Keeping A Cat Happy
Dear Cat Lover:
My job requires me to work very long hours, and sometimes I don’t get home until late at night, with occasional short business trips. Normally I give all my attention to my cat whenever I’m around. What I’m worried about is while I’m away, since I am living alone. What are some good ways to help minimize my cat’s anxiety?
Natalie
Dear Natalie: Busy individuals like Natalie who are always away from home may find their cats extra clingy and demanding whenever they return home, mainly caused by the long separation. For indoor cats, you can try to set up a few simple “entertainment systems” for them, so they don’t feel too lonely, especially for kittens, they sometimes develop depression much easily if they are left alone for long hours.
- My favorite is to get a small fish tank. Most cats enjoy watching fishes swimming and can sit and stare at the tank for quite a while. But please make sure to get those with lid covers, you don’t want your cat to start catching fish.
- Get a small water fountain. They likes to play with water, and a small fountain can keep them entertained for hours. Avoid putting this near your expensive furniture or carpet, as sometimes, they can make a mess with water spilling all around.
- There are videos developed specifically for cats to watch. Even though human would think the video is absolutely boring, cats love it. They would never get bored of it even after watching it million of times. Prepare a small stool for them, so they can easily and comfortably sit in front of your TV and watch. One drawback is, sometimes they’d start “hunting” the bugs shown on the video, and may scratch your TV screen.
- Keep your curtain/ blinds open, cats love to look out of the windows, and like to lay under the warm sunlight as well. Please make sure your windows are shut to avoid them from jumping off the building.
- Leave plenty of toys that your cat loves inside your house, preferably with catnips: balls, small stuff animals, small paper bags, small carton boxes, etc. If you have enough space in your apartment, a large scratching post and one of those indoor cat houses are good alternatives.
- Lastly, depending on your situation, you can consider getting a 2nd cat so they can keep each other company. Watch out, as sometimes they don’t get along. I personally have tried it a few times, with different breeds of cats, but not every time they get merge into each other’s lives as easily as expected.
All the above are suggestions that you can try to help keep your cat happy and entertained while you are away, for work or for small trips. Please never take these “methods” for granted, and please keep in mind to always spend more time to interact and communicate with your cats. Let them feel content, secure and comfortable, as they need your love.
Cat Lover
