Cat enrichment – 10 ways to improve your cat’s life

Cat enrichment is an important part of the quality life of cats especially with an indoor cat. For instance, playing with your cat is an enjoyable shared activity and cat enrichment can also provide relief from the cat's nighttime runs or other unwanted behaviour.

Does your cat live in a stimulating environment where it can behave in a natural way and is able to observe, climb and explore? From this article you will find tips for cat enrichment that will give your cat activation and brighten its days.

1. Hunting games

Hunting is an essential part of a cat's natural behaviour. With many cats, offering different kinds of hunting games can give cat enrichment. Engaging in games such as chasing feather toys, following a laser pointer, or playing fetch with a toy will awaken your cat's senses, and help strengthen the bond with your cat.

Do you know what kind of predator a cat is? Read PrimaCat’s article about cat’s natural diet and eating behaviour.

2. Cat enrichment with food

In the wild, a cat would spend a significant portion of its waking hours hunting. Searching for food is indeed a part of typical cat behaviour, so food is a great way to enrich your cat’s days. Cat enrichment with food can help a picky eater, as sometimes a finicky cat eats better when it must work for its food. It can also help to slow down the cat’s eating if the cat is very greedy for food.

A good cat enrichment challenge encourages the cat to use its brains but does not lead to excessive frustration. As a cat's skills grow, you can gradually provide even all its food in an enriching way. You should regularly change the enrichment activities to keep your cat interested.

 There are plenty of ways how to use food as cat enrichment:

• An activation ball or roll, with food inside that falls out when pushed and rolled.
• Dry cat food can be hidden into shag carpet for the cat to find using sight, touch, and smell.
• With wet food you can use licking mats and interactive bowls to encourage different eating techniques.
• Hide cat kibble or treats inside an old and clean sheet or towel. You can also put kibble or treats inside a toilet paper roll or a rinsed milk carton and fold them shut.
• Hide kibble or treats around the house on different levels for the cat to find.

You can buy different kind of activation toys, licking mats and interactive feeding bowls from pet stores or make your own from cardboard boxes.

PrimaCat cat treats are tempting and delicious without any added sugar. Make a healthier choice for your cat and choose PrimaCat. Check out our cat treat range and find your nearest PrimaCat re-seller.

3. Opportunity to observe and explore

Cats are small predators that are constantly observing their environment. Watching outdoor life from the window is one of the best pastimes for many cats. Passing cars, pedestrians, and birds can keep a cat fascinated for hours. Remember to ensure that windows are closed, as a cat can squeeze through even a small gap when excited and chasing birds on the other side of the glass.

An enclosed balcony or outdoor enclosure are safe places for the cat to get comprehensive stimulation for its visual, auditory, and olfactory senses.

As curious creatures, cats also enjoy exploring new places inside the home. If a cat is not usually allowed in a particular room or even a certain cupboard, it can be enriching for the cat to occasionally check out these places. Additionally, simple forms of cat enrichment can include exploring new objects, such as cardboard boxes, which are our fourth tip.

4. Cardboard boxes

This is a classic! Almost every cat owner knows the feeling when you have bought an expensive cat tree for the cat to climb, but the cat loves the delivery box more. The exact reasons for this are unknown, but research has shown that lounging in a cardboard box reduces a cat's sense of stress. For modern cats, a cardboard box may serve as a safe hideout from potential predators, and it helps in maintain the cat's body temperature at an optimal level.

Next time when you have a nice cardboard box laying around, cut different sized peep holes in it. From the holes the cat can hunt for “prey” while lurking in its hideout. There is nothing stopping you from constructing a castle out of cardboard boxes for your cat, but don’t be disappointed if this specially crafted marvel no longer appeals to your feline friend.

5. Climbing and hiding

The cat is not only a predator but also a prey animal. It feels safe in high places or sheltered tunnels and nooks. Every house cat needs to have access to its own resting or hiding place when it wants to. The more cats in a household, the more need there is for quiet, warm places to nap.

Does your cat have a high and centrally located lookout spot? Acceptable places for observing what is going on in the home can include windowsills, shelves, and cupboard tops, climbing trees and walls. You can also encourage your cat to climb by sprinkling its favourite kibble or treats on high places.

6. Cat training

Training your cat is a great way to offer some cat enrichment. It stimulates your cat's mind and can also make the everyday life easier with your cat. Read PrimaCat’s guide how to train your cat.

7. Cat enrichment with new scents 

Different scents are often dismissed when talking about cat enrichment. Cats have a much better sense of smell than humans and enriching the cat with scents is both quick and easy. But remember to supervise your cat to make sure it does not eat anything inappropriate!

Tips to use scents as a cat enrichment

• See what smells your cat is interested in. You can bring pinecones, moss, twigs or leaves from outside for your cat to sniff.
• You can test the scent of prey with a piece of fur or clean feathers.
• Pig ears and other dried animal parts from pet stores can provide very interesting smells for your cat.

Catnip is a commonly used herb in cat enrichment. Its leaves and stems have an essential oil which scent affects a cat like a pheromone, the natural pleasure hormone. The active compound in catnip is nepetalactone, and its effect lasts only about 15 minutes. Catnip can help to relieve cat's stress in challenging situations, and it can be useful in guiding a cat's behaviour, for example by encouraging scratching post use or exercise and play.

The scents of strange dogs, cats or other animals may be suitable stimuli, but they are not suitable for a sensitive or territorial cat, who may be stressed by them.

8. Scratching allowed

For proper nail care, a cat needs designated scratching spots, which can include scratching posts, poles, and boards. Observe your cat's preferences: Does it prefer to scratch vertically or horizontally? What types of materials attract it to scratch?

The cat’s scratching spot should not be placed in the farthest corner of the home. Since, in addition to nail care, a cat marks its territory by scratching and leaves odours from the scent glands on the paws. From the cat's point of view, furniture is often a very convenient marking place and therefore difficult to resist. To avoid unwanted scratching and to keep your furniture in good condition, provide your cat with enjoyable scratching options in suitable places.

9. Playing with another cat

Having a fellow feline companion is generally a positive thing for cats. The presence of a same-species companion helps a cat tackle boredom, especially when humans are away at work. While not all cats play together, for many, engaging in little wrestling and chasing games with a cat friend is the perfect form of cat enrichment. A feline companion can help an inactive cat discover its playful side and, conversely, can help calm an already active cat by allowing it to channel its energy into activities with a friend.

10. Outdoor exploration

In many areas it is not safe for the cat to wander alone outdoors. But taking the cat out on a leash or a specially designed outdoor enclosure provides your cat with plenty of new scents, sensations, and visual experiences in a safe way.