We have family, friends, and lovers in our lives...but the kittens only have you in their lives. Especially in a family with only one cat, if the cat is not at home, will it feel lonely at home alone? Cats’ schedules are not as packed as ours....
We have family, friends, and lovers in our lives...but the kittens only have you in their lives. Especially in a family with only one cat, if the cat is not at home, will it feel lonely at home alone?
Cats’ schedules are not as packed as ours. They nap for about 15 hours a day and are surrounded by toys and food all the time. So they won't be boring? Unfortunately, it is possible for your cat to suffer from boredom. Cats are insecure animals and are usually not exposed to areas with a wide view. In other words, the cat’s range of activities is at most the place where the owner lives. If there is only one cat at home, it needs the care and companionship of its owner, otherwise the cat will feel lonely and bored. Boredom can lead to various problems, such as urinating indiscriminately, grabbing furniture, depression and other abnormalities. Have you ever observed whether your cat is bored? How does boredom manifest in cats? Let’s take a look at 5 signs that they are bored.
1. Excessive grooming
Normally, cats spend a certain amount of time cleaning their hair every day. In addition to helping cats stay clean, this activity helps them maintain a healthy body temperature because the evaporation of saliva helps cool their skin.
But if the cat keeps licking itself and grooming, it may also mean that it is bored. This kind of excessive licking will often cause the cat to lick all the small patches of hair off a certain part of the body, leaving a bald spot. (Bald patches, thinning hair, and unwanted hair balls are all signs of overgrooming. Aggressive chewing or biting behavior may also be a sign.)
2. Bullying other pets in the home
Does your cat suddenly chase visitors from room to room? Do they scare the family dog? This may be due to boredom.
When cats need extra stimulation, they sometimes get it by becoming a nuisance. Listen for any unusual sounds from your cat, which may be a sign that your cat is looking for fun and excitement.
3. Destruction of the furniture environment
When bored cats don’t vent their dissatisfaction on other pets, they often turn to bullying the furniture. They may treat sofas and curtains as their toys.
If cats suddenly become particularly destructive, scavengers may have to pay a heavy price and sacrifice their own furniture if they do not take measures to alleviate boredom.
4. A low mood
Boredom will cause cats to lose their natural curiosity. Normally, curiosity motivates cats to spend time exploring and playing when they are not sleeping, eating, or grooming themselves.
If your cat loses interest in everything else except these daily necessary behaviors, it may be that they are bored with their living habits and surrounding environment.
5. Always overeating
Both cats and humans have a tendency to overeat when they have nothing better to do.
Continuous overeating can lead to weight gain and other symptoms, making a bad situation worse. Obese and overweight cats are more likely to suffer from conditions such as diabetes, and the added weight may cause them to become less active, ultimately making them more bored and depressed.
If your cat has the above symptoms, then help them fight boredom!
First of all, if you are not sure whether your cat is doing the above behavior because of boredom, please be sure to consult your veterinarian! All of the symptoms listed above may be signs of a more serious condition.
Once you've determined that boredom is the cause of your pet's sudden change in behavior, it's time to start creating a more fresh and interesting environment for your cat.
1. Provide a viewing spot with a view.
A climbing frame can be placed by the window, so that the cat can lie on the window sill and bask in the sun, while also enjoying the scenery outside.
Cats like to bask in the sun. It is warm and comfortable, but remember to seal the windows!
2. Cat toys for leisure time
Cats who stay at home should have their own toys. And interactive toys can make your interaction more interesting, such as laser pointers, cat teasing sticks, and parents and cats can interact.
You can also place the cat’s favorite snacks in different places at home to keep the cat busy and distract the cat from the departure of the scavenger.
3. Plant a pot of catnip
Catnip does have a certain positive effect in preventing cats from being lonely and depressed, and relieving cat stress.
Therefore, there are many cat toys filled with catnip on the market. Eating catnip can also help cats vomit out the hair balls accumulated in their stomachs that cannot be digested.
4. The companionship of the cat owner
Cats really like the companionship of the cat owner. In fact, the time spent playing with the cat should be no less than 15 minutes every day. Companionship is the most effective way to alleviate the loneliness of furry children!
