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Senior Cat? 3 Strategies to Keep Them Engaged

The cat food your pet eats plays a very important role in its overall well-being. The same is true for exercise. Although most cats don’t go on walks, getting daily exercise through playing is essential for a cat’s mental and physical health. While play will benefit a cat of any age, the positive effects are especially noticeable in senior cats. This is because different health conditions and issues are often an unavoidable part of a cat getting older. The good news is even though some of these conditions may be impossible to prevent, you can still help your cat enjoy the highest quality of life.

Before you make any major changes to the routine of a senior cat, it’s a good idea to check with your vet for personalized guidance. Because your vet fully understands your cat’s current condition, you’ll be able to know exactly how much daily activity is right for your pet. Once you have this information, you can use what we’re about to cover to help your senior cat get the most enjoyment out of playing:

1. General Guidelines

For most senior cats, the best approach to play is to make time for it every day. Even if your cat can’t play for very long or intensely, consistency will maximize the positive effects of different physical activities. Pain and limited amounts of mobility are common challenges for senior cats. As mentioned above, your vet can provide specific guidance about managing these issues. And in many cases, keeping your cat consistently engaged through play can improve those types of conditions.

2. Choosing the Right Toys

The majority of toys made for cats work just as well for younger ones as they do for older kitties. The reason we wanted to touch on this topic is cats have different preferences in regards to the types of toys they enjoy most. Some like toys that roll or move across the floor, while others may react the most to toys that resemble birds or other prey. By experimenting with a variety, you’ll be able to pinpoint your cat’s favorites. You can also keep things interesting by rotating toys every couple of weeks. And if you want to add some extra stimulation to play sessions, catnip should do the trick.

3. Making Safety a Priority

By following the guidelines we’ve covered, you’ll be able to have a lot of fun playing with your senior cat. As you’re enjoying time together, keep an eye on your cat to ensure it doesn’t get overexerted. You’ll also want to be sure that the toys you play with don’t have any pieces that can be chewed off and swallowed. Finally, toys with string or wires should be put away when you leave the room, as these items carry a risk of your cat getting tangled up and possibly injuring itself.