Spring has indeed sprung and now we’re quickly being whiskered into summer. You might have noticed a spring in your cat’s step, encouraged by the warmer days and evenings (cue 6am wake up meows!). It’s a great time of year to explore a variety of toys and games with your cat, making sure they have ample enrichment combined with enough cool, shaded space to rest. It’s also important to watch out for hairballs and make sure your precious feline family member stays well-hydrated. Here are some practical ways to keep your beloved cat happy and healthy during the warmer months.
Enrichment for happy indoor cats
Cats can be perfectly happy indoors and it’s the safest place for them to be! We just need to make sure they have extra stimulation and opportunities to exhibit natural behaviours: like large litter trays to dig in for toileting (we recommend at least one more litter tray than the number of cats you have), scratching posts for stretching and clawing, and cat trees to climb and secure the best viewpoint to survey the household or garden from – for more examples see Cat Protection’s Indoor Cats Factsheet.
Bring the outdoors in
Cats who go outdoors get to see the changing environment with the seasons, but you can bring this enrichment indoors for them too! Have toys/treat puzzles/tunnels on rotation, swapping them out every fortnight or so, and let them enjoy a good box every now and then before it goes into the recycling bin. Make your cat work for their food using a treat ball or food puzzle. This creates a more stimulating way for them to eat, where getting their meal is an exciting challenge. You can make your own food puzzle at home, simply take an empty toilet or paper towel roll, cut some holes in the side, pop in their kibble and then fold in the ends. Placing cat biscuits in the hollows in egg cartons offers your cat another way to play with their food.
Every day, make time to play!
All cats should have at least ten minutes of scheduled playtime or activity each day, but this is particularly important for solo indoor cats. It’s time to stretch out those limbs and pounce and play. Cats will become more active as the weather gets warmer and you can get in on the fun with them. Perhaps they like doing acrobatics as you wave their mouse wand or prancing down the hallway after a ping pong ball. It can be a fun time for you both and an opportunity to bond.
Reach greater heights
A tall cat tree with a seat on top or a secure window seat is a great place for your cat to perch. Cats love high places and between naps they’ll enjoy watching the world go by, spying on birds flitting between trees and keeping tabs on the neighbours. We know naps are always a must for cats, so make sure they have access to a cool part of the house to relax on hot days, like a tiled laundry or bathroom with plenty of airflow or a fan. In very hot weather, place some ice-packs under towels to provide an extra cool spot to rest.
Looking lush with a brush
As well as napping, cats spend a fair part of their day grooming, and when the weather is getting warmer and their coats begin to shed, it’s important we brush them more often – daily if they have a long coat. All cats need brushing, indoor or outdoor, as it helps to prevent hairballs and evenly distributes oils to keep skin and fur in peak condition. If a brush is designed for long-haired cats and your short-haired cat loves it, that’s fine! In the end, it comes down to what they enjoy most. For timid or brush-adverse kitties, there are comb-like gloves, and you can offer them treats while you’re brushing them as a welcome distraction. Sometimes the key is several short sessions rather than one long session. If your cat’s fur is matted, professional assistance from your veterinary clinic is advised. A professional clip will also help long-haired cats keep cool in summer and will also help you with checking their coat for ticks.
Get their greens
Cat grass is a wonderful way to help your cat with their digestion – and hairballs – and they really enjoy chewing on it too. Fresh cat grass is easy to grow from seeds, or you can buy pots of cat grass and cat mint from nurseries. Many cats love catnip too, which can also be enjoyed fresh or in treats or toys. Fun fact: whether a cat enjoys catnip is an inherited trait! Remember that not all plants are safe for cats to munch on. The plants and flowers you have in your home should be cat-friendly or put out of reach of your cat. Check Cat Protection’s list of Cat-Friendly Flowers.
Cats with outdoor access
During the warmer weather, cats who get outdoor time may be more excited to get their paws muddy than during autumn and winter when their cosy bed was calling. We advise that outdoor time is supervised, and that your cat is always inside by dusk. Cats with pale features should have no or very limited time in direct sunlight as they are prone to skin cancer, so be mindful of this and adjust when they get outdoor access or ensure they keep to shaded areas. If you can afford it, investigate cat enclosures or try a DIY solution. There’s more info below and in Cat Protection’s Cat-proof Fencing and Enclosure Factsheet.
Balcony bandits
Now that it’s warming up, your cat might be eyeing off your balcony or patio. While cats will win every time when pitted against us mere humans when it comes to balance, it just takes one accident for them to injure themselves (or worse, sadly they don’t have nine lives) or escape to the neighbour’s balcony or onto the street. If you let your cat onto the balcony, ensure you’re out there with them, or set up a cat enclosure to keep them safe and sound… with their feet on the ground!
Ever considered a cat enclosure?
It’s important to make your balcony escape-proof and safe for your cat if they’re allowed on it. You can use cat netting to enclose the area, like the range from Catnets: it’s UV protected, chew-proof, and there are different tones to choose from (their neutral tones should be more compliant with strata regulation if applicable but always check with your strata before installation). Catnet’s range can also be used to make a larger cat enclosure adjoined to your home, or you can purchase a ready-made portable enclosure. They really are the masters of safe, secure, versatile cat enclosures.
Keeping track of your cat
Spring and summer weather can encourage roaming in cats and it’s a must that they are desexed, microchipped, and registered – an easy-release collar with a bell and name tag with your contact details is also recommended. In urban areas, AirTags placed in holders that attach to your cat’s collar can also be a useful way to make sure you stay on top of your cat’s whereabouts.
Thirsty work
Both indoor and outdoor cats need plenty of fresh drinking water available. Cats don’t like their water to be next to their food or their litter trays. Place a couple of bowls in different places and add an ice cube or two if the day’s very hot. A full bowl of water should always be kept outside if your cat can access the outdoors. It should be in a shaded area that’s easy for them to see and get to. If you place water outside for birds, make sure it’s inaccessible to cats and dogs. For lizards and insects, very shallow dishes of water with a few stones in them (to prevent drowning) can be placed in spots your cat can’t reach.
Stay protected
Ensuring your cat has a regular flea and worm preventative is important all year round, but simply cannot be missed in the warmer months. And it’s not only for outdoor cats! We can track in flea or worm eggs on our shoes or clothing, so it’s important to regularly treat your indoor cat too. Ticks are more widespread than ever, but the good news is that there are now preventative treatments for ticks for cats. Make sure any tick or parasite treatment you use on your cat is for cats; it’s not a sales gimmick, dog products aren’t safe for cats. Talk to your vet clinic about the best options for your pets.
The Cat Protection Society of NSW has plenty more resources and knowledge they love to share with fellow cat lovers, no matter the season. On their website you can discover more about what they do, download activities from the Kids Corner, and read Factsheets covering many paw-some topics and meet some of the beautiful cats awaiting adoption. Plus, for general information on cat care and everything feline, you can call the Cat Protection on 02 9519 7201.
