Although cats are cunning, curious, and active-minded, they quickly get bored. Boredom occurs when there is a lack of stimulation and other activities to keep them engaged, as cats are interesting animals and love to keep all of their senses in use. The absence of physical and mental stimulation for a longer period can contribute to behavior change.
Cats don’t make it obvious that they are bored, which is challenging to assess, but there are different signs from which we can get an idea of a cat’s emotional state. In this article, we will be talking about various options that can help in making cats happy: solutions for boredom in felines will also be discussed.
Signs Of Boredom In Your Cat
Cats do not show how they feel but communicate through certain signs. These signs can be blunt and annoying for you but don’t worry, they simply require attention by these actions.
Let’s take a detailed look at some signs that can help us determine if our cats are bored.
Over Eating
Overeating is the most basic sign that shows that your cat is bored. If your cat is in an environment where there is a lack of stimulating activities, it starts eating just to kill time. For bored cats, food also serves as a source of entertainment, pleasure, and satisfaction. The release of dopamine after eating sugary food also reinforces overeating.
Hypersomnia
Although cats love to sleep and spend most of the day sleeping generally, excessive sleeping is a sign of boredom in cats. Normally, cats sleep 15 hours a day, but in the remaining hours, they are super active. If your cat is lazy in those hours, it’s a sign that it is bored.
Attention Seeking Behavior
Cats exhibit different behaviors to seek attention, such as following you around the house, throwing tantrums like urinating outside the litterbox, fighting with other cats, scratching people, and excessive yowling. These signs might be due to boredom or other health issues.
Aggression
Cats suffering from boredom may show aggression in different ways. This aggression is basically the pent-up energy in them. As no engaging activities are available, they start showing disruptive and destructive behavior to release pent-up energy.
Lack of Interest
Cats are naturally curious and enjoy playing with toys, but boredom can lead to disinterest. Bored cats avoid interaction with others and even with their owners. They lack interest during play sessions and may appear lethargic due to lack of stimulation.
Repetitive Behavior
A bored cat engages in different repetitive behaviors like licking and biting itself. Excessive licking and biting on fur can cause skin infections. Other repetitive behaviors shown by cats include scratching, tail chasing, and constant meowing. All of these signs indicate the lack of stimulation and consequent boredom.
Reasons For Boredom in Cats
Cats experience boredom for different reasons. Some common causes are explained below to provide you with a better understanding of how to deal with them.
Insufficient Playtime
Cats are born to play and move, so they need interactive toys and other activities to engage. Lack of stimulation gives rise to boredom. To give you an idea about the importance of playtime, here’s a fun fact. According to a study about “cats’ behavior” published in a veterinary journal, the cat owners who played for longer periods reported fewer behavioral problems than those who played once a week.
Spending time with your cat will not only help strengthen your bond but also prevent boredom.
Limited Exploration
Cats are naturally curious and love to explore their surroundings. When restricted from interacting and exploring, they get bored. Exploration encourages your cat to use its intellect and other skills. Moreover, it keeps them physically and mentally active, thus reducing boredom in cats. Cats have sharp senses and love to use them; while exploring, cats encounter different sounds and smells that provide them a reason to engage their senses.
Lack Of Physical Activity
Lack of physical activities can be a major factor in cats’ boredom. If your cat is inactive and doesn’t move much, it can lead to weight gain. For the overall well-being of cats, engaging them in activities that can keep them physically active is important. Different toys are available that can play the role of exercise tools and provide enrichment. A cat exercise wheel is the ideal solution for this purpose.
Inadequacy Of Toys
A shortage of toys leads to boredom and aggression in cats, as they are super active. To channel their pent-up energy, they need interactive toys. Otherwise, they may release this energy in the form of tantrums.
Cat toys for bored cats are not just items of enjoyment but also serve as tools of stimulation. They are an ideal solution to prevent boredom in cats. Another advantage is that with toys, they can entertain themselves when you are not home.
How To Fix Boredom? 4 Helpful Tips
As a responsible cat owner, it is important to fix boredom once you understand the signs and causes. Here are some tips that can help prevent boredom.
Food can be hidden instead of just given
As cats are natural hunters, regular food can be a source to engage them. You can simply hide food in puzzles to keep cats occupied and entertained.
Regular Play Session
For your bored cats, two ten-minute play sessions are better than one play session of twenty minutes. Play time should be once in the morning and once in the evening.
Rotate Toys
Avoid using all the toys simultaneously; otherwise, they will lose interest. To maintain interest in toys, it is important to rotate them.
If you are curious what is a good toy for a bored cat, here’s a helpful article for you.
Safe outdoor access
Cats were born to move; allow your cat to explore its surroundings if possible. Exploration keeps cats engaged as it allows them to use their intellect. Moreover, it also keeps them active and fit.
Conclusion
Noticing signs of boredom in cats is common and can impact their overall health and happiness. As a caring cat owner, it is your responsibility to recognize and address boredom in cats by ensuring a stimulating environment for them. Your little efforts can significantly impact their little world. We hope this article will be helpful in making cats happy: solutions for boredom in felines would help cheer your kitty friends up.
