Cats sleep throughout the day to build up their energy to hunt. Even though they are domesticated, cat’s still have hunting instincts!
Cats are very interesting pets to have because of the fact that they still have some wild instincts. In fact, domestic cats share 95% of the same DNA as wild cats. Though your domestic cat doesn’t have to go out and hunt for food, they still have hunting instincts that need to be fulfilled. Here is how to satisfy your cat’s hunting instincts.
Hunting Toys
Cats sleep for majority of the day in order to build up the energy that they need to hunt. Because indoor cats can’t hunt, they simply have all of this energy that needs to be released. A great way to do this is to use cat hunting toys to stimulate your cat’s hunting instincts. There are a variety of different types of hunting toys such as toy mice, motorized toys, jingle balls, and string toys. The type of toys you purchase are dependent on what your specific cat likes because each cat is different. Playing with your cat a few times a day is a great way to satisfy their hunting instincts.
The Great Outdoors
While it is safer to keep your cat indoors, that doesn’t mean that they can’t look outside. For some cats, all they need is a nice spot to watch all of the things that happen in the great outdoors. Allowing them to watch the birds fly past and squirrels run by can be enough to satisfy those hunting instincts. However, some cats may be more frustrated by this than anything else. If that is the case, then it’s better to not allow them to look outside because it may cause them to become more aggressive.
Laser Pointer
It can be fun for both us and our feline friends to wave a laser pointer around the house. This gives your cat a moving target to chase around for a few minutes…or hours. When using the laser pointer, try putting it in tough spaces to provide your cat with a challenge. If an object is too easy to catch, your cat may become bored and uninterested. Be careful not to shine the laser pointer into your cat’s eyes. You also want to make sure that at the end of the play session you allow your cat to “catch” the laser so that they don’t get frustrated.
Contact Catonsville Cat Clinic Today!
For 20 years, the Catonsville Cat Clinic has been providing quality veterinary care to the cats of Catonsville and beyond! Dr. Pam Nesbitt, who purchased the practice in July of 2011, runs the Catonsville Cat Clinic with compassion in mind. A team of professionals with an advanced level of veterinary medicine is at your service to make sure your cat is healthy and happy. So stop on by; we’d love to get to know you and your cat!
You can get in touch with the Catonsville Cat Clinic by giving us a call at 410-869-0800 or visiting our contact page. For more updates and advice, be sure to follow our Facebook, Twitter, and Google+!