Favorite enrichment for indoor cats that isn’t store bought.

Question

Nitabel · Answer

DIY treat puzzle box: He’s Jason Bourne. He’s Catherine Zeta Jones in Entrapment. He’s a cat spending hours in a cardboard box with twine and treats.

I already had a treat ball for this, but you can easily DIY a rolling treat dispenser with a toilet paper roll (pinch the ends closed and cut hole in the middle big enough for treats to fall out).

Dylan · Answer

Teaching your cat to touch type: helpful for replying to emails, drafting substack newsletters, checking for new posts in the THIS CAT IS CHONKY fb group

Dylan · Answer

Giving your cat 500 forehead kisses: i don't make the rules, this is just a legal requirement in my house.

Dylan · Answer

Paper shopping bag: put this on the floor and your cat is entertained for hours. sitting in it, diving in it, punching it, or if you are my cat Poppy, shredding it to pieces to form a deconstructed bag work of art, presumably a commentary on convenience culture within late-stage capitalism

D · Answer

Cat TV: If you don't have an outdoor view, if you're going to be gone for a while during the day, or if you want to add another element of pleasure in your Cat's life, Cat TV is great. It can be calming or activating (in a playful way) depending on your Cat and their mood. It's also free on YouTube. There are different styles, some with Squirrels, Birds, and even other Cats; some with soft jazz or "nature" sounds-- see what your Cat likes :) Here's Nico, a Cat friend that I'm caring for in her home while her person is away, watching Cat TV with her little paw up.

Clara · Answer

Milk jug rings: BUT be sure to supervise the whole time. My cat never eats inanimate objects, thankfully, but apparently they’re small enough that some cats will try to ingest these.

D · Answer

make some Cat shelves out of wooden pallets and carpet off cuts: Cat shelves are a great way to build some enrichment into your space and empower your Cat(s) to have some agency. You don't need to be a carpenter or buy any materials to make shelves. With wood glue or a nail gun, a jigsaw or handsaw, and found materials like wooden pallets and found textiles like carpet, you can easily make some shelves. If you need tools, there is likely a free tool library or a friend who has a saw. It's a more ambitious "free" thing to do for your Cat(s), but it might end up being fun for both of you.

Katie · Answer

Opening your blinds: So many birds, squirrels, and moths to pounce on. And it makes me happy to see peoples’ cats in the windows when I walk by.

molly · Answer

wiggling your toes under the blanket: hours of entertainment - slightly dangerous for toes, though

Nicole · Answer

Cardboard box!: Cut flaps off, cut large-ish holes in one side and bottom, flip over. I also attach cat toys to the openings ideally something with bells that my cat can swipe at!

Rebecca · Answer

Tin foil ball.: Classic for a reason.