Pets
Is Your Cat a Couch Pet-tato?
By
Aug 11, 2005, 00:38

(NAPSI)-It's time to let the cat out of the bag. Our feline friends are becoming couch potatoes as a result of their sedentary lifestyles and "ho-hum" daily routines.

Obesity is the number-one nutritional disorder among cats, according to studies by Nestlé Purina PetCare. In fact, studies suggest that approximately 25 percent of cats taken to veterinary clinics are overweight. And a survey conducted by leading cat food brand Friskies reveals that the average owner spends less than 10 minutes a day playing with her cat. Despite the perception that all cats like to do is sleep, they need playtime, social interaction and physical activity to help maintain good body condition and be as happy and healthy as possible.

True, cats do enjoy their catnaps. They sleep an average of 16 hours per day. But it is up to us- as their friends and providers-to make the most out of the eight hours they are awake. This means we need to make sure they get both physical and mental stimulation to get more out of life.

"Many people believe that all cats need is food, water and a litter box-and that's simply not true," said Pam Johnson-Bennett, national feline behaviorist and author. "Cats are complex animals with keen minds and athletic bodies that require daily exercise, adventure and fun for optimum health."

According to Johnson-Bennett, there are two simple ways to give your cat more out of life.

Add Variety to Playtime

Cats respond well to play that mimics their natural instincts, such as climbing, scratching, hunting and exploring. By adding some basic elements to your home, such as elevated perches, a cat tree and a solid scratching post, you can increase their activity.

You should be part of the fun instead of sitting on the sidelines, because cats love human interaction. Playing with your cat also helps establish a stronger bond. With a little patience and time, cats can be trained to do fun behaviors like jumping through hoops and rolling over. As food-motivated animals, all it takes is a treat to encourage and reward the behavior. Use simple objects from around the house to create some fun purr-formances. For example, cut the bottom out of a paper bag to create a tunnel for your cat to explore. Or teach your cat to jump through an embroidered hoop for a food reward.

Make Mealtime More Fun

While it is important to feed cats a high-quality cat food such as Friskies that provides the variety, great taste and nutrition they need, don't forget to add fun to their feeding routine. Rather than placing your cat's food bowl in the same location every day, try creating several fun feeding stations around her playroom so she can hunt for her food. And create a fun game at mealtime by placing your cat's normal portion of wet food into several compartments of a muffin tin so she can search for her supper.

Following these simple steps can help prevent cats from becoming couch pet-tatoes and enhance the quality of their lives. For additional information on how to give your cat more out of life, visit www.friskies.com.

Cats Are Dreamy-and enjoy their catnaps. But they also need playtime and social interaction to keep them happy and healthy.

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