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1
Play a Short Game of Hunt and Catch
Drag a wand toy away from your cat in little bursts, with pauses to give the cat time to crouch and stalk. Let it pounce and actually catch the toy. A low sweep along the floor works for a cat that prefers to keep all four paws down. Put the wand and string away when the game is over.
2
Start With an Easy Food Puzzle
Offer a few pieces from your cat’s usual meal in a shallow puzzle tray. Leave the food visible so a swipe of the paw can free it. As your cat gets the hang of it, try a compartment that takes a little more work. Keep the rest of the meal easy to reach while the cat learns.
3
Make a Box Into a Quiet Hideaway
Turn a plain cardboard box on its side and set it in a quiet corner. A towel with a familiar smell can make it a tempting place to settle. If other cats use the room, provide hideaways in different spots and choose boxes or tunnels with two ways out.
4
Set Up a Window Seat
Put a stable bed or perch at a window with a view of leaves, people, or birds. It gives a cat that likes to watch somewhere to settle. Close the window or make sure the screen is secure. If visits from outdoor cats leave yours tense, try a window facing a quieter part of the yard.
5
Give Climbing a Route Back Down
Set out sturdy furniture or install securely mounted cat shelves so there’s a series of places to step up and down. Make the resting shelf wide enough for the cat to lie on. A low perch with intermediate steps gives an older or less agile cat some of the same choices.
6
Put a Scratcher by the Usual Resting Spot
Look at what your cat already scratches. Offer a tall, sturdy post if it reaches up the sofa, or a flat pad if it goes for the rug. Put it near a favorite nap spot, where the cat can stretch and scratch after getting up.
7
Hide a Few Pieces of Dinner
Set a few pieces of your cat’s usual dry food in easy-to-reach spots and let it find them. Start in one room before spreading them farther apart. If other cats would race to the same food, try separate rooms so each cat can search at its own pace.
8
Bring Out Old Toys in Rotation
Leave out a small selection of safe solo toys and put the rest away. Swap in a toy after it has been out of sight for a while. Try a soft toy to hold and kick or a ball to chase. Skip toys with small parts that could come loose, and put string toys away after supervised play.
9
Teach a Simple Nose Touch
For a cat that enjoys treats and approaches willingly, try a target stick. First pair the quiet click with a reward. Then hold the target close, click as the cat touches it with its nose, and offer a small treat. Give the cat a break whenever it walks away.
10
Offer a Pot of Cat Grass
If your cat likes to chew greenery, offer a small pot of untreated cat grass such as oat or wheat shoots. Choose a pot sturdy enough to stay upright if the cat paws at it, and keep unsafe houseplants out of reach.
11
Add a Secure Outdoor Enclosure
A catio gives a cat room to watch, smell, and listen outdoors from inside a secure enclosure. Include both shade and a place to sit up high. Let your cat explore at its own pace and provide a way back indoors.
