When doctor asked me to write an article about ‘environmental enrichment’ for
kittens, I thought to myself “why would I write about it?” Then I remembered how much time and effort we put into a puppy’s training, toys and puppy play dates and how little enrichment we give our cats. I believe that our kittens and cats are under served in the discussion of creating “good behavior habits”. Unfortunately, cats are the first ones to get surrendered at the shelter for bad behavior (including inappropriate urination). So, in re-evaluating my position on young cat enrichment, I think we need to approach the subject as aggressively and in-depth as our young dogs. In doing this, I hope to save some owners the headache and heart ache of having to re-home a loving cat.
I have more background in dog training than cat….well, cat anything. Which in this case, could be to my benefit. When I think of environmental enrichment I think of all your animals’ senses. Cats are huge visual creatures, but we tend to forget smell, taste, sound, and touch. In this article I am going to give some examples in each category of items that you can purchase to booster home enrichment by giving our kitty friends APPROPRIATE things to interact with and teach them good behavior habits.
Let’s beginning with the most stimulating factor for cats-
Vision. I have found that most people don’t want to break the bank buying out a pet store to offer their cat an enriched environment. I will admit that I am financially taut (cheap) when it comes to entertainment for my pets. Most of the time though, cats will go for the paper ball just as often (if not more) than say an electronic mouse. I have also found that most people don’t want a kingdom of cat towers decorating their living room. I think there can be a happy medium between offering a cat-friendly house and looking like crazy cat people. Some of the things I have turned to have been adding a bird feeder outside a window. Then I placed a shelf I got from Lowe’s at the window level for a little free ‘cat TV’. (If your indoor cat is 15lbs + make sure that it’s securely fastened to the wall.) Another rather inexpensive toy was an automated laser pointer or a hand held laser. The automated laser can be placed on the edge of the table or counter-top and be set to go off randomly. These things are great ideas for younger cats and entertaining for older adults who need some new stimulus in their lives.
Smell. When I bring up this word for cats most owners haven’t considered it. Cats can prefer specific flavors in treats and food. Now, when discussing Interactive smells for cats I don’t want people to panic and think I want them to spray “Dead mouse/bird” Febreze or rub tuna juice into your couch. Consider treats that your cat may enjoy in a treat releasing toy. Example, if “Fluffy” eats a salmon based food and can’t get enough of that fishy delight, then look into salmon based treats for him. The treat releasing toys can be simple, like a the end of a toilet paper roll or an old Easter egg with small hole cut into it so the treats or dry food kibble can fall out. The toys simulate the “hunting” for Fluffy instead of the normal kitty buffet he’s used to.
The sensitive subject of cat nip. “Kitty crack” (cat nip), as we sometimes fondly call it, can make some kitties’ crazy and others mellow or relaxed. Most cats you can’t tell how it will make them feel until they try it. Some felines prefer the fresh potted cat nip to the dry potpourri style. As many of you know it can come in stuffed toys and can be easiest for cleanup.
It is also important to know that there are some smells that’s cats do not like, for example citrus smells. Be careful with scented candles, air fresheners or some cleaning products that may turn you pet off to a particular room or area.
Sound. Cats being natural predators love the sound of prey. While Fluffy (an indoor cat) may only be hunting toys and your old socks, sound can be absent from his regular toys. There are new toys out there that make bird chirping and squeaking sounds as they play with them. It’s always fun to hide the sound toys in new places in the house and have Fluffy find them. Many kitties get a kick out of the new interaction with sounds.
Touch. Cats are going to use their mouths and feet/claws to explore the environment. To encourage good claw behavior (not on your new $1,000.00 leather couch or grandma) giving new kittens outlets for their scratching can make a big difference. Using cheap card board and scratching posts are always easy. Another at home DIY would be to put the pant leg of an old pair of jeans on a block of wood. This makes a great scratching post that cats are attracted to. Teaching and training cats at a young age that nail trims are not the end of the world can save you from a possible declaw scenario and serious damage to furniture.
Litter boxes. Anyone who’s grown up with siblings can justify that one bathroom can cause friction among house mates. Which is why it is recommended to have one litter box per cat plus one. Using different types of litter boxes (covered vs extra-large), litter type, and location (busy part of the house vs a quiet corner) can effect feline bathroom habits as well. If you have multiple levels in your home having a litter boxes on each level can ease the tension at the litter box. Age can also be a factor with bathroom issues. Senior cats can prefer lower edged boxes that are larger to make it easy to get into the actual box and move around more comfortable.
Food and water. Cats don’t all like to sit around one another for a meal. Often a dominant cat can push a house mate away from food. Separating bowls and water dishes can really help everyone get a fair chance at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Cats can be true connoisseurs of water. Running water versus a bowl of tap water can be a game changer. Some cats prefer bottled water to tap water. Discuss it with your veterinarian which water options are right for your felines. Cats can also be picky about their style of bowl and what material it’s made of. Try a ceramic or stainless steel bowl and see what works best for them.
Starting your kitten off right with appropriate toys, scratching posts, and an enriching environment can save owners a lot of money, headaches, and possibly their pet’s lives. Giving your cat a “kitty friendly” environment can make your relationship with your cat healthy and happy.