Cat Enrichment 101

Cat Enrichment

Cats are very wonderful and intelligent creatures. As such, they must have opportunities to express their natural behaviors. An enriched environment should provide various types of scratching surfaces, outlets for predatory and prey behavior, safe places, as well as stimulate all five of their senses. Enrichment is a great way to decrease potential stress, strengthen the bond between you and your cat,  and stave off any boredom, which can often lead to undesirable behaviors.

Environmental Enrichment

Sound

• Radio (to cancel out loud shelter noises)
• Using a soft voice/being read to

Sight

• Bubbles/bubble machine
• Moving toys
• Playing with a wand toy 

Taste

• Different flavor/texture
• Canned food, baby food, or treats

Smell

• Providing catnip
• Using pheromone products

Touch

• Placing plush or soft items (Rugs, stuffed animals, blankets)
• Providing a variety of soft textures
• Changing soiled, dirty, or wet bedding
• Allowing cats regular access to different toys
• Giving scratching posts or pads

Enrichment Toys

Everyday cat toys 

• Balls, furry mice, and other small “swattable” toys mimic ground prey for cats
• Toys attached to drawer and door handles
• Cat Dancer, wand toys or string added to toys. For Safety reasons: Never leave toys with wires or strings unattended with cats
• Disposable/ handmade toys: pieces of paper crumpled into balls, disposable cups filled with smaller toys or food, toilet paper rolls, milk jug rings

Interactive toys

• Toys that move without the cat needing to initiate. -Example: SmartyKat Hot Pursuit Electronic Concealed Motion or turbo scratcher toy
• Toys that require interaction between the cat and a human. -Example: wand toys

The goal of the human in these interactions is to move the toy in a way that mimics an animal likely to be prey for a cat!

Puzzle feeders

• Puzzle feeders challenge a cat’s problem-solving and motor skills by having obstacles the cat must overcome to get their prize
• Can help cats who eat too quickly or overeat