Ways to Encourage Your Indoor Cat to Exercise

As any cat lover knows, getting your kitty to exercise can sometimes be a challenge. Cats have independent personalities and are unlikely to do anything they don’t want to do. We all know that exercise provides both physical and mental stimulation and it’s crucial for keeping your feline friend healthy. So how do you make your cat exercise?

Entice them to hunt! Cats are born hunters. They are predators designed to hunt. Although indoor cats no longer need to hunt for food, they’re still filled with all those impulses to stalk, chase, and pounce on prey. A good way to encourage your cat to exercise is to redirect her hunting instincts to active play. Make her play session a version of hunting.  

How much exercise does a cat need?

Your cat’s exercise needs will depend on her age, current fitness level, and weight. Remember that every cat is unique and their individual exercise needs do differ. Experts generally agree that cat owners engage their adult kitties in multiple ten-minute sessions of interactive play each day, averaging a total of 30 minutes of exercise (play hunting) each day. Kittens may want to play more, and they can play for a whole hour each session. This will decline as the kitten becomes an adult. The play session will become shorter in duration, less intense, and less frequent.

If your kitty is overweight, be sure to introduce exercise gently and gradually. Overweight cats can injure their joints if you try to get them to do too much too quickly. Check with your veterinarian before beginning any exercise program to make sure your cat doesn't have any underlying health issues that would make exercise difficult. It may be necessary to change her cat food to an indoor cat food formula like this Wellness Core Pate Indoor Chicken & Chicken Liver Wet Cat Food. Indoor cat diets are formulated with lower fat levels and calories to help the less active indoor cats maintain a healthy weight. For dry cat food feeders, not to worry. We have plenty of indoor dry cat food options for your kitties too. 

Cat toys to engage your cat’s hunting instinct

It is again important to remember that every cat is unique. One cat might find a particular toy fun and exciting, but another cat might ignore it completely. Prepare different toy options and rotate the toys every couple of days. Watch how your cat responds to each toy and you’ll quickly learn which ones she likes best. As a general guide, most cats are fond of feathers and laser pointers. Here are some cat toys that will draw out your kitty’s hunting instinct and encourage her to move and exercise.

Wand toys

Wand cat toys are ideal for mimicking live prey. Unlike ‘static’ toys that do not move and may seem “dead” to cats, wand toys are dynamic. Wand toys let you wave and rotate the wand to keep your cat moving in different directions. It looks like a bird flying, a mouse scurrying, or an insect crawling, engaging the cat’s instinct to hunt. Fishing pole cat toys are another feline crowd-pleaser. Like the wand toys, the unpredictable movements of the lure at the end of the fishing pole mimic real prey.

This is great for drawing out the cat’s hunting instinct and encouraging healthy movement and exercise.

With so many different wand variations on the market, it may be challenging to know which one your cat prefers. The best thing to do is to expose your cat to a variety of different wand toys and see which ones she likes most. As a general guide, you won’t go wrong with a feather wand. Feather wand toys mimic birds, and most cats love to hunt birds. If your kitty is not a fan of hunting birds and acts like the feathered lure (‘bird’) doesn't exist, try a different lure. It’s also a good idea to look for a wand toy that allows you to change the lure. Do make sure that your play session ends with your cat catching their ‘prey’. It is important that you let her go in for the ‘kill bite’ to eliminate frustration.  

Flashlights or laser toys

A laser or flashlight is another easy way to get your kitty into a hunting mood. Move the beam around the room and up the walls. The zipping light that quickly switches direction mimics a mouse or other critter scurrying around. This excites the cat and will quickly entice her to start chasing the ‘prey’. It’s an excellent way to exercise your cat. As usual, with all play, do let your cat catch the prey at the end of the session. Some cats can get frustrated if not given a chance to catch their prey. If your cat gets too frustrated, stop the laser game and play with some actual toys that your cat can physically capture. This Kong Crinkle Ball With Feathers Cat Toy is a good choice. The crinkle sound and the feather will instantly spark her curiosity. You can continue with the ‘hunting’ game by rolling the ball but this time, she gets to capture her prey.

If you are looking for a good laser toy, here’s the ultimate two-in-one fishing rod cum laser toy, the Kong Laser Teaser Wand Cat Toy that is sure to encourage active play and long-lasting fun. A note of caution, remember never to shine the laser directly into the cats’ eyes!  

Exercise wheel

If you have the space for it, a cat running wheel is an excellent tool for a good cardio workout! These cat running wheels are gaining in popularity as entertainment for adult cats, especially those who are left alone most of the day with nothing to do. This tool is best for cats with moderate to high energy levels, such as those inclined to race through the house in short spurts. Do be aware that this is a more costly option compared to the other cat toys and it can take a while for you to train your cat to use it. However, most pet parents would agree that once a cat understands what the running wheel can do, she will get in on her own when she’s looking for some entertainment.  

Use meals to encourage hunting and exercise

Play with your cat before meals. Sneak some exercise into her daily routine before she eats! Food is an essential part of encouraging your cat’s hunting instincts. In the wild, eating comes after a successful hunt. Schedule your play hunting time before meals to simulate the natural conclusion of a successful hunt. If you are free feeding your cat, end her play session with a treat instead of a meal. Offering her a treat will give her a sense of conclusion; that she has successfully captured and eaten her prey. Do make sure that the cat treats are in smaller bites like this Kit Cat Freeze Bites Chicken Grain Free Cat Treat to prevent kitty from overconsuming her daily caloric requirement.  

Exercise is essential to keeping your pet healthy. Regular exercise (play) is crucial to your cat’s overall physical and mental wellness. Whether you already have a cat exercise routine or are just starting one, remember that the type of play you choose should tap into your cat’s natural instincts. There are many options of toys and exercise equipment for your cat. Find the type of toys that your cat enjoys most and that should keep her physically active and fit.  

KATHERINE KHOO

Katherine is a Pet Nutrition Specialist and GDP’s Pet Wellness Advisor. She is committed to helping pet owners make informed dietary and lifestyle choices in nurturing healthy pets. Katherine is also a practicing Nutritional Therapist (human nutrition) and has been helping hundreds of clients to heal naturally with nutrients.