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All cats need environmental enrichment devices to keep them happy and healthy. The devices don't need to be expensive, as demonstrated in this photo where the device is a used cola carton. Photo Credit: Alisha V/Flickr.com
Caring for cats properly involves much more than simply providing food, water and a litter box. Environmental enrichment, such as toys, food puzzles, perches, and even hiding places, can drastically change the quality of life for almost any cat. For shelter cats and other cats that are kept in confinement for whatever reason, these environmental enrichment tools are even more important. The same can be said for cats that are housed exclusively indoors.
As important as enriching the environment for a cat may be, there is concern about adding toys, puzzles and other enrichment tools in a multi-cat environment in which the items might cause aggression between cats either because of disputes between individual cats or frustration relating to access to the items.
The Winn Feline Foundation recently took a look at this issue in a group of shelter cats on their blog. Environmental enrichment in shelter cats is an abstract from a study which provided a food puzzle to a stable group of shelter cats and examined their reaction to the puzzle and their interactions surrounding the object. The study concluded:
“a stimulating item that can be shared by all individuals in a stable group, such as a puzzle feeder of appropriate size, can play an important role in promoting positive social interactions among cats and improving their welfare.”
Certainly, in shelter cats, this is an important study. It underlines the need for more than just basic care in the lives of these animals and the fact that this enrichment is easily achievable. After all, the ultimate goal is to give these cats the best chance for adoption. Cats that are comfortable in their environment and confident will show it in their behavior. And confident behavior is much more “adoptable” than a cat that is hiding in his cage or, worse yet, acting in aggressive manner out of fear.
However, this study also can be extended to those of us who keep multi-cat households. I live with six cats. We have a fairly stable environment for the most part and all six of my cats enjoy their toys, food puzzles, perches and other environmental enrichment enhancements. There is no confrontation between cats over any of these objects, though I have made certain there are more than enough for all the cats. For instance, if one of the cats is already on one of their favorite perches and there is no room for another, there are plenty of other perches to choose from, as there are toys and other objects. However, I often see two or more of my cats interacting with the toys and puzzles at once. In fact, it seems as though if one cat shows interest, it generates interest in the other cats as well. And they seem to enjoy sharing these objects rather than fighting over them.
For those of you with single-cat households, don’t assume that your cat doesn’t need these enrichments also. Though you don’t need to worry about aggressive interactions between cats, your one cat probably needs even more distraction than those in a multi-cat household with other cats with which to interact.
What types of environmental enrichments do you provide for your cats?
About Lorie Huston, DVM
Lorie Huston is a veterinarian, pet health and pet care expert, professional writer, blogger, social media and blogging consultant, and SEO strategist.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Boxes! My house is covered with empty boxes. If a stranger walked in, they’d probably ask when I was moving. LOL We have a cat tree, perches, scratchers, Turbos, milk rings, catnip toys and lots of balls – all for the kitties to keep busy with. The house belongs to the cats
You’re so right, the more cats have opportunities to interact with each other, the better for everyone.
Kim, you’d probably be right at home in my house. My guys (and gals) love boxes too. They keep them entertained for hours but eventually, they tear them apart and they have to be discarded (only to be replaced with new ones).
Thanks for sharing this study Lorie! I can’t believe your cats are so well trained. I know so many people with multi-cat households who have to deal with tons of issues.
@ Kim – Lol my cat loves boxes too!
It may be that it’s not so much that my cats are well trained as it is that they have me well trained, Tony