If they aren't entertained or challenged, cats can become bored, lethargic and depressed. Interactive playtime, along with other toys or entertainment while you're away from home, can help avoid kitty boredom and mischief.
The amount of playtime your kitten needs will vary from kitten to kitten, as some cats are more energetic than others, but they generally need at least two to three play sessions a day, if not more. These sessions do not have to be long: short bursts of play throughout the day will keep your kitten stimulated.
Play with your kitten at least two to three times a day (ideally for 15 minutes at a time) using interactive toys. These are toys that you move and they chase.
You will have a very lonely, bored cat. Bored, lonely cats tend to be destructive, because they're trying to find something, anything, to do, and they don't know that the chair they clawed up and the dishes they knocked on the floor are valuable to you.
Generally, by 9 to 12 months old, the massive amount of enthusiasm has begun to settle, and a personality has become more apparent. Each cat differs individually with some being more playful and some lazier. However, these are some typical stages you'll see as your frisky feline ages.
If you are the parent of a single cat, you'll be glad to know that solitary cat status does not doom your kitty to a life of misery and boredom. There are plenty of things you can do to keep them purring by making his life stimulating and enjoyable.
How much playtime does your cat need? Pam Johnson-Bennett, a certified cat behavior consultant and best-selling author, says cats need the consistency of scheduled interactive playtime. She recommends scheduling playtime once or twice daily, with about 15 minutes per session.
Lastly, but no less important, ignoring a cat can build frustration if the cat doesn't know any other way to behave or has been rewarded for their behavior in the past. Frustration can lead to an increase in the behavior and may also cause lower tolerance and a higher risk of aggression.
“Cats need play just like kids do. It helps them engage, deal with boredom and it helps build bonds between [family members and] other cats in the home,” says Dr. Taylor Truitt, DVM, The Vet Set, Brooklyn, New York. “Play stimulates their brains and also helps them exercise.
Kittens younger than four months of age should not be left alone for more than a couple of hours. Over four months, they can handle up to five hours. When they turn six months, they should be able to handle your 8-hour workday. Keep in mind that each cat is unique.
But unfortunately, cats can—and do— get bored. While Fluffy may not always let you know how bored she is, sometimes cats express their boredom in ways that are quite blunt and not always appreciated by their human companions.
Most felines will be perfectly content being left alone for up to 8 hours while you're at work. As long as fresh water is available, some cats can be left alone for up to 24 hours. However, longer or more frequent periods of time away, such as full days or nights away from home can be more disruptive.
Single kitten syndrome is the idea that young kittens, when raised with other young kittens and cats and then adopted into a home by themselves, can become aggressive, anxious, stressed, and even develop behavioral issues like inappropriate chewing/scratching and inappropriately using the litterbox.
Games to Play with Your Kitten
Use feather teasers, fishing rod toys and laser pointers for swiping and chasing activities. (Never shine a laser into any animal's eyes and always let your cat catch a toy at the end of the game.) Introduce a climbing frame to help your kitten develop better balance and mobility.
But they can start meowing a lot, become clingy, or go into hiding as you're about to leave. An anxious cat can also show signs of fear, or urinate and defecate outside the litter box. All these signs can mean that your pet feels neglected, depressed, or anxious.
Because of the attachments they form, the answer is yes; cats can feel lonely! While each kitty has a unique personality and needs, the following signs could indicate a lonely cat: Destructive behavior. Loss or increase in appetite.
They may stop eating, become reclusive, stop interacting with the family, and even become aggressive," said Hauser.
Even with the convenience of a litter box and an endless supply of food, cats left alone for long stretches of time, day after day, can suffer from loneliness, boredom and even separation anxiety. Indoor cats left alone with no stimulation or environmental enrichment are more likely to become bored or lonely.
Cats, while often independent creatures, still crave attention and love, in addition to their obvious nutritional needs of fresh water, clean litter, and food. If you decide to bring a cat or kitten into your home, you should be prepared to spend at least 20 minutes a day giving your cat loving one-on-one attention.
Much of this 'personality' development has already taken place before we get our kitten. For the cat, learning to enjoy the company of people takes place pretty early in its life – somewhere from about three weeks to seven or eight weeks old.