How Should You Handle a Mischievous Cat?

Sometimes it can be hard to understand a cat that knocks things off tables, scratches cherished furniture, and races around the entire house. The moment we see an otherwise adorable cat misbehaving, we want to know why it acts that way. One Green Planet, an organization, explains, “Cats only get into trouble and cause mischief because they need more physical and mental stimulation.” Here are some tips for engaging your cat’s adventurous spirit.

Interactive Toys

Try giving your cat a puzzle box or food ball. It will be absorbed in the toy for hours and unable to turn the house upside down. One Green Planet says, “Cats sniff and scratch as they search for treats or rewards hidden inside puzzle boxes.” If your cat seems to find them too easily, make them harder to locate. A food ball with a kibble-dispensing feature releases food only when the cat rolls the ball to the right. In addition to these two options, letting your cat play with a variety of interactive toys will keep it from getting bored, even if it plays with them every day.

Cat Trees

Set up a cat tree near a window, and your cat will enjoy the view outside while keeping watch over its territory. If you want to protect your furniture from your cat, a cat tree with a scratching post is also a good choice. The scratching post lets your cat satisfy its instinct to scratch and keep its claws sharp.

One-on-One Playtime

Building a bond with your cat is also essential. Play with your cat 20 minutes before mealtime to satisfy its hunting instinct, which naturally emerges before it eats. It is also an opportunity to become closer to your cat.

One Green Planet says to let cats run and play as they please. Do not punish them for instinctive behaviors they exhibit simply because they are cats; instead, look for other ways to redirect those behaviors.