Like all animals, humans need exercise. People then often wonder if their pet cat is also getting enough exercise. Especially if they have an indoor-only cat. Cats that are indoors may become overweight or obese due to the lack of exercise needed to keep the feline fit and healthy. This is because when a cat is outdoors, it is always looking around and exploring its surroundings, cats are naturally curious creatures, and this exercises them easily. Here we will discuss how much exercise cats do need, among other questions you may have, especially if they are not allowed outside.
Can Cats Get Enough Exercise Indoors?
Many cats nowadays, especially indoor cats, are very much becoming overweight and turning obese because of the lack of accessibility to going outside for exercise. Now you might think there is nothing wrong with this lifestyle for your cat, but it is actually bad for your cat. It can lead to many problems such as arthritis and an overall shorter lifespan for your cat if it is obese. To enable the exercise needed for your cat, here are some tips.
Playtime
This should be an obvious one, but making your cat play will help it move around and get the exercise required for your cat to stay fit. This will also help stimulate them and make them feel less bored.
Cat Tower
This might be the next obvious one, but this will help with your cat’s instinct to climb and jump around things, which obviously will help them move around. So, investing in a cat tower would be a good move.
Playmates
This can also be good for your cat as well. The more playmates your cat has the better. Not only will your cats get exercise by playing with each other, but it will also help them stay stimulated and less bored throughout the day.
Should I Take My Indoor Cat on Walks?
Many people know of taking dogs on walks – it is a common thing that basically every dog owner does, it is basically universal to owning a dog to take it on walks, and sometimes several times a day. But did you know you can take your cat on a walk too? Just like a dog.
The answer is yes, you should take your cat on walks. This is an easy way to provide them with plentiful exercise. It also helps them with stimulation and being less bored, and can help them with understanding a sense of territory, which is what cats also need to learn. As long as you are careful, you shouldn’t have to worry about walking your cat outside either.
Though, to take a cat for a walk, you need to have a cat that is naturally curious about going outside, which of course, most cats are. You also need to train it to use a harness and understand what a leash is as well, which should be easy to do. Some people might find it weird when they see you walking your cat, but we promise it is a very normal thing that indoor cat owners do. We also suggest letting your cat decide when it is ready to be done walking, it will get more used to being walked over time, and will soon let you know when it has had enough exercise.
Do Cats Need to Be Walked Daily?
With more people walking their cats to avoid them from becoming obese, people often wonder how often a cat should go for a walk as well. You’ll see that some dog owners walk their dogs several times every day, while others maybe just once a day. Some dogs do need more exercise than others, and this is much the same with cats.
It really depends on the cat and what your cat wants to do. Yes, there isn’t anything wrong with taking your cat for a walk every day, for about 15 minutes. Though, as you walk your cat more, it’ll become more used to it, and will be able to go on longer walks.
Though it isn’t exactly necessary to walk your cat every day. Do dog owners walk their dogs every day? They normally do. So, the answer is the same with your cat, as long as it is remaining healthy and not too overweight or obese, there shouldn’t be an issue with walking it every day.
See Also: How Long Do Domestic Cats Live?
And: Why Does My Cat Eat Spiders?
How Many Hours A Day Should You Spend with Your Cat?
With the mention of playtime, people often wonder how many hours a day a person should spend with their cat. This answer can vary based on health, age, and other things.
With kittens, they are naturally curious about the world, since they are very young, and want to have a better understanding of their surroundings. This is the time in life when they will have the most energy, jumping on things, getting into things they shouldn’t, and other stuff. It is recommended when your cat is a kitten you should play with it twice a day at least – for around half an hour a time. Though, the longer the better.
When your cat is an adult or about a year old, it won’t require as much attention. They calm down a great deal, and have a lot less energy, because of age and the fact they may become less curious about the world around them. You can probably then, spend around 20 – 30 minutes a day with them.
With senior cats, when they are above the age of 7, they will still require the same amount of attention, at least as if they were adult cats. This helps keep them physically and mentally stimulated, so the more you play with your cat, the better off it will be.
Conclusion
Here we discussed how much exercise a cat might need, as well as discussing how you can get your cat to get exercise when being indoors. We also talked about taking cats on walks, and how long and often they should be on a walk. Finally, we discussed how many hours you should spend with your cat. We hope we cleared up any confusion you may have had with exercising your cat. If you are worried that exercising your cat may cause it problems, or if your cat is overweight, or obese, then it may be best to contact a vet and arrange an exercise regime and a suitable diet to improve the life of your cat.
Featured image: Walking the Cat
