Bored Cat

[Hazel104]

Hi
This is a two part question really. Firstly we have just moved and I would like to make sure that our little one does not get too bored as he used to going out but is now house bound for the next 2-3 weeks. Any tips on stopping him getting bored?

Secondly, we have moved from a ground floor flat into a third floor flat and the plan is to let him out in the morning, he comes in when we get home from work and he then stays in all night and sleeps, which its the complete opposite to what he is used to as he would stay in all day and sleep and be out most of the night. Or do we try and convert him into and indoor cat? Really want to do the best for him, but so confused! Any advice/tips would be gratefully received.

[bednobs]

dont worry about the boredom thing - in my experience cats can sleep all day then sleep all night too. When he is out and about outside, you can bet he isnt just prowling about all the time - he will be asleep somewhere on someones roof

[Eve]

I find random stuff like plastic bags (not unsupervised though) and boxes and such are popular :) Mine was in his element when my broadband package came the other day rolling around in everything.

You can get balls which have little weights in them so they roll around and zizgag and such.

Maybe something dangly hung from door handle or something secure and collar proof he can play with.

He will probably sleep a lot though, maybe a hidey hole for him would be good (though I'm sure he will adopt his own).

You could maybe hide treats for him sparingly.

He could also have a little cuddly soft toy friend for company.

[madboutcats]

Cat-nip toys will provide him with entertainment, ive just brought a cat-nip spray and sprayed my twos favourite mouse toy, cupar spent half an hour killing it while margo watched on, cupar was not going to share.

[Schutzengel]

Hi Hazel,
Is your new flat in a different area to your old flat. If so your cat is going to have to learn his new whereabouts when he is eventually allowed out. If you are planning to leave him out all day while you are at work, without access to the flat. I would suggest you first let him out at the weekend while you are around, and do it just before he is due to be fed. I would go with him or follow him for the first few times he's let out, and try to see if he goes in the same direction each time. It would also be advisable to have a look around the area close to the flats, to see if there are suitable places where he could find shelter, when the weather is bad. Especially, as winter will soon be here, and already snow and frost are predicted for Wednesday this week. I don't know what area you are in but the forecast mentioned is for the North West of England. Hope all goes well.

[Hazel104]

Thanks for all the replies; great ideas there and I will be trying them!

I don't think we will be letting him out the flat for the foreseeable, especially not with weather like it is- we're in London, but it is still cold, and he has been brought up a wussy southerner which doesn�t help ;-)