Create a home cat gym with the help of The Vet Whetstone
January 21, 2020
If you’ve ever had a gym workout put together especially to suit your unique physical needs, you’ll know how beneficial such a routine can be. So why shouldn’t a similar regime work for your cat?
The Vet Whetstone’s team know how important it is for cats to stay active, and want to share some suggestions for how you can create what amounts to a home gym for your favourite feline. It’s a terrific way to kickstart your New Year with your companion and help it get fighting fit for months to come.
As always, we’re here to help, so if you have any questions about exercise for cats or what might not be safe if you think yours may be a little overweight, we encourage you to contact us for advice or to make an appointment.
Contact us for advice on cat exercise
Create a home gym for your cat
Many cats love to play chase – it’s not just for dogs – so grab a few ping-pong balls or roll up some bits of paper and encourage your cat to fetch. Treats might help with this but remember you’re not trying to feed them up, so use sparingly.
Cat towers are a staple in many pet owners’ homes, but can often go unused unless your cat is encouraged to get to grips with the climbing and jumping. Again, strategically placed treats or maybe a smattering of catnip will help in getting them to explore their tower more often.
Moving lights are endlessly fascinating to cats, and while you can buy lasers that will do the job, a mirror paired with sunlight or a lamp will do the job without the expenditure. There’s little more entertaining to watch than a cat trying to hold down a beacon of light.
Cats are renowned for being curious creatures and few owners will not have witnessed the hilarity of their pet diving instantly into any boxes or bags that cross their paths. You can capitalise on this and get their cardio up by bouncing balls into open boxes and watching as they rush around after the ricochet.
Finally, if your pet is a house cat, why not think about getting it out and about? You can buy cat collars and leads and it’s no longer such an uncommon sight to see cats being walked by their owners.
Hopefully some of these suggestions will help put you and your cat on the road to increased energy and exercise, but if you have any queries or concerns about exercising your cat, our vet Albert will be happy to discuss them with you, so please call us on 020 8368 9798 to have a chat or make an appointment.