space, build a cat wall, placing floating shelves throughout your home so your cat can navigate their environment without stepping a dainty paw on the ground. 
  • Provide scratching options — When your cat scratches your furniture, you may find the behavior irritating, but cats need to scratch. Scratching helps them flex and stretch their muscles, keep their claws sharp and healthy, and leave scent messages for other cats. Most cats will leave your furniture and other belongings scratch-free if you provide appropriate scratching options. Suggestions include:
    • Placing numerous scratching posts and pads throughout your home.
    • Providing scratching posts of different orientations and different materials to meet your cat’s scratching preferences.
    • Placing scratching posts in areas where your cat likes to rest and play.
    • Ensuring scratching posts are sturdy and will not topple over when your cat tries to use them.
    • Putting catnip or treats on the scratching post to help entice your cat to use it.
  • Let your cat hunt — Cats in the wild spend a large portion of their time hunting, which is quite different than placing a bowl of food in front of your feline friend. Let your cat hunt for their meal by hiding kibble throughout your home so they can go on a scavenger hunt. Another option is to feed them using a food-puzzle toy, which will make them use their noggin to satisfy their hunger.
  • Provide hideaways — Even the most sociable cat needs alone time. Provide areas where your cat can retreat and feel secure. This can consist of cat tunnels, covered beds, or something as simple as a cardboard box.
  • Schedule playtime — Cats need daily physical and mental stimulation to help them stay happy and healthy. Schedule three or four 10-minute sessions throughout your day to tease your cat with a feather wand or laser pointer. Rotate your cat’s toys to keep them interested and prevent boredom.

Cats are finicky creatures, but letting them express their natural behaviors can help keep them satisfied with their indoor lifestyle. If you are concerned about your cat’s health or behavior, contact our Arcata Animal Hospital team to schedule an appointment.