HomeBlogCat Behaviour ExplainedIs My Indoor Cat Bored?! Spot Boredom In Your Cat!

Is My Indoor Cat Bored?! Spot Boredom In Your Cat!

by Beth

Nov 3, 2021

Cat Behaviour Explained, Cat Care, Cat Health, Your Cat-Human Relationship

Is My Indoor Cat Bored?! Spot Boredom In Your Cat!

Like other pets, it is possible for your cat to be bored. Staying home all day and living the monotonous life of eating and sleeping can sometimes be overwhelming for your cat. You may also wonder and ask yourself the question, “is my indoor cat bored ?” Well, this article answers your question and helps you to know how to spot the boredom in your cat. It also gives you an insight into how to make your cat more lively.

Cat lying on the floor

How Do I Know If My Indoor Cat Is Bored?

I know my indoor cat is bored whenever it exhibits a change in behavior or any of the following behavioral patterns. Below are tips that will help you spot the boredom in your cat:

Restlessness

Your cat is bored if it is unusually restless. You will notice your cat is restless when it begins to run around and chase or fight other animals around the house. Your cat may also resort to scratching your furniture or the wall to create their stimulation when they are bored. When you see these signs of restlessness in your cat, no doubt, your cat is probably bored and needs a new stimulation.

Maine Coone cat licking his nose

Overeating

You will agree with me that eating is never boring. You probably also resort to the company of food whenever you are bored and have nothing to do. Cats also exhibit this behavior. When cats are bored, they eat at all times. This may eventually cause obesity in your cat. I’m sure your cat doesn’t want to be obese. You can help your cat to prevent this by helping it get rid of its boredom.

Overgrooming

Your cat is overgrooming when it begins to lick, bite, and scratch itself repeatedly. If you also notice skin breaks or furless parts on its body, it means your cat is overgrooming. This is a common behavior I notice when my indoor cat is bored. If you notice these behaviors in your cat, then your cat is also probably bored. Overgrooming is, however, not only a sign of boredom in your cat. It may also be due to an infection or an allergy. When you notice signs of overgrooming after attempts to alleviate your cat’s boredom, you should consult a veterinarian.

Cat sleeping on his back

Inactivity

When my indoor cat is bored, it takes an unusually long time napping and resting. Whenever I notice this unusual inactivity in my cat, I understand that it needs stimulation. Cats are usually curious and very playful, but when you notice your cat is unusually inactive, this may be a sign that your cat is bored.

Also, inactivity may mean your cat is unwell. When you notice that the inactivity of your cat persists, you should consult a veterinarian.

Excessive meowing

When your cat is bored, you may notice that it meows excessively. Research shows that excessive meowing in cats is often as a result of loneliness. When your cat meows, it’s trying to call out to you for attention, and it may not stop until you tender to its needs. Undoubtedly, these tips should answer your question ” is my indoor cat bored?” Now, you can easily spot the boredom in your cat.

cat snuggling with owner

What Do I Do When My Indoor Cat Is Bored?

Your cat’s resort to finding its stimulation by either fighting the dog, overgrooming or scratching your expensive furniture affects both you and your cat. So it’s your responsibility as its parent to help mitigate your cat’s loneliness and boredom. Below are things you can do to save your cat from boredom:

Provide window views

To save your cat from boredom, it is important that you provide it with a stimulating environment where it can play or sightsee. Yes, cats love sightseeing and watching birds. They love to have an avenue for seeing what goes on in their environment. When my indoor cat is bored, I carry it in my arms and sit by the window side to afford it an opportunity of seeing outside, and this helps her greatly.

Cat and cat owner touching hand and paw

Have a scheduled playtime

It would be best if you tried to dedicate some time to play with your cat every day. Your cat wants to spend time with you playing and wants you to rub his head while with you. Doing this will stop your cat’s loneliness and make it feel better.

Provide a cat’s scratching post

Scratching is an innate behavior in cats, they do this to shred and remove unwanted objects from their claws. I’m sure you do not want your cat to give your furniture defacing scratches. You can prevent this by getting your cat a scratch post it can play with whenever it feels boring or needs something to scratch.

Buy your cat a cat toy

Cats love toys too. There are a variety of cat toys you can buy for your cat. But it is advisable that you get the one your cat loves. Your cat may get tired of playing with the same toy over and over again. So it is important that you buy more than one toy for your cat.

Grey cat in tall grass

Grow cat grass in your cats environment

You can also stop your cat’s boredom by growing cat grass in your cat’s environment. So when your cat is bored, it can resort to eating them. Unlike other foods that may cause obesity for your cat, this cat grass helps your cat’s digestive system

Get your kitty a puzzle feeder

Puzzle feeder makes your pet work for its food by thinking and manipulating the feeder before gaining access to it’s feed. A puzzle feeder helps your cat to feel its cat’s instinct and makes your cat happy. This will also help you to reduce your kitty’s food wastage.

Child with cat in her arms, cat smiling

Stop And Prevent Boredom In Your Cat

Like humans, cats get lonely and bored. Boredom can cause anxiety and depression in your lovely kitten. When you notice any unusual behavioral changes like inactivity, restlessness, or overgrooming in your cat, play with your cat or buy it toys to play with. Be your cat’s savior and help it overcome boredom to stay happy.

-Author: Susan Murphy

Any advice from you on how you keep your cat entertained? We would love to hear from you… please fill us in below!