Indoor cats may suffer from boredom and behavioral issues without regular play. Harness your feline’s natural hunting instincts with toys that move and inspire her to pounce, chase and chew.
NYC apartments may lack ample floor space, but this can often be made up for with high ceilings. A multi-platform cat tree with perches and hiding spaces makes an excellent addition to these living arrangements.
Cat Trees
Cat trees offer cats more vertical space to climb and stretch out, acting as play structures by including toys such as feathers or balls for engagement purposes.
Most cat trees feature scratching areas with sisal-coated posts to encourage scratching to keep claws healthy while discouraging cats from scratching other furniture or items in the home. Some even come equipped with cubbies, hidey-holes or tunnels for restful repose.
At the core of it all lies stability. When searching for cat trees, look for ones with sturdy bases and construction that won’t wobble, constructed from durable materials like wood or carpet and featuring soft-covered surfaces for maximum comfort.
Kittens or energetic adult cats may enjoy climbing trees that offer more challenging elements such as ladders, small houses/hides or multiple platforms at the top. Older or less agile felines may prefer lower-to-ground trees with gentle ramps and plenty of cozy places for lounging; consider investing in foldaway cat trees like the Etna model for added convenience and portability. Also remember to vacuum cat trees regularly to eliminate hair and dander buildup while spot cleaning upholstery as needed and replacing sisal scratching surfaces when worn;
Cat Ladders
Cat ladders offer cats an enjoyable outdoor experience even in apartments with limited outdoor space. Constructed from sturdy wood or metal materials, these ladders allow cats to safely explore the outdoors. Available in various sizes to fit any size cat. Many ladders also include safety cages to meet safety standards.
Swiss Cat Ladders by German photographer Brigitte Schuster are an increasingly common sight, as reported by Atlas Obscura. Brigitte Schuster describes these structures, commonly referred to as a form of “cat-specific architecture,” in her book Swiss Cat Ladders and they often appear built by neighbors for mutual use; some even seem designed by neighborly agreements! Schuster notes that cat ladders may reflect an understanding that outdoor access for cats is vitally important even within tightly urban dwellings.
Turner notes that cats only possess an innate ability to land on their feet from 30 meters or lower; any more and dangerous leaps from higher windows could result in torn ligaments and ruptured tendons, potentially leading to serious injuries such as torn ligaments. Cat ladders offer an alternative solution, safely transporting cats into an apartment to watch birds or nap in a sunny window; plus they may help older felines who no longer can jump as high.
Perching Spots
Provide access to perches is one of the essential needs for cats, satisfying both their desire for height and surveying territory. You could “catify” your walls with ledges or install a cat tree with plenty of climbing opportunities and hiding places; even shelves mounted to walls or bookcases make great perches!
Cats need play to be happy, and routine playtime provides physical and mental stimulation which are equally essential in an indoor cat environment. Cat toys that provide treats or rewards can make the game even more engaging for your feline friend, keeping them active longer and improving overall wellness.
Provide your cat with her own private space where she can go for peace and relaxation or napping, such as crate training her or finding an unoccupied corner to create the ideal apartment cat cave. Or give your pet their very own play mat or bed so she can escape from everyday noise and focus on herself alone.
Catnip Toys
Catnip, a perennial herb related to mint that contains essential oil nepetalactone, can provide your cat with an exhilarating high-energy experience, prompting behaviors such as purring, rolling, licking and nudging. Fresh or dried catnip can be found at grocery stores and pet shops or packaged into toys containing it – when choosing toys bearing catnip keep in mind its stimulant effects can fade over time and different cats may react differently than anticipated.
Simple yet classic examples include lightweight balls on rotating wheels that your cat can bat around to expend excess energy. Frisco Scratch & Roll catnip toys also provide your feline friend with hours of fun, featuring fresh catnip that you can sprinkle onto cardboard centers to increase appeal. More advanced toys include track toys that move across floors like an aquarium to encourage stalking, chasing and pouncing by your pet.
Wand toys are another popular option, particularly among older cats as they stimulate their natural hunting instincts. Plush mice are small enough for your feline to carry or bat around easily and may add another level of interest – you might also try toys featuring feathers for extra playability!
Wand Toys
Wand toys provide a safe way for you to encourage your cat’s natural hunting instincts in a controlled environment. By waving lures around to imitate birds flying, mice scurrying or insects crawling, wand toys provide movement and exercise which helps your paws remain healthy and your brain sharp. As interactive playtime is best with wand toys, make sure that your cat sees you participating instead of simply jiggling it by itself.
Try searching for wands with retractable lures for safety and easy storage, while avoiding those featuring cheap clasps similar to safety pins that might irritate your cat during playtime. Instead, go with something with a lobster clasp which is much less irritating.
Church (the tabby) and Wally (the calico) came from the same shelter, where they both became high-energy cats with unique play styles: Church is more high strung with behavioral issues while Wally tends to nap frequently and skittishness. Both enjoy long petting sessions once daily as well as games of wand toy; using this set of telescoping wands with refillable lures gives you access to play from a seated position or tease them from across the room or mimic bugs if your cats like hiding their hideaways!
Interactive Toys
Pet parents typically look for interactive enrichment toys to assist their pet’s emotional, social and intellectual growth. These types of toys respond to your pet’s actions – either dispensing treats or dissuading further play from them.
Treats or playing with toys designed to engage a cat’s predator instincts by imitating movements like those seen when prey are being hunted are effective ways of stimulating feline minds, providing hours of entertainment – alone or together with humans!
A wand toy allows owners to engage their cats by moving it in ways likely to stimulate predator instincts – stalk, chase and pounce – which in turn engages these instincts and helps build their confidence and socialization within a multicat household. Furthermore, it may redirect attention away from people and towards an interactive toy, helping with aggression issues, boredom depression or when welcoming a new member or pet into their household.
Other interactive toys for your pet to enjoy include treat dispensing plushies, puzzle and hiding toys, as well as treat dispenser plushies. Although these may provide hours of amusement and engagement for your cat or other species, make sure you supervise these closely as they may contain strings or feathers that could potentially entangle a cat’s neck or cause swallowing problems; additionally they can be difficult to clean afterward. Although some interactive toys may be costly, you could create custom interactive toys from items found around the home instead.
