Flat $0.99 or FREE shipping over $39 purchase

Indoor Cats Get Cabin Fever, Too

cat health ecotreats

 

They may be domesticated, but our cats’ natural hunting and prowling instincts still need to be satisfied. Months of severe weather often leave us and our pets with no choice but to stay indoors, and our cats are just as likely to suffer from cabin fever as we are. What can we do to help them cope during this period? Keep reading for sound, vet-approved advice on how to quell kitty cabin fever

Challenge them to a treat

Cats love a good challenge, and adding their favorite treats to the mix will make them enjoy the challenging activity all the more. Kitty should have several treat dispenser toys, spread around the house, and with their locations changed every few days to make the “hunt” even more fun and exciting. 

Indoor Cats Get Cabin Fever, Too | Vet OrganicsTry EcoTreats. Premium, all-natural sockeye salmon treats made with only 100% USA-sourced, wild-caught salmon — straight from the waters of the Pacific Northwest. These salmon chunks have the skin kept right on the filet for optimal flavor. They’re a guilt-free, low-calorie, healthful treat your cat will love. Perfect for training, playtime, hide-and-seek, and more. Give them a try today

Indoor Cats Get Cabin Fever, Too | Vet Organics

Give them a different perspective

Like their wild counterparts, domesticated cats are territorial, and they enjoy prowling and observing their territory. In fact, it’s a key way to help cats avoid boredom. While their horizontal space might be limited by walls, we can still expand the area that they can prowl by providing them with a few, tall cat trees and scratching posts. This will add a vertical dimension to their space, and give them the opportunity to jump, climb, and move about more. If we can put the cat trees beside windows, the increased range of vision will also give them the impression of a bigger domain. We can also place a bird feeder outside the window, so that our cats will be entertained by the coming and going of birds. 

We should, however, avoid placing a cat tree or scratching post by a window if other cats often roam nearby. Our territorial felines might get agitated and get into a spraying contest with the cat on the other side of the glass. They might also begin peeing and pooping by their scratching post, instead of their litter box.

Indoor Cats Get Cabin Fever, Too | Vet Organics  

Keep them entertained and stimulated

Even their favorite game of chasing the laser dot or pouncing on a feather wand will soon get old, and Kitty may get bored. We should be ready with an arsenal of toys to keep them entertained and distracted. Switching up their toys every now and then will help keep them interesting. When Kitty loses interest in the toys currently in use, it’s time to take out those in storage and pack up the “boring” ones. Adding a sprinkle of catnip to the toys we put in storage (in a ziplock bag or box) will definitely make Kitty go crazy over them when we take them out again. For some cats, this toy refresh will be weekly, while for others it will be monthly. It depends on the cat. 

Keep cat cabin fever at bay

Our cats will not find as much pleasure as we do in cuddly weather - when inclement weather means staying indoors, getting comfy under a blanket, and just lazing around all day. Prolonged inactivity and boredom can become stressful for cats, so much so that they can develop health issues and destructive behaviors. Obesity is also a common result of lack of physical activity, which can lead to other health problems. 

We should know our cats enough to recognize the signs of boredom and stress. They will certainly communicate their needs to us, being demanding creatures as they are. Only after their needs have been met will we be able to enjoy the cuddly weather ourselves. 

Further Reading: 

Michelle Lievense

Michelle is a writer and ghostwriter, specializing in wellness, sustainability, and global social change. She is particularly fond of serving ethical organizations who contribute to a better life for people and animals through humane and environmentally responsible missions. At Vet Organics, Michelle uses her time as a vet tech, her academic studies in animal science and behavior, and nearly a decade working on a ranch teaching animal husbandry to write on a variety of cat and canine health topics. When she isn't writing, Michelle can be found hiking in the mountains of Colorado with her dogs or snuggled up with a good book and her cats.

What Customers Are Saying

testimonial-image1

EcoEars by Vet Organics fixed our girl's ears in the first couple of days & she was a whole new, happy dog again. THANK YOU Vet Organics!!!*

Nikki Wiedmer

testimonial-image2

EcoEars is a great product! I used it in my Lacey's ears and we haven't had any problems since.

Bonnie Schweitzer

testimonial-image3

Thank you for the peace of mind that my dog is not in discomfort anymore, thank you for this product being organic and good for our dog's ears, and seriously thank you for giving us an...

Melissa Block Demant

testimonial-image4

I used this product for my Boston last summer. Worked awesome. In 2 days, I've seen a improvement. Within 4 days, the infection was gone. My pit bull started having an issue with his...

Tina Neupauer

testimonial-image5

This stuff really works--after spending money at the vet @ $25 a bottle, it's saving me a lot of money.

José Olivo

*Results may vary based on factors such as age, size and physical condition of your pet.