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Cats need attention\u2014some cats more than others. If you\u2019ve had many cats over the years, you know that some are more needy than others and their neediness might come in spurts. Cats also have a way of appearing bored. That\u2019s one of Olivia\u2019s super powers\u2014sulking and making you feel sorry for her because ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/OliviaMouth-225x300.jpg\")
she has \u201cnothing to do.\u201d Poor baby.<\/p>\n
She can usually get my attention with her whiny mews and constant misbehavior, such as jumping up onto my computer desk which she knows is a HUGE NO-NO! She might just sprawl ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/oliviamic-225x300.jpg\")
across whatever work she thinks is holding my interest at the time. Oh, what a drama queen. So what\u2019s my solution?<\/p>\n
Enrichment. They say cats need enrichment\u2014things that will enhance their life by giving them something new and different and interesting to do. When Olivia gets needy, I show her all of the toys and the cat tree in![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/oliviaEmy-300x225.jpg\")
my office. The only thing she wants in my office is me out of my office\u2014with her. So we go into the living room and I might tip her cat condo over for something ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/OliviaSnuggle1-225x300.jpg\")
different, bring out toys she hasn\u2019t seen in a while, toss a ball, wave a wand, lift the blinds so she can see out the window, hide from her and let her find me. I\u2019ll even get out the grandchildrens\u2019 windup toys to entertain her. She loves it all, but when ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Cats-in-window-2015-196x300.jpg\")
I leave the room and go back to my writing, she follows me with her \u201cmeow, meow\u201d I\u2019m bored routine again.<\/p>\n
Enrichment also might mean exercise and Olivia is still quite young, so we have a routine that she entices me into almost every day. We have a long hall with wooden floors leading into a large room. I toss her chew sticks and balls up and down the hall and she chases them with gusto. This activity provides enrichment for both of us. I get so tickled when she tries to stop herself on those slick floors and she slides as if she\u2019s on ice, sometimes crashing into a wall. Like any good hockey player she\u2019s immediately up and at-em again.<\/p>\n
What do you and your cat do for enrichment?<\/p>\n
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Cats need attention\u2014some cats more than others. If you\u2019ve had many cats over the years, you know that some are more needy than others and their neediness might come in spurts. Cats also have a way of appearing bored. That\u2019s … Continue reading