6 Exercises to Keep Your Cat Fit and Strong for Life
It’s time to get physical! Love it or hate it, exercise is just as important for your cat as it is for you. I have a love hate relationship with exercise. I feel great when I’m doing it on a regular basis. But, if I skip it for awhile it’s really hard to start again. I know how important it is though to overall well being. The Pet Health Network points out that pet obesity can lead to future health issues like diabetes and arthritis, and that cats can really benefit from three 5-minute intense play periods every day. It’s good for your cat’s mental health, too. On PETMD, Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM advises that exercise can reduce anxiety and destructive behavior.
If you decide to jump into extra daily exercise for your feline family member, start slowly and check with your veterinarian for an all-clear, especially if your cat is overweight, on medication, or is in their senior years.
Work at your cat’s pace.
When working on exercise with your cat, let them decide if and how long they play. I used to love playing with my cat Anna. She LOVED to play fetch. But, when she was done she let me know by flopping on the floor. If your kitty is overweight or is normally quite sedate, start out with exercises that won’t strain their muscles, and avoid dramatic actions like leaping high after a feather toy.
HERE ARE 6 FUN EXERCISES FOR YOUR CAT:
Hide and seek gets your kitty moving all over the house. Cats often like to search for a tiny pile of their dinner kibble (don’t feed them extra if you're aiming for weight loss), catnip, or run to find the rustle of a favorite feather toy or clicker from another room. I used to hide my cat’s rope mice and treats. She got so excited when she found them.
Cat Trees. My cat Anna used to love climbing her tree. Sometimes it can be hard finding a good spot in the house for a cat tree. But there are some really cute designs out there now a days. Check out this stylish one by Mau Lifestyle. You can hide their favorite toy or a bit of catnip in the tree so your kitty has a fun game to play!
Cat wheels. Some cats love these and others don’t quite get what all the fuss is about. You could try this with an energetic cat who loves to leap, chase, and run. Here is a good article to help determine if a cat wheel is right for your kitty and which one to pick.
Go for a walk. Leash training isn’t something all cats like, but some really love it! I tried this with my cat Ralph that I had after college and he was terrified to be outside. It wasn’t the right fit for him. However, I had a friend who’s cat was leash trained and she LOVED going for walks. If you decide to leash train, make sure you use a properly-fitted harness. Read online reviews carefully and measure your cat appropriately before making a purchase. This is a good article to get you started with leash training advice.
Puzzle toys. These can keep your cat moving for a long time, chasing a ball that spills a little of their dinner kibble around the room. But don’t add even more pudge to your cat’s middle by filling these to the brim with high-calorie treats. There are a lot of fun puzzles to try. Once you start looking for them, you might get addicted to trying all of them. This is a simple one to get them started. You can move them up in difficulty as they get better at figuring puzzles out.
Catios. I don’t have a catio because I don’t have a cat anymore. However, I am sure my old cat Anna would have loved one! Catios can be as small or as large as you need to fit your space and your cat’s lifestyle. They can even be large enough for you to share with your cat as an outdoor room! I have seen some really neat ones online. Catiospaces.com has a lot of options. Kitties can get so much mental stimulation and safe physical exercise enjoying their outdoor space.
When you’re looking for ways to improve your cat’s health, always double-check advice you find online – even mine! – with your own veterinarian or an expert source like the Pet Health Network. VCA Veterinary Hospitals has great tips, too.
Got a great cat exercise or cat fitness tip? Shoot me an email at amandarae@belovedpetphoto.com
