Mary Allen
Admittedly, not everything that is new to the market for cats is really useful or necessary, and with some items, you even have to question whether they are harmless to the animals. On the other hand, more and more cats live purely in an apartment and are dependent on our ingenuity in the employment and design of their living space in order to be able to lead a species-appropriate, satisfied cat life. For more exercise, we are introducing you today to cat walking bikes. Are they nonsense or useful and what should you watch out for when using them?
What are Cat Wheels?
Cat running bikes are still relatively unknown, but they are enjoying increasing popularity. What at first looks like an oversized hamster wheel for bored designer cats is – carefully selected and configured – a very valuable asset for indoor cats, but also for outdoor cats who put their paws in front of the front door in exclusively good weather or only leave the safe home to a limited extent. because a dominant conspecific makes life difficult for them outside. In short: wherever the Minitiger’s freedom of movement is restricted, you as the owner should think about purchasing a cat exercise bike.
There are now different models made of wood or plastic on the market, which can sometimes be individually adapted, for example in color or inner running surface. The structure is almost the same for all bikes. A base or frame provides a firm base for the actual running bike, which with a diameter of around 1.25 m to 1.50 m must offer enough space for the respective size of the sporting mini-tiger. The running surface is usually covered with carpet or hard-wearing foam and gives the sprinting cats good support while running. If the cat gets on the bike, it starts the bike by walking slowly or sprinting quickly and can work out physically in the process.
Powerful Sprinters with Little Stamina
Cats are snack hunters and eaters, who hunt small prey several times a day, which they ambush at first in order to sprint off at a favorable moment and to capture them with maximum energy over a short distance. If the immediate attempt to hunt is unsuccessful, the prey is first watched again and a new moment awaited. Cats – unlike dogs, for example – are not persistent hunters who circle their prey in packs and tire them through an exhausting hunt, but rather explode in a brief moment of energy to bring down tangible prey. If you have your “wild five minutes” in our household, we can guess how much of it has to be built up in the small body and now has to be lived out. Unfortunately, the joy of exercise in our cats is still often underestimated. The hunters are apparently satisfied with few opportunities to run and anyway spend a large part of the day dozing half asleep to recharge their batteries. But if you see a once tired sofa tiger doing his laps in a running wheel or can watch in astonishment how an otherwise often frustrated, moaning indoor cat literally runs its bad mood on the wheel, you will realize how inadequate our possibilities are even in spacious apartments, that the animals can adequately live out their urge to move.
What Should You Watch Out For?
So that your cat knows how to use the admittedly not exactly cheap purchase, you should pay attention to solid construction and correspondingly good quality when choosing. Find out about the different models and question their sustainability. There are wheels made of plastic or wood, kits, and “finished wheels” that are supplied in one or two parts. Some models are built with high-quality ball-bearing rollers that come from the roller skate area and meet various requirements. When buying, make sure that the bike is stable and easy to run so that your cat also has fun with the – safe and easy – movement. In addition, the diameter of the impeller should be large enough to prevent the spine of the largest cat in your household from sagging. For most of them, 1.35 m is a good yardstick, for larger animals such as the Norwegian Forest Cats or Maine Coons, you should be more generous with the choice of diameter. If in doubt, consult the manufacturer about which size is right for your cats. The inner running surfaces should offer the animals good support, be easy to clean and not have a strong smell. Some rubber inserts evaporate for a long time, as well as individual color paintwork, especially on wooden wheels.
When buying the right balance bike, you shouldn’t save money on the wrong side. If it is too small, wobbles, or has a chemical smell, your cat will probably not be using it due to its unpleasant properties and you have invested unnecessarily. Stable wheels are available for around € 300. With a little luck, you will find a few used wheels as bargains.
Certainly, not every balance bike is a positive eye-catcher. On the other hand, there are manufacturers who offer individual models depending on personal taste. Regardless of how well the balance bike fits into your living style, it should definitely be as central as possible in a place where you often hang out with the cats. It’s similar to that of us humans: if the home trainer is in the basement, it is usually used less often or not at all. However, if it is always visible in the living room and can be used during your favorite soap, you step on it much more often. Your bedroom, on the other hand, is usually not a suitable location, as the crepuscular animals would otherwise likely rob your sleep – even with low-noise models.
The First Steps in the New Balance Bike
If you have a daring explorer on four paws, you place the balance bike and show the cat with a few treats or a fishing rod how great you can move in the new fitness equipment. A few repetitions will probably be enough to arouse your interest in the long term. Particularly curious hunters even jump into the wheel on their own and do their laps from then on. If you have a cautious or scared velvet paw, it is advisable to slowly introduce the new movement options. Outside of your common exercises, fix the bike with a piece of cardboard, for example, that you clamp between the bike and the body so that the bike does not move when you get on and your rabbit’s foot could be frightened. If you want to practice together with the cat, first hold the bike firmly with one hand and motivate your cat to get on the bike carefully with a treat in the other hand. If you click with her, you can complete target training or condition her positively for one or two paws on the bike with a click and a reward. Once the cat has got used to getting on the bike, let it run a few steps in the bike and break it a little with the other hand to prevent uncontrolled swaying. Little by little you practice the movement as well as getting in and out with her.
Cat Wheels are Not for Every Cat
As with us humans, not every cat is born to be a sports fanatic. Some people sprint quickly through the bike several times a day to get rid of their frustration or out of the pure joy of movement. Even otherwise cozier cats develop into true running bike sprinters. Others, on the other hand, march very leisurely or only occasionally on the bike. Occasionally I have especially seen senior cats doing their rounds on rather mixed days when the old bones seem to pinch a little more than usual. The steady movement seems to be particularly good for tired bones.
Whatever type of movement your cat may develop into: as long as she uses the bike voluntarily and in her own way, it is a great addition to her everyday life and is always worth your investment.