Sleep, sleep, sleep It's estimated that cats spend 12 – 16 hours a day sleeping, and as indoor cats, my two love lounging around. They have several different preferred snoozing spots depending on the time of day. As the sun streams into the lounge room, they can be found having a kip by the window on their cat tower.
We start with the activity that occupies most of your cat's time: sleep ! Adult cats can sleep between 12 and 19 hours per day (an average of 16 hours !). Also, do not ask anymore what your cat does when you are not at home or when he is absent for long hours outside: most of this time is actually spent napping !
In comparison to dogs, cats do often enjoy more solo activities such as self-grooming or discovering their newest hiding spot. This independence could be tied their wild ancestors, who were solitary animals.
Cats sleep an average of 15 hours per day. However, they can sleep as much as 20 hours within a 24-hour period. In general, cats do the majority of their sleeping during the day, since they are most active overnight.
You might think that with the 15 hours a day your cat spends napping that she may not have time to get bored. But unfortunately, cats can—and do— get bored.
Cons of Indoor Cats
Because cats enjoy roaming and exploring, keeping them inside can lead to boredom. Some indoor cats also experience depression and separation anxiety. To prevent these issues, you must take steps to meet your cat's needs.
Your new cat will need to be in their safe room for at least three days, but some may need longer. Once you feel your cat is comfortable and confident in their room, it's time to open the door and let them explore the rest of the home. We suggest doing this one room at a time.
Make your cat as comfortable as possible, give special treats, and spend time doing what you both enjoy to make your cat's final day particularly special. These include playing with toys, letting your cats sleep anywhere they like, and taking pictures to remember the moment.
Your cat's daily activities mostly include sleeping, exploring and eating.
To make them feel less alone, simply leaving the TV on for background noise or using a pheromone plug-in can help your cat to stay calm. If you believe being alone makes your cat anxious, it's worth testing this to see if they are calmer when you return.
Inactivity. It's totally normal for your cat to spend a lot of time napping. However, they also need to enjoy periods of activity like playing, play-hunting, climbing, and exploring. If your cat seems depressed or never wants to leave the comfort of their sleeping place, it could be that they're bored.
It can be particularly hard for cats to cope with living indoors if they have lots of energy, love to explore and have previously been allowed time outdoors. However, for some cats - such as those with a disability or medical problem - living indoors could be a better option, and they may feel more comfortable.
Other cat health and behavior experts offer similar recommendations, with the total amount of playtime ranging from 20 to 60 minutes daily. Playtime should be split into multiple 10- to 15-minute segments as cats are naturally active in short bursts.
As a general rule, cats are sensitive when it comes to smells, but there are a few scents they hate that might just surprise you. They can't stand citrus and as much as you might love the smell of fresh herbs, cats hate rosemary and thyme. Banana and mustard are a big no-no too, as well as lavender and eucalyptus.
“Typically, cats who do not have enough mental or physical stimulation become bored. They may be left alone for hours without other people or animals to interact with,” she says “Bored kitties live in a boring environment—they do not have toys to play with, objects to climb or other mental stimulation.”
Spend Some Extra Time Cuddling Together
For most cats, there's no time like lap time, so plan to spend a little extra time sitting and relaxing. Plan to sit down and finally read that book you've been wanting to start or use your cuddle time for an extra brushing session.
Nurture an environment full of activities – windows to look out, things to watch, places to climb, and safe toys to play with. Climbing posts, scratching posts, cat grass, windows perches, window beds, and a view of birds and squirrels are all great ways to enrich your cat's life and prevent boredom.
A safe room should be a small space, preferably with a door. A bathroom, large closet, or smaller guest room are good choices for safe rooms. Avoid choosing rooms that are loud or that you need to use a lot (for instance, the laundry room).
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.
If you are going to have your cat inside, it is important to make its environment as stimulating as possible. If you don't, cats can quickly become bored, stressed and even depressed, resulting in detrimental and destructive behaviours.