This video illustrates how to provide for your cats and meet their needs even in a very small space. It is important to spread out food, water, litter, vertical space and fuzzy beds so that we create successful avoidance. This leads to peaceful coexistence.
environmental needs
Beyond the Nip! Honeysuckle Scent Enrichment
Tartarian honeysuckle is a scent that some cats respond to in the same euphoric way they do catnip. Not all cats respond to all scents so it is worthwhile to try them all.
Buggin’ Out by Nina Ottosson
Another stationary foraging gem! This puzzle can be used for wet or dry food. There are essentially three levels of difficulty built into this toy. Stationary puzzles as a whole are easier for most cats but when there are multiple moving parts it has the potential to present a challenge.
The Rainy Day puzzle by Nina Ottosson
This is a difficult, brains over brawn food puzzle that accommodates wet or dry food. It is challenging, easy to clean and promises to keep your cat busy and mentally stimulated.
Yard Fun! The importance of safe, supervised outside time for cats!
This video highlights the advantages and importance of supervised outdoor access for cats. While a big advocate for indoor cats, to maximize their safety and health, some safe and controlled outdoor access can be incredibly enriching, potentially improve overall quality of life as well as provide exercise and mental stimulation. This video is intended to inspire cat parents to leash and harness train their cat! Even if you do not have a yard to take your cat out in, how about a cat stroller, open windows with bird feeders and bird baths, or a screened porch? There is often a way to allow the sights, scents and sounds of the outdoors to make their way in, safely!
The Nina Ottosson Dog Treat Maze
This is a very complicated food puzzle. It is two sided, features a maze within the toy on both sides and requires the cats to wobble or flip the toy entirely to dispense food. As this video demonstrates, not all hunting expeditions are successful. She walks away without success but that is ok, intermittent reinforcement keeps the animal doing the behavior! Practice makes perfect. Remember that novel food is helpful to stimulate interest and drive motivation. If your goal is weight loss or busting boredom the toys should be challenging and make them work hard!
