Wednesday, February 8, 2017

What Kind of Exercise is Best for Indoor Cats?


As a maker of healthy pet food, we get to talk to a lot of awesome people about their pets. We enjoy learning new information during these conversations and sharing our knowledge with others. In that spirit, we want to cover a topic that's come up on multiple occasions.

The topic we're referring to is indoor cats and exercise. There's a common belief that cats who spend their time indoors are automatically able to find ways to get the exercise they need.

The Importance of Exercise for Indoor Cats

Every cat owner knows that these animals love to sleep. It's completely normal for cats to spend anywhere from twelve to sixteen hours a day sleeping. While outdoor cats also have a lot of downtime, they should dedicate a good portion of their time to hunting for food.

The issue with domestic cats is they don't have to worry about tracking down food. Instead, pets know that their owner will bring them food. Even though it's nice that pet cats don't have to worry about where they're going to get their next meal, this comfort is a slippery slope.

The reason is in the absence of needing to hunt for food or deal with other types of stimulation, a cat can definitely get bored and lethargic. When this happens, it quite commonly leads to gaining extra weight. Being obese or simply overweight can create a number of health problems for cats, including anesthetic complications and urinary disorders.

The Best Type of Exercise

Since boredom is an issue that can create both behavioral and health problems, the best type of exercise for indoor cats should address both issues. That's why you'll want to focus on exercise that brings out your cat's natural desire to hunt. There are several toys that make this quite easy to do. By finding toys that get your cat really excited, you'll be able to hold its attention for an entire exercise session and help it stay quite active through chasing & pouncing.

The general rule of thumb for indoor cats is fifteen minutes of focused exercise a day. Younger cats may require a little more time, while older cats will probably need slightly less. The same is true for breeds (for example, Savannahs are naturally more energetic than Persians).

It's worth noting that even with plenty of exercise, some cats may still struggle to maintain a healthy weight. If you have this issue with your pet and are looking for a way to keep calories under control while still providing all the nutrients your cat needs for optimal health, be sure to take a look at our lean cat formula.

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6 comments:

  1. Many cat owners don’t think cats need exercise. But here’s the thing, it makes a world of a difference when a cat needs exercise, and it’s important to understand why cats need exercise. If you want them to live a healthier and happier life, you need to get them both physically and mentally engaged. It also can prevent feline obesity.

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