Emma Jones
Once the kitten has arrived in its new home, non-stop entertainment is provided. The presence of the animal puts you in a good mood simply because of its cute appearance and its clumsy behavior. It’s different from the kitten’s point of view. If the new home does not offer enough stimulating challenges for playing, romping, and learning, it can get boring – and possibly get used to bad habits. As a responsible kitten owner, it is your job to keep the animal stimulatingly occupied. This also promotes a balanced character. Read here how to keep your kitten busy.
How can I keep the kitten busy by myself?
In principle, it is ideal if you bring the kitten into the house together with a littermate or if there is already a velvet paw living in the house whose age difference to the kitten is not too great. A settled cat senior can be overwhelmed with the boisterous newcomer, an active adult kitty can behave dominantly towards the kitten.
Alternatively, another friendly animal, such as a dog, can provide variety for the kitten. But if the kitten is the only pet, it’s up to you: Every child – this also applies to kittens – wants to play. Extensive work with the mini tiger is mandatory. However, this is not possible around the clock and the kitten has to occupy itself – at least for an hour – by itself.
Which toys are especially suitable for kittens?
Basically, cat toys for the little tiger do not differ significantly from those for the adult cat. The only difference is the way little cats play. Their clumsy behavior and the zeal with which they devote themselves to the game are still characterized by practice and the discovery of completely new impressions. When choosing toys for the kitten, the format is the only significant difference.
Why is variety so important when playing with kittens?
By the way: Small kittens are always in action, but their attention span is not yet as pronounced as that of an older animal. They have that in common with human children. So don’t be surprised if the kitten jumps into a game enthusiastically, but soon loses interest, turns away, and looks for something new to do.
Offer the little one varied impressions and change the toy in between. The more varied the offer, the better. It doesn’t matter to the kitten whether it’s a purchased cat toy or everyday objects such as corks, toilet paper rolls, or rustling tissue paper. But don’t leave the toy lying around in the open. The kitten should never find too much of it at the same time – oversupply overwhelms the animals.
How can I keep a kitten busy at night?
As kittens get older, their periods of activity become longer and longer. While little kittens still sleep through large stretches of the day, the amount of time they are awake increases noticeably. Cats are also crepuscular. So it happens that the kitten wakes up at night and wants to play, right away! Since it is in the general interest that the kitten understands that there are no two-legged playmates at hand when it is dark, you should take precautions. This includes making the apartment absolutely kitty-proof. Fragile things have to be out of reach, and cables have to be protected from nibbling attacks out of boredom.
To keep the kitten busy at night, you can use its exploratory instincts. Before going to bed, hide something attractive in different places around the house, things like a small ration of food, a few treats, or a new (safe) toy. When the kitten goes on a voyage of discovery in the nocturnal apartment, such foreign objects are exciting activities. An accessible window seat is also fascinating for the sleepless cat, provided that things are happening outside – for example, night traffic passes in front of the house. As most cats age, they gradually adjust their activity schedules to match those of their humans.
How can I encourage the kitten’s intelligence?
Whether during the day or as a nocturnal activity: to distract the kitten and at the same time keep it mentally fit, fiddle boards and other intelligence toys are very popular. Feeding labyrinths and similar toys, where the kitten has to use his head to get the coveted treats, are successful challenges for the little cat. You can find information about the intelligence toy in this guide. However: A young kitten can be overwhelmed with a puzzle toy that is too complex. Start with simple models that don’t require the kitten to combine multiple actions, and increase the level of challenge. This will prevent the kitten from losing interest too quickly if you fail.