Enjoying the company of a cat is always an incredibly wonderful experience. These animals, if you treat them with love and respect, will return all that attention twice. By spending time with them and treating them as they deserve, they can quickly become the best life companions (or part of it) that we can have. But due to our lifestyle, unfortunately they have to spend hours without us.
What should I do if my cat spends a lot of time alone? If this question is on your mind and you are worried about your furry, with the advice that you will read below, you will probably make both of you (both you and your furry) feel better 😉.
Things you should know about cats
Before getting into the subject, there are a number of things you should know in order to understand your friend. The first thing I'm going to ask you is that do not believe the myth that they are independent animals that only need food and water: it is not true. It is true that we can leave him for only a few days and probably nothing will happen to him physically, but where are his feelings?
I have a cat, Sasha, that I raise with a bottle. Every time he sees me, he greets me very cheerfully and asks for pampering, and he does it even more intensely the days I come home later. Surely you have a cat like that, or have known one. These cats, you could almost say that they are "dependent" on humans. When they are alone, they may spend the day sleeping and that when they see you they do not want to separate from you, or they experience something like separation anxiety from dogs calling you desperately and scratching at furniture, windows, etc.
What if that cat spends a lot of time alone? That it feels like this, alone. Alone and bored. Unless he has permission to go outside and / or has something to play with at home until we return, the furry is going to have a hard time. What to do to avoid it?
How to keep the cat entertained in my absence?
If you are one of those who work or spend many hours away from home each day, write down these tips so that you do not feel more bored:
Don't lock it up
There are many people who, before leaving, put the cat in a room, perhaps for fear of scratching the furniture or having an accident, but this should never be done. Cats need to explore, smell, bite, touch everything they can. If they don't, they will feel terribly bored.
Provide a scraper (or several)
Your cat needs to scratch. If you don't want me to do it on your furniture, You must provide a scraper or several and put them in the rooms where the family makes more life. There are many type, so you can choose the one you like the most. Once placed, encourage him to throw a toy (for example, a ball), or his plate with wet food, on the surface of his scratcher.
And if he still doesn't go, pick him up and hold him close to the scratching post. Gently take her paw and make her touch it. If you can, do the same with one hand to make him imitate you.
Let me look out the window
He loves to observe the panorama: the people who walk through the streets, the birds that approach the window, the insects that feed on the plants, ... It is important that the cat can see all, or at least part, of what happens around him .
Yes, make sure the window is always properly closed, whether you are outside the house or if you are inside, otherwise they could arise accidents.
Leave food in a dispenser
The cat is a good hunter. The food we give him is his "prey" for him. The problem is that you don't have to hunt it, just eat it, which can get boring. So feel free to put it in food dispensers so he has to use his brain if he wants to get it. By doing this, you will also get physically tired, as you will have to kick and turn it, and to do this you will also walk.
Alternatively leaving small portions of dry cat food in different areas or places around the house. In this way, you force him to explore his territory and, incidentally, to exercise.
Put some toys on the floor
Balls, stuffed mice, strings, a carton box… If you want your cat to have fun, the toys They are essential. But It is necessary that you do not give them all at the same time and that, above all, you replace them every time they break (Unless you feel a special appreciation for one in particular, something that could happen 🙂).
Consider adopting a second cat
If after following all these tips the cat still feels bad, then it may be time to think about adopting a furry second. And I say think and not adopt for several reasons, which are:
- Cats are very territorial: when introducing a new cat member to the family, you have to do it right, presenting them properly and giving the same affection to both.
- A second cat means spending twice as much money: food, vaccine, castration, chip, veterinary care ... all multiplied by two.
- Cats don't like changes: surely this second feline need a lot of help adjusting to your new home.
Therefore, rather than adopt, I would recommend hosting. What does it mean to be a foster home? Basically, that you will take care of the furry as if it were yours but only until it finds a home where it is adopted.
Why is it better to host than to adopt? Well it's not that it's better, but If you have many doubts about whether the »old» cat can get along with another cat, it is the most suitable option. Sometimes it may be the case that we adopt a cat, and try as we may, we cannot get it to get along with our "old" friend. Of course, it is not usually usual, but it can happen.
If we want our cat to be happy, we not only have to keep it distracted in our absence, but also in our presence. Every day you should receive your share of pampering and fun so that you can have an excellent life.