Want to create a safe and stimulating play area for your cats?
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| Safe play area for cats |
According to a census in 2018, the largest pet ownership census to date showed that 41% of pet owners see their pets as their closest companions.
Being a cat owner is a blessing because humans can have no better pet companion than a cat. They provide the warmth you deserve and entertain you in your leisure time. However, they also need care and a place to keep them engaged. One of the best ways to do that is by building a play area that is safe, secure, and stimulating.
But before that, it is crucial to understand research about the best tips for creating a secure and stimulating play area for your cats.
Are you looking for a complete guide to create a safe and engaging play area for your cats?
In this article, we will cover all the main points that should be considered, while creating a play area for your cats.
- Understand your cat's needs
- Design a safe space
- Essentials for a stimulating play area
- DIY ideas for the play area
- Maintenance and safety tips
- Understand your cat's needs:
Instincts and behavior:
Cats are naturally curious and have a range of instincts and behaviors, such as hunting, scratching, climbing, and exploring their surroundings. Thus, observe your cats and analyze what they like and dislike. Do experiments with your play area and try different things. They are curious creatures and thus, naturally inclined towards climbing, seeking comfy places to hide. Cats are natural predators, thus having strong instinct to hunt and prey.
Cat's Mental and Physical well-being:
Play stimulates a cat's physical and mental health. It allows physical movement and helps to maintain weight, agile movement, strengthen muscles, and avoid obesity. Create a safe and stimulating play area for your cats, allowing them to release their pent-up energy. It releases stress and improves overall quality of life.
Mimic cat's natural habitat:
Cats thrive more in play areas that resemble their natural habitats, like grasslands or forests. Create tunnels and hiding spaces to mimic caves where they can take shelter. Build areas to climb like wooden logs and tall scratching posts. Offer interactive toys and hiding spots, allowing them to satisfy their exploration and curiosity. Be a little creative with your space.
- Design a safe pace:
Choose the right location:
When building your home, you take so much time to decide on the perfect location. Likewise, be creative and decide on an area perfect for your cats. Build play areas near spots that have access to sunlight but also give them shade in the scorching sunlight, and avoid places with the possibility of getting muddy in rainy seasons. Choose spots with enough space, allowing them to roam around easily.
Avoid potential hazards:
Inspect the space while creating the perfect play area for your cats. Avoid potential hazards like toxic plants, sharp edges, and electric switchboards. In the case of outdoor play areas, take care of their safety. Take proper measurements to avoid the interaction of any wild animals.
Safe and durable materials for cats' toys:
Use safe and long-lasting cat toys and consult your vet to check whether your cat has some sort of allergy to any specific material. Use non-toxic materials for their toys. Also, use sturdy and resistant to wear and tear toys to avoid serious injuries. Your cats might enjoy some comfy cushions or the texture of pebbles under their feet, so experiment a little bit. Put pebbles and sand in a corner for them.
Proper ventilation and temperature control:
Like humans, cats also need a comfortable and stimulating area with adequate ventilation, allowing them to breathe fresh air and moderate temperature according to their needs. So keep control over temperature. Try to choose spaces that are not too hot or too cold and have proper access to fresh air.
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| Stimulating play area |
- Essentials for a stimulating play area:
Diversity of playing activities:
Encourage a diverse selection of cat toys that are both stimulating and align with the cat's natural behavior. Incorporate vertical spaces for climbing, interactive toys, tunnels, hiding spots, colorful balls, etc. Also, plan various activities to play with your little fury companions to keep them engaged. Create spots for their treats so they can easily enjoy food and access clean water.
Incorporate vertical spaces and hiding spots:
Cats are inclined towards climbing, so build wood logs, tiny tree houses, or maybe shelves to climb on. It will not only stimulate them but also help in maintaining their physical movement as well. Build wooden boxes with space for cats to hide in the center of it. Create tunnels of different lengths and heights to let them explore.
Introduce water features and food in your space:
Pour some water into a bowl with a few ping-pong balls. It will keep cats engaged and let them drink water whenever they have the urge to drink it. Put small pots with cat food in the play area.
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| DIYs with recycling |
- DIY ideas for playgrounds:
Build structures and toys from recycled material:
Build DIY furniture from wood and cardboard. Recycle waste items to create beautiful handmade toys and structures for stimulating play areas for your cats. Cut plastic bottles in two parts, put some sand in them, and hang them, then see your cat getting curious to reach them. Use old broken sewage pipes and build tunnels for exploration.
Incorporate plants:
Use cat-friendly and non-toxic plants, such as catnips, roses, spider plants, and rosemary plants, to provide sensory stimulation and enrichment. Cats love to chew on green plants as well. Plants will keep your cats engaged and also purify the bad odor in the environment.
- Safety tips for maintenance:
Inspect toys for wear and tear:
Ensure checking toys regularly for any signs of wear and tear and replace them as soon as possible to prevent serious injuries.
Sanitization of play areas:
Disinfect the play areas regularly to maintain a hygienic environment for your cats, and use appropriate cat-friendly cleaning products.
Monitor cat's behavior:
Observe your cat's behavior and make adjustments accordingly to ensure a perfect, engaging, and stimulating play session for your cats. Analyze what are the things that make your cats anxious or uncomfortable.
Safety precautions for outdoor activities:
If planning to create an outdoor play area or to conduct outdoor activities, ensure supervision and security to prevent predators from attacking. Also, take proper measurements to avoid any environmental hazards.
Conclusion:
Your furry companion also deserves to enjoy and engage in activities that interest it. Thus, creating a secure and stimulating play area for your cats that meets their requirements is necessary. Whether you build the play area indoors or outdoors, follow all the crucial points to ensure your pet has a great fun time. It will also create a strong bond between you and your pets and improve the quality of your relationship.
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