How to keep your indoor cat happy?!

sweetsounding

So we rescued a deaf kitten from a shelter nearly a year ago now and have certainly found it an experience! She's fantastic, loads of fun, lots of energy and rather puppy like (she fetches objects, drinking straws, balls etc and waits for us to throw them over and over again like a dog!)
But i thought it would be beneficial to get other members advice and best tips on keeping an indoor cat happy :cool:

1. Scratching posts -which are best? Does the Ancol Fat Boy live up to its hype? Our cat is now rather bored of her 3 storey activity centre but will occationally still sleep in the hammock bit at the top
2. Toys -we all know there are hundreds of different toys out there, which ones keep your moggies entertained? Do the "Catit" type play circuits keep indoor cats happy for any length of time? Or do loo rolls and bits of string work best. Are there any surefire boredom busters out there?
3. Environment -we live in a 2 bed flat but thankfully are moving to a two bed house next month, I wouldn't recommend flat living with a cat but is there much you can do in a small space. Can you share your shelf, wardrobe tops, height maximising cat spaces and platforms?
4. Outside inside -we like the idea of growing cat friendly plants and grasses indoors, we know that cat grass is an important part in minimizing those hairballs and generally keeping your kitty healthy. Anyone had particular success with more unusual or different planting combinations?

So really I thought i'd start this topic to share our successes and (probably expensive) failures as indoor cat owners, and to gain some pointers on how to stock up kitty's toy box and keep her active and happy.

spookylukey

Two words, Da Bird - it really is an amazing toy. My cats were indoor only for the first year or so and it gets them flying through the air and leaping around - they got more exercise and stimulation than if they had been able to go outside! They go out now but come running back in if they hear me going in the 'Da Bird' cupboard!

They also love the Da Mouse attachment that you can get for it. I have to keep the rod in the tube that it came in otherwise they break into cupboards and drawers to get it out!

You can get them from the Purrs In Our Hearts shop http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/shop/ I noticed they now sell them on ebay too.

*doodle*_2

Mine love playing in their tunnel which I picked up for a couple of quid in ASDA but, tbh, their favourite toys are those that they have 'acquired' themselves - screwed up balls of paper, old shoelaces, plastic milk bottle tops. I have spent a fortune on cat toys btw. I even bring home the odd cardboard box from work which they will play in for hours on end.

Have you got a laser pointing pen? You can buy them in Pets at Home. They are brilliant fun.

gunsandbanjos

*doodle* wrote: »

Mine love playing in their tunnel which I picked up for a couple of quid in ASDA but, tbh, their favourite toys are those that they have 'acquired' themselves - screwed up balls of paper, old shoelaces, plastic milk bottle tops. I have spent a fortune on cat toys btw. I even bring home the odd cardboard box from work which they will play in for hours on end.

Have you got a laser pointing pen? You can buy them in Pets at Home. They are brilliant fun.

Laser pens provide our indoor cat with so much entertainment:rotfl: He knows exactly what it is, doesnt even have to be on and he goes crazy when he sees it.

missmontana

The cheapest/free "toys" are always the best like previous posters have said, straws, paper, boxes, anything that jingles/crackles.

I bought a big cat tree from zooplus, was only £50 and they have always used it and played on it.

Also suckered into the Catit toys, only one they really liked was the playcircuit.

They all go mad for the laser pen, Dizzy even moans and oes looking for it when you switch it off.

Failing that, I am getting them a puppy to play with...

AnnaMonkey

My kitty LOVES her Da Bird! we ordered a ton of different attachments for it and at the moment her favorite it a silver plasticy pompom type thing - she goes mad for it!

She also loves her rustle tunnel - it's got a hole in the middle which she likes to pop out of to swipe at your legs sometimes. eek!

we also have a thing with a ball in it that rolls round and again, she will spend hours watching it and batting it round in circles. this one is also handy as when we want to find her we can give it a roll and she comes running!

morg_monster

my 2 (not indoor only) love their catit circuit; although I'm not sure about the new design that I've seen with the "hills". We've had the old (flat) circuit, and the cats, for 1 year, and it is still very popular.

We have a home made Da Bird type toy too which they also love. A recent new toy is a Kong kickeroo which must have incredibly potent catnip in as they go mental for it, they nearly destroyed the unopened Zooplus delivery box trying to get at it!

I do find they can lose interest in some toys - we put them away for a few months and bring them out again, it's like they're new!

JustIndy

My cat loves to be brushed! She goes completely mad for it!