I'm trying to find ways to keep my cat from sleeping all day. What do you do?
By writersedge
@writersedge (22563)
United States
November 13, 2007 10:39am CST
My cat is supposed to exercise every day to stay healthy. Since the cooler weather hit, he's hibernating. He also thinks he's supposed to eat like a bear between naps. Is there anything you do to help your cat stay fit and healthy? Thanks and take care
4 people like this
8 responses
@shae24 (20)
• United States
13 Nov 07
Ha, I too have a fat lazy cat. She thinks she needs to eat all the time, so I have to hear her yell at me when I only feed her a little twice a day. But when you are not home, there is a good way to help them get exercise. They have these cat toys that are like a pole with an eleastic string on the end and then a fuzzy toy of some kind on the end of that. At the bottom of the pole is a suction cup so you can stick it onto something and the cat can play with it on their own time. They actually do work them out. My cat will get out of breath playing with it. I know, you can't ensure that your cat will play with it when you are not there, but it is worth a shot, they seem to work.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
13 Nov 07
Cat fishing poles! Good idea, got to get ours fixed. He tears through them in no time.
2 people like this
@copperkitten (3473)
• United States
13 Nov 07
Is he an only cat? If so I would get him a playmate. A new kitten would keep him active. He would have someone to play with. Just a thought.
3 people like this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
15 Nov 07
I would love to get him a kitten or a playmate. But he would tear another cat apart or maybe even eat him/her. It's a good thought if I didn't have a terrorizor for a cat. Maybe someone else can use this suggestion or when Baby is gone, I can use the idea for my next cat. Thanks.
1 person likes this
@revdauphinee (5703)
• United States
13 Nov 07
cats are ruled by nature to do what they do I fell you are wrong in trying to interfere with this ,also ma y cats get there exersise at night mine does leave nature alone is my advice if you want a contented kitty!
3 people like this
@repzkoopz (1895)
• Philippines
13 Nov 07
hmmm.. i'm not exactly the cat-loving person, so i guess you could try making your cat play with a ball of string. (it usually works for my friends, they say) but i heard (or read) a long time ago that cats "normally" sleep up to around 20hours a day. c",)
3 people like this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
13 Nov 07
Yup, the string does work for a little while. Thank you and take care
2 people like this
@alamode (3071)
• United States
14 Nov 07
Don't leave a full food dish unless you'll be gone a while... my pups would gorge themselves, so they just get fed half the recommended amount twice a day, with cookies for snacks every few hours. They actually only need to eat once a day... they won't die! They can go days without food, I hear... but I'm not gonna try it!LOL!
Also find a toy he likes that you can hang up or put in a big box... our kitties used to play for hours! You might also try a bullhorn...KIDDING!
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
15 Nov 07
I'm trying to feed him less and throw out any he doesn't eat. But he just harasses me endlessly.
The bullhorn comment, OK, when we're both deaf, I won't hear the can anymore and he won't bother me. That's one way to look at it.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
15 Nov 07
He's on a urinary tract wet diet. That's part of the problem. Wet is like a couple hundred (if that) calories a can, but dry is about 400 calories-or more- a cup. But if he doesn't exercise, any amount can make him fat.
Constant feeling can lead to some seriously fat dogs and cats! At PetSmart, you would not believe how fat some of the dogs are, double wide! That's only good for trailers! That's why it's important to only feed them according to how much they're supposed to get for their ideal weight, but vary it a little if they get too thin or too heavy (may be more or less active than average animal at ideal weight).
Sounds like my cat, tries to herd me to food. I'm trying to be like steal, but right now, I'm just throwing him outdoors, but only when it's nice out. Yesterday, he was so cute, he was chasing leaves! A sunny day and moving leaves, guess any advise with moving objects is good. Take care
1 person likes this
@Monkeyrose (2840)
• Canada
13 Nov 07
Cats are nocturnal so they naturally sleep during the day and are up during the night. Cats are really only awake for 4 hrs of the day. They are definately sleepers. SOme more than others. Try catnip. ALso try rationing his food if you think he's eating too much. If all else fails take him to the vet for a checkup and ask them.
3 people like this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
13 Nov 07
My cat is sleeping day and night with only food breaks. Catnip is a good idea and I may take him to a vet because this is unusual for him. It's not until sub-zero weather that he usually hibernates like this (and I don't blame him!).
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
16 Nov 07
My son's cat plays in the morning and then he is asleep the rest of the day. I heard this is common. Has your cat got a scratching post or some toys, a ball of wool, tied up of course? How about something with catnip in it? Also since it is cold, his metabolism is slowing down. I do not know what to do, but it would help that you make sure there is only enough cat food around so he does not get fat.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
16 Nov 07
Wish I hadn't given best response away, nice job.
I'm trying different things and will include your ideas, I'll let you know if he comes around. He seemed more active today. Take care and thanks
@CraftyCorner (5600)
• United States
14 Nov 07
Instead of giving him his food in a bowl, give him his crunchies in a treat ball. He has to chase it around to get it to despense his food. It's a little messy but it's worth it for furry's health.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
15 Nov 07
I'm saving up for a treat ball. They're pretty expensive for a toy at full price, so I'm waiting for them to go on sale. I made something like a treatball, but he didn't seem to get it. He'd rather knock over bags of food. So now I need to get a container he can't knock over and eat until he's double-wide before I catch him. Thank you for the suggestion, I'll let you know if that does work out when I get him one. Thanks very much, I'm sure you've helped others today.
1 person likes this
