Indoor cats often laze around or sleep during the daytime while the rest of the family goes to the office, school, or college! They will spend between 14 and 18 hours sleeping.
Therefore, there’s a fine line between boredom and laziness in cats. Being a pet parent, it’s important to understand the distinction to keep your cat happy, healthy, and mentally stimulated.
Understanding behaviour
Since cats are most active during dawn and dusk, it’s normal for them to lounge around whenever you are home—before work or afterwards. It is a natural part of their energy conservation system.
However, if your cat is avoiding playtime, not showing any interest in their toys, and engaging in destructive behaviour, such as scratching furniture or shoes or urine marking furnishings, you should consider boredom or stress as a contributing factor.
If such behaviour continues, you should consider visiting your veterinarian. Physical discomfort and pain in cats is also expressed in the form of lethargy, inappetence, changes in weight, avoiding playtime, and hiding.
Recognising signs of boredom
Cats show signs of boredom in various ways—they can be subtle or bored. Your cat might simply begin to avoid company or become overly clingy. Most cats become restless. They pace through the house and meow excessively irrespective of their neutering and spaying status. Few cats resort to scratching furniture, knocking things off higher places, and over-grooming.
These are all signs that your cat is trying to attract your attention to the fact that they need a better quality of life.
Does age affect activity levels?
The age of the cat plays a key role in the energy levels and activity of cats. It will also directly influence how cats express their need for stimulation. For example, kittens and young cats have higher levels of energy. They are curious by nature and require multiple sessions of interactive play to satiate their natural hunting drive.
Cats between the ages of 7 years and 10 years are considered mature adults. They have comparatively lower energy levels, yet they will require at least 2-3 sessions of active play per day.
Senior cats (older than 10 years) require shorter and maybe gentler play sessions. However, these interactive play sessions are indispensable for preventing cognitive decline as they become older.
Regardless of age, enrichment remains crucial at every stage of a cat’s life.
Ways to Boost Your Cat’s Mood and Activity
If you have reason to believe that your cat is bored, you can enrich their living environment and daily routine with a few easy changes. For example, get them feather toys and wands that mimic the movement of prey. You can also get a laser pointer for the days you feel too lazy to wave the wand around.
Some cats go crazy for catnip. If your cat is one of them, invest in catnip toys and sprays. Keep these play sessions regular, short, and intense.
At the same time, get them a perch by the window or a cat tree. Choose cat furniture that offers multiple textures and tactile surfaces.
You can easily turn feeding times into enrichment activities by providing your cat with puzzle feeders and hiding treats inside dispenser toys. This encourages your cat to work for their food. It mimics natural foraging behaviour and adds a layer of mental challenge to its day.
Additionally, incorporating new scents, textures, and hiding spots can stimulate your cat’s senses. Safe cat-friendly plants, catnip, or silver vine can provide sensory enrichment, while cardboard boxes, tunnels, and paper bags offer (pocket-friendly, yet) exciting places to explore and hide.
Cats are smart and intuitive creatures. Rotate their toys and try to include new sensory elements to keep them engaged and curious!
When to seek advice
Signs like recurring or persistent lethargy, appetite loss, weight loss or gain, and overgrooming can signal potential health problems, such as arthritis, hypothyroidism, and dental pain.
Speak with your veterinarian if your cat seems to be behaving oddly. You know your cat’s nature better than anyone else. If you have reason to believe your cat may be unwell, that’s always enough to go for a vet visit!
(Dr. Abhishek Choudhary, Consultant Veterinarian,Vetic Pet Clinic)
