Why Your Cat Needs Mental Enrichment
The Importance of Mental Enrichment for Your Cat
Cats have a reputation for being independent, low-maintenance pets. While your cat may be able to groom themselves and have a shorter exercise requirement, they’re still social creatures that need mental enrichment to live a fulfilled, happy life.
Read on to learn the importance of enrichment in your cat’s life, and how you can engage your cat’s brain to keep them happy and healthy.
Why Does Your Cat Need Mental Enrichment?
Mental enrichment is any activity that engages your cat’s brain and encourages them to use their natural instincts. Your cat may be domesticated, but the desire to hunt, stalk, climb and pounce is still ingrained in them.
Mental enrichment gives them an outlet for predatory and prey behaviors and transforms their house environment into one that better resembles their natural environment. Without this, your cat can get bored, stressed, and even destructive.
Other benefits of mental enrichment for your cat include:
Decrease unwanted behaviors like scratching your furniture
Lower stress and anxiety
Stronger bond between you and your cat
Overall improvement of their quality of life
6 Ways to Enrich Your Cat’s Life and Engage Their Brain
Before you dive into an enrichment activity, it’s important to note that what works for one cat might not be the right activity for another. Mental enrichment only works if it’s the right enrichment for your cat.
Try out all of the ideas below and discover what your cat prefers.
Make Mealtime More Natural
In the wild, your cat’s mealtime wouldn’t be as easy as pouring food into a bowl. They would need to hunt for their food. You can simulate this behavior with food puzzles, slow feeders, and hunting games around the house, depending on your cat’s preference.
You can buy food puzzles, or you can make your own from materials you have around your home like boxes, toilet paper rolls, and plastic bottles. What’s important is that your cat has to think and work to release its food.
You can also hide small servings of your cat’s food in different areas of your home, so they have to physically hunt and find their meals. Don’t jump directly into this game, however. You’ll need to teach your cat how to play by starting small with treats hidden in the same places for a few days.
Once your cat has grasped the concept, you can level up the challenge by using their meals.
2. Provide Vertical Space
Vertical space is a key part of any healthy, happy cat’s environment. For most cats, being up high makes them feel secure, and it allows them to observe what’s going on below from a safe vantage point.
Cat furniture like perches, shelves, and trees are fantastic ways to make even small rooms feel huge with possibility. They tap into your cat’s natural instincts to climb and encourage them to explore.
Place cat trees near windows, so your cat can observe the outside world, an act that’s mentally enriching on its own.
3. Engage Natural Instincts with Play
You should schedule time every day, even if it’s only 5-10 minutes, to play with your cat, for both physical and mental exercise.
For the play to be beneficial, it needs to tap into your cat’s natural hunting behaviors. Toys that dangle like feather wands or play mice are great for this.
Use small, controlled movements to encourage your cat to chase the toy, and make sure you let them catch the “prey” occasionally, so they don’t become frustrated with the game. Repeat these play sessions in short bursts throughout the day.
You can also provide self-play toys like catnip-filled toys, wall-mounted toys, and tunnels to add even more fun to your cat’s environment. Make sure to rotate the toys that your cat has access to and put them away when they’re no longer playing with them, so they don’t get bored.
4. Give Them Affection
Socialization is an equally important part of mental enrichment, and for some cats, it can be the most important part.
Because cats are seen as self-reliant, they can spend the majority of their days alone while their human companion is at work or away from home. Even though they can be independent, many still crave attention and affection, especially from their favorite humans.
For this, you’ll need to understand your cat’s personality. Not every cat enjoys being a pet, but they most likely still enjoy your company and being a part of your daily activities.
Designate time every day to check in with your cat and provide the scratches and cuddles that they need.
5. Provide Sensory Enrichment
Many things can provide enrichment for your cat’s brain, even if it doesn’t look like your cat is doing much at all. These activities engage one of your cat’s senses, rather than relying on physical exercise.
Providing new scents for your cat to smell and explore can be a great way to challenge their brains. This can be through catnip, cat grasses, cat-friendly house plants, or pheromones placed on a small toy, box, or paper bag.
Visual enrichment is also great for your cat. Birdfeeders outside your cat’s favorite window give them new, fun elements to watch from their cat trees. Even playing videos of birds can be a new experience for your cat, but make sure to provide them with physical entertainment along with the videos, so they don’t get too frustrated.
6. Try a Training Session
Dogs aren’t the only animals that can be trained! Cats can be clicker trained with positive reinforcement like treats or playtime.
With clicker training, you can work with your cat on foundational behaviors like getting their attention, or you can try to learn a fun trick like a high-five. Cats are very intelligent animals, and trick training can be the perfect way to challenge your cat and get them thinking.
High-Quality Cat Furniture to Enrich Your Cat’s Environment
An enriched environment for your cat is one that provides them with variety and choice. Provide multiple cat trees and purchase around your home, so your cat is free to explore as the desire strikes.
Our fun, handcrafted cat furniture is designed with cats in mind. Every piece of furniture is created to enrich your cat’s life and provide enjoyment for years to come.
Shop our selection of cat trees and other furniture and toys today.
