Mary Allen
A few well-intentioned treats too many and too little play to compensate for quickly result in some hip gold. So the question arises: Isn’t there also a sport for cats? With our five exercises for more cat fitness, you get your kitty going and shed the pounds.
Why is Exercise Important for Cats?
The Federal Association of Practicing Veterinarians estimates that around half of all domestic cats weigh too much. Indoor cats in particular tend to be overweight. A common cause for this is often a lack of exercise.
Do not take too much weight with your darling lightly. The negative effects on health can be serious. If you are concerned that your cat may weigh too much, definitely speak to a veterinarian. Together you can plan a diet that will suit your cat.
With Movement to Cat’s Ideal Weight
As part of the cat diet, not only a change in food is on the program. If your cat is to lose weight, it will need additional exercise. This makes it easier for her to return to her ideal weight gently.
Movement is actually in the nature of cats. After all, their ancestors were talented hunters and had to work hard to get their food. In contrast, the modern house tiger spends a large part of his time in dreamland and is showered with love and treats whenever possible.
With a little patience, however, even the most comfortable and spoiled indoor cats can be animated to exercise more. Once you have started with cat fitness, you and your cat will gradually have more and more fun with it.
Sports for Cats: 5 Ideas for Activities
Of course, sport for cats cannot be compared to the human sport. The effect is the same, however – more exercise means more fitness and less fat deposits. In the following, we will show you five ways in which you can incorporate more exercise into your cat’s everyday life. In addition, there are of course many other ideas for keeping your cat busy.
Number 1
As a cat owner, you know that cat toys encourage exercise. However, interaction is always important. Don’t just put the toy in front of your velvet paw’s nose, but encourage it to play.
Remember how cats act in nature: like a real mouse, the toy mouse should flee from your cat instead of lying motionless in front of it or even confronting it. Playing with cats also always includes a sense of achievement. So let your cat catch the “mouse” regularly.
Do you need to encourage a lazy cat to play? Or is your house tiger one of those particularly cozy specimens on which game fishing rods or balls have no effect? Then try other items to pique your cat’s curiosity: ping pong balls, a crackling plastic bag, crumpled paper in a cardboard box – cats are exceptionally good at taking pleasure in things they don’t know.
Number 2
If you want your cat to lose weight, you must adjust the amount of food as part of the cat diet. Especially those with a sweet tooth among cats often find it difficult to hold back when it comes to food. An ideal exercise for cats with a big appetite is playing with food toys.
Food balls or paper bags filled with figure-friendly treats can only be defeated with a lot of moving back and forth and keep your four-legged friend on their toes. In order to satisfy its hunger, the cat has to be active and at the same time show intelligence.
You can hide the food in a raised place in the apartment so that your cat can move around even more. If you change hiding spots regularly, the cat won’t get bored.
Number 3
If your house tiger has a particularly strong hunting instinct, you can animate it with light games. Shine on the wall, under the sofa, on the bed, and back on the floor, and let your cat catch the light.
You can use a flashlight to do this. Are you thinking about a laser pointer?
Number 4
If your cat’s joints are still fit, she may be inspired with climbing exercises. This not only adds momentum to everyday life but also promotes your cat’s dexterity. For example, try to place the beloved cat bed so that the cat has to climb a little to take its nap.
If you have stairs, you can motivate your cat to climb stairs. A scratching post that is included in the game can also help effectively reduce obesity in cats.
Number 5
Cats love routine in their everyday life. If your cat is a creature of habit, you can use this property for more movement: occasionally move your cat’s food to a different location.
A small obstacle course on the way to the beloved food bowl demands additional energy from your cat. Make sure, however, that the relocation of the food does not become stressful for your cat.
Also, change toys more often so that your darling does not get bored and the cat remains motivated during exercise.
Other Sports Tips for Cats:
- Don’t overwhelm your cat with a training marathon. Instead, plan short exercise units several times a day. Initially, ten to 15 minutes are sufficient, later you can also extend the training. Important: Always plan enough breaks.
- Before you train with the cat, it is imperative that you clarify with the vet how much you can put your cat’s joints on and which exercises are better to avoid.
- Losing weight works best when the cat is motivated and likes to participate. In order for your project to succeed, try out which cat sport is the most fun for your darling. But also offer the cat enough variety.
After Exercise for Cats: Don’t Forget to Reward
If your cat has really exhausted itself, it will look forward to a wellness session after exercise. Pamper your velvet paw, for example, with extensive grooming or a massage – this relaxes the muscles. With this type of reward, you save treats and thus calories for your overweight fur nose at the same time.
Very important in sport for cats: be patient and stay on the ball. Do not force your cat to be fit, but lead them to step by step.
Regular activities and games are the ideal addition to a cat’s diet, bring new energy to the animal, and strengthen the bond between you and your cat. Above all, sport should be fun for cats. The reward for perseverance is good health and a long and happy cat life.