I don't want to overwork my pal too much (he can be pretty sprightly, but lacks stamina), but for the sake of his health I've been advised to make him exercise more. I've tried the usual toss-a-ball-of-wadded-paper stuff, but was wondering if anyone has tips for giving him some lighter, more sustained exercise. I've even thought of buying a cat harness to walk him around- but my neighborhood isn't the best place to do it.
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Mild/moderate exercise for somewhat senior cat
- Thread starter pippin
- Start Date
I actually asked a similar question and got some good responses if you want to look at the suggestions there too: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/276970/how-do-you-exercise-your-cats
Really what it comes down to is finding what he likes, and letting him control the pace you play at. Sometimes our 9 year old will chase and run to catch things for anywhere from 5 seconds to 5 minutes, and other times he's happy to lie on his back and swat enthusiastically at whatever we dangle around or over him. For dangling and pawing while stationary, our cats like shoe laces, ribbon, wand toys, and some big rolled up pieces of paper. I have lots of scrap 11"x17" sheets lying around, so I get to exploit that wasteful aspect of being an art student by recycling it for the cats (and birds) as a toy.
We leave stuff lying around too, and one of the favourites is black licorice - Dutch drops and jujubes. Something about the smell gets them excited, and it's small, easy to bat around, and is light but solid so as it flies, they can always hear where it ends up. I toss these and they go flying to chase them, even more excitedly than they do foil or paper balls.
Really what it comes down to is finding what he likes, and letting him control the pace you play at. Sometimes our 9 year old will chase and run to catch things for anywhere from 5 seconds to 5 minutes, and other times he's happy to lie on his back and swat enthusiastically at whatever we dangle around or over him. For dangling and pawing while stationary, our cats like shoe laces, ribbon, wand toys, and some big rolled up pieces of paper. I have lots of scrap 11"x17" sheets lying around, so I get to exploit that wasteful aspect of being an art student by recycling it for the cats (and birds) as a toy.
We leave stuff lying around too, and one of the favourites is black licorice - Dutch drops and jujubes. Something about the smell gets them excited, and it's small, easy to bat around, and is light but solid so as it flies, they can always hear where it ends up. I toss these and they go flying to chase them, even more excitedly than they do foil or paper balls.
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My girls love the krinkle balls to bat around - I know they do because I can hear them playing at two in the morning LOL. They both also have a love for paper grocery bags or cardboard shipping boxes - I'll put a toy in a box and they play for hours with it in the box. Find out what your cat likes and supply that - the fishing pole type of dangle toys are also great for interaction with you and your cat. If your cat is a senior and never been in a harness I couldn't try at this stage in its life to try walking in a harness.
Expensive toys aren't necessary because most cats love crumbled paper, paper grocery bags, cardboard boxes, toilet paper rolls, the rings from milk bottles, etc. Also store the toys in some cat nip and rotate the toys which incourages interest like they are new.
Expensive toys aren't necessary because most cats love crumbled paper, paper grocery bags, cardboard boxes, toilet paper rolls, the rings from milk bottles, etc. Also store the toys in some cat nip and rotate the toys which incourages interest like they are new.
Any cat likes "catch a mouse under blanket" game, when you move a stick (not hand) under the blanket, throw or sweater, it makes them alert and active for a short time.
My fairly young 4 yrs old cat with no joints issues has his exercise patrolling backyard, jumping on the tables/desk (first onto chair, then on the table, to be gentle on the joints of a very large cat), walking the stairs (there are stairs in the house, more than one level), catching foam ball for a short time. I saw how volunteers in shelter played ball with cats: they take hand-full of foam or silicone balls and roll them along the room, one by one, then go where they all are and do the same in opposite direction. Before this we (instead of cat) were getting exercise, throwing one ball, going to get it, throwing again. Cat is not always in the mood to do that, and, as I read somewhere, the toy is only as good as a human on the other end of the toy is.
My past senior cat, 16 yrs old, ran in the enclosed backyard and stormed stairs as long as he could, then just walked and called for us to go to him. He also jumped on chair, then on table near window. With aging we bought plastic stairs-like indoor plant stand for easy of use (window starts low, slightly above knee). He liked walks on front yard and sidewalk in the harness on the leash, reading "signatures" left by other cats and dogs. Not every cat agrees to walk of leash, the new one reacted as he was just about to be murdered, so we stopped trying.
By the way, there is a risk to cat fleas or something even worse during walks where homeless infected cats were previously. I didn't think about this then, but now I'm very wary.
DIY carpeted or roped cat tree with few levels, hiding place and hanging thick piece of thread may help too.
Mechanized toys and squeaky "get mouse from the tunnel" scare cats and were useless for us.
My fairly young 4 yrs old cat with no joints issues has his exercise patrolling backyard, jumping on the tables/desk (first onto chair, then on the table, to be gentle on the joints of a very large cat), walking the stairs (there are stairs in the house, more than one level), catching foam ball for a short time. I saw how volunteers in shelter played ball with cats: they take hand-full of foam or silicone balls and roll them along the room, one by one, then go where they all are and do the same in opposite direction. Before this we (instead of cat) were getting exercise, throwing one ball, going to get it, throwing again. Cat is not always in the mood to do that, and, as I read somewhere, the toy is only as good as a human on the other end of the toy is.
My past senior cat, 16 yrs old, ran in the enclosed backyard and stormed stairs as long as he could, then just walked and called for us to go to him. He also jumped on chair, then on table near window. With aging we bought plastic stairs-like indoor plant stand for easy of use (window starts low, slightly above knee). He liked walks on front yard and sidewalk in the harness on the leash, reading "signatures" left by other cats and dogs. Not every cat agrees to walk of leash, the new one reacted as he was just about to be murdered, so we stopped trying.
By the way, there is a risk to cat fleas or something even worse during walks where homeless infected cats were previously. I didn't think about this then, but now I'm very wary.
DIY carpeted or roped cat tree with few levels, hiding place and hanging thick piece of thread may help too.
Mechanized toys and squeaky "get mouse from the tunnel" scare cats and were useless for us.
