20 Ways to Keep Your Indoor Cat Active and Healthy

Make Sure They Have Hiding Spots 

Cats need resting places where they feel safe and secure. It is important that you offer multiple locations throughout your home, both high and low. Especially high places though, to promote jumping and climbing for a healthy lifestyle. 

You can buy cat furniture with different levels to meet your cat’s needs, or you can utilize different areas of your house. Some familiar places that cats use to hide include: 

• Inside a wardrobe 
• Shelves 
• Under a bed 
• Boxes 
• Laundry baskets 

Putting soft blankets in these areas for your cat to find will keep them feeling safe and secure. You can also make your DIY cat furniture out of cardboard or plastic boxes. Baskets also make a great safe place for cats. 

Try putting baskets and boxes near warm places since cats prefer to sunbathe. Windows and heaters tend to be where cats go for warmth, so add a level of safety for them to the warmth, and they will love it. 

Keep A Routine 

Cats are routine animals, so switching things up can cause them stress. Yes, it is okay to move the location of their food to stimulate their minds but keep the timing of feeding the same. Make any new changes gradual for them. 

If your cat is an outdoor cat and you are transitioning them to the indoor life, routine is still important. Your cat will be used to going outside, so consider making their time outside shorter and shorter until they are no longer allowed out. This will help them get used to being inside for longer amounts of time before they must adjust to a 100% indoor lifestyle. 

Brush Your Cats 

Cats self-groom, but this does not mean that sometimes they might need a little extra help. Some people say you only have to brush your long-haired cats, but that is not true. All cats benefit from a good brushing once or twice a week.  

Brushing your cat helps remove extra hair and dirt from their coat. Matted and tangled hair is painful and easily prevented by brushing. It can also help prevent excessive hairballs being thrown up on your floor.  

While you are brushing your cat, you can also take the time to check for any unusual cuts or scrapes on them. Brushing gives you a great opportunity to do a quick and thorough check of your cat’s wellbeing.  

Grooming Long Haired Cats  

For long haired cats, you want to comb the fur up towards their heads. Take your time and gently brush the fur on their tale by making a part down the middle and brushing out either side. For tough knots, consider using talcum powder or a mat-splitter.  

Grooming Short Haired Cats 

For short haired cats, you want to comb the fur from head to toe. Go with the direction of the coat, taking your time to get their whole body. A rubber brush often works best for cats with short hair.  

Annual Vet Check 

Like humans, cats need checkups too. Making sure you schedule your cats annual vet check is key to keeping them healthy. The vet is able to recognize strange behaviors sometimes better than we are and get a full grasp of your cat’s health. They also provide services like, 

• Flea prevention 
• Flea Treatment 
• Worm prevention 
• Worm Treatment 
• Appropriate vaccines 
• Answer any questions you may have 
• Recommend diets 
• Identify/ treat diseases 

If your cat is older, around age ten or so, consider going to the vet twice or even three times a year just to be safe.  

Neuter Your Cat 

Hundreds of thousands of healthy cats are euthanized each year in Australia due to overbreeding. Help put a stop to this by preventing your cat from adding to the population. It can also help the health of your cat. 

Neutering Males 

Neutering your male cats has multiple advantages to their health and to you. These include: 

• Eliminates the risk of testicular cancer 
• Decreases risk of prostate disease 
• Reduces or eliminates marking and spraying 
• Decreases aggressive behavior  
• Decreases the desire to roam (easier to keep them indoors) 
• Helps them live longer 

Spaying Females 

Spaying females also has multiple advantages besides reducing the number of kittens born. These include: 

• Reduced risk of uterine cancer 
• Reduced risk of mammary gland tumors 
• Reduced risk of ovarian cancer 
• No heat cycles to attract males 
• Less desire to roam 
• Helps them live longer 

 Neutering your cats can increase their life span by three to five years. Neutering is a small price to pay for extra time with your beloved pet.  

Consider Pet Insurance 

Vet bills can be expensive. If you are worried about unexpected bills or annual visits, consider getting pet insurance. Depending on the plan you choose, the insurance can cover quite a bit of your pet’s costs. 

Pet insurance is not for everyone, though. Do your research on various insurance types and talk with your vet about whether it is for you.  

As your cat ages, though, more health issues are likely to arise, and it is better to have your cat taken care of than to forgo medical treatment due to costs. If your worried you won’t be able to pay for the costs associated with end of life care, pet insurance may be for you.  

Identify Your Pet 

On the off chance that your cat does escape, it is important that you have properly identified them so that they can be returned safely to you. With a high number of euthanizations of cats at shelters due to overcrowding, you want to ensure your cat will be returned safely. 

You can do this by microchipping your cat. Microchips are the size of a grain of rice implanted under the skin that does not harm the cat. When scanned, it contains the identification information needed to return your cat home safely. 

A tag on their collar is also a quick and easy way to ensure that anyone who picks up your cat can return them safely, even if they are unable to read the chip. We recommend doing both in case your cat loses its collar somehow.  

In some regions you need to register your cat. Be sure to look up the rules of your specific area to ensure your feline friend is legal.  

Protect Your Cat from Hazardous Situations 

Everyone knows about baby proofing a house, but did you know you should cat proof yours? Cats are curious animals, and we do not want the saying “curiosity killed the cat” to be true about your feline friend. Therefore, it is important to note the various dangers around your house. These dangers include: 

• Cleaning chemicals 
• Poisonous plants 
• Dishwashers 
• Cabinets 
• Washing machines 
• Dryers 
• Fridges 

Cats love to explore new places. However, some of these places can cause them to become trapped. Making sure to close your cabinets and lids to dishwashers and other appliances can help prevent your cat from becoming stuck inside. 

 Also, be careful where you keep your cleaning supplies and other chemicals. Make sure they are safely put away with lids on tightly to prevent accidental poisoning. Certain plants, like Lilies, are also poisonous. Keep them out of reach or even out of your home.  

Offer Multiple Scratching Posts 

Your cat should have access to at least three scratching posts. They should be a mix of vertical and horizontal and placed throughout your house. Have posts with a variety of surfaces as well to meet all their needs. 

Cats enjoying scratching surfaces for a few reasons. These include: 

• Sharpen their claws 
• Leave their scent
• Stretch their bodies 
• Flex their feet and claws 

Longer scratching posts help them to stretch out their bodies better. Vertical posts with beds at the top by windows can also allow your cat to sunbathe to regulate their temperatures better.

Plenty of Toys 

Keeping your cat entertained is rather easy. Cat toys do not have to be super expensive and fancy. Most of the time, they prefer the box the toy came in over the toy itself.   

Not only are toys fun, but they provide exercise for your feline. Chasing a string around is great exercise. You can buy dangle cat toys or just pull out a sweatshirt string. Let your cat occasionally catch the string to grant them satisfaction and not let them get bored.  

Be careful with your toy choices. Wool or yarn can be a choking hazard. Make sure to keep an eye on whatever your cat is playing with to ensure it is still safe for them to use.  

Here is a list of some of the best toys for your cat (notice they are not your everyday “cat toys”).  

• Ping pong balls 
• Practice golf balls (they have holes in them) 
• Empty cardboard toilet paper/ paper towel rolls 
• Paper bags with the handles removed 
• Round plastic shower curtain rings 
• Small stuffed animals they can carry around 
• Cardboard boxes 

 Of course, you can always buy cat toys from the store, but be sure to know how your cat likes to play before spending money on a toy they may not like.  

Kitty Play Time 

Know your cat and their preferences. Some cats love being the center of attention, while others are happy sticking to the sidelines. Either way, most cats do enjoy spending quality time with their owner. 

Set aside a couple minutes throughout the day to give attention to your cat. Whether they like bird-like toys or insect-like toys, it is your job to figure out how they like to play. Do not stick to the same game every time though. Change up your playing style to keep them enticed. 

Rotate between different toys each playtime but try to keep playtime as a routine thing. Switch up how you play but do it around the same time each day. A couple ways to play with your cat include: 

• Hiding a toy under a blanket 
• Blowing bubbles 
• Use a laser pointer 
• Have their toys mimic real animals (i.e., birds and mice) 

 Try dimming the lights when you play to mimic nighttime since cats enjoy hunting in the dark. Also remember that cats like to play on their terms, so when they come to you is probably the best time to play. 

Consider Cat Safe Plants 

Cats like to smell and rub on plants. They also like to play with them on occasion. Finding plants that are non-toxic to your pet can help enrich their lives, and yours. Here is a list of cat-safe plants to consider. 

• Burros tail succulent 
• Boston Fern 
• Phalaenopsis orchids 
• Spider plant 
• Bamboo 
• Palms 
• Swedish Ivy
• African Violet 

 If you are interested in plants, these are the best ones for you and your cat. Plants also offer a taste of the outdoors for your feline that may be used to exploring on their own outdoors.  

Plan for When You Are Away 

Cats may seem like low-maintenance animals, but they still need care and affection. While you are away, they need to be entertained and still cared for. Whether you are gone for a day or a week, come up with a plan to keep your feline happy.  

Gone for The Day 

Most, if not all, of us must go to work for the day. But how do you ensure your cat is still content back at home? Although they will most likely spend most of the day sleeping, there are a few things you can do to ensure they stay happy.  

• Let them watch TV 
• Cat water fountain 
• Leave out toys 
• Food puzzles 
• Leave the shades open 

 You can leave the general TV on or use a cat specific program to keep them entertained. Different toys and food puzzles keep them happy as well. The water fountain ensures they have fresh water all day.  

 Cats love watching things. Leaving the blinds open so that they can watch the day happen is an easy way to keep them content. 

Gone on A Trip 

Boarding your cat in a cattery ensures that your cat will have great care. This can give you a sense of relief while you‘re away. But it also ensures your furbaby won‘t be alone and will get the attention she needs. Each cat is different, and the best catteries know how to tend to them individually.   

Get Your Cat A Friend 

Depending on your cat’s personality and prior socialization, they may benefit from having another cat in the house. Ideally, you have either one or two cats in one home because any more than that tend to not get along.  

If you want two cats, it is best to get littermates because they are more likely to get along and play with each other. If you cannot get a littermate, make sure both cats are animals that benefit from having another cat around rather than ones that would rather be left alone.  

With another cat in your home, your felines are more likely to play all day while you are away rather than sleep the day away.  

Introduce Cats to Other Animals Carefully 

If you plan on having other animals in your house like dogs or other cats, introduce your feline to them slowly. Being thrown into the stressful situation of meeting another pet can severely upset your cat.  

Try using a screen door or baby gate to allow for the introduction of another pet. This allows your cat to smell them without direct contact. Allow them to be able to escape up high if they become overwhelmed. This sense of safety will allow them to adjust to the new pet easier.  

Understand Your Cats Body Language 

Understanding your cat is key to ensuring that they are happy and motivated within your home. If you know what their body language means, you can better meet their needs.  

A few signs that let you know that your cat is in distress or angry include: 

• Growling 
• Hissing 
• Spitting 
• Howling 
• Backwards/sideways/flat ears 
• Fur standing up 
• Tail between their legs 
• Arched back 

A few signs to let you know they are content and playful include: 

• Purring 
• Tail still or twitching 
• Kneading 
• Eyes half closed 
• Ears forward 

It is also important to teach any children that interact with your cat about their body language and how to properly handle them. Understanding your cat’s emotions can help you identify what they like and dislike, and lead to a stress free, healthier life for your pet.  

Consider an Outdoor Enclosure 

Cats can be perfectly content inside all the time, but maybe during your transition from an outdoor cat to an indoor cat, you should consider an outdoor enclosure. Even cats that are inside all the time may enjoy being able to go outside without the possibility of running off. 

You can get tent-like structures that are easy to put up and down or more permanent wooden structures that allow for multiple levels of play. If you decide to build your own, remember that cats are exceptionally good climbers and investigators. So be sure to add a roof and patch up any possible ways of escape.  

Indoor cats who have never been outside may be skittish at first about the experience, but most come to enjoy it over time. Keep exposing them to the outdoor exposure gradually and they will come to enjoy their time in it.  

Is My Cat Happy Indoors? 

Your cat can live a long and happy life indoors. All the extra stress of outside life is not present. People may argue that cats are not as stimulated indoors as they would be outside, but there are plenty of ways for you to ensure that your cat is living a fun life. 

 Indoor cats do not experience as many dangers as outdoor cats. Natural predators, vehicles, and most diseases are not present within your home. This means less vet bills for you, and a happier, healthier lifestyle for your cat.