As far as getting your dog some exercise goes, it’s usually a cinch. Go for a walk, jog through the park, toss a tennis ball, throw a Frisbee—everyone knows how to get a pup moving. But what about your cat? Pet parents are often at a loss when it comes to cat exercise.
Obesity in cats leads to diabetes and most of the same problems that accompany obesity in people, says Dr. Shelby Neely, VMD, associate veterinarian at Banfield Pet Hospital in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania.
"Combined with the right diet, exercise can help your cat stay slim and avoid these health problems, leading to a happier cat and a longer, healthier life," she says.
Fortunately, there’s no shortage of ways to encourage your cat to exercise. Here are 20 ways to keep your kitty active.
20 Cat Exercise Ideas
1Laser Pointers
Behold, the holy grail of cat toys. Laser pointers, like Ethical Pet’s Laser Exerciser, can be a great way to get your cat moving. PetSafe’s Bolt interactive laser toy does the work for you.
However, make sure the game concludes with your cat being able to catch his “prey.”
“When playing with laser pointers, a vigorous laser session needs to end with a little play with a similar toy that has something attached that the cat can actually get his paws on,” says Dr. Neely. “Otherwise, they are left very frustrated.”
2Leash Training
Your dog enjoys a stroll around the neighborhood—and given the opportunity, your cat may, too.
“You can take your cat for walks on a leash,” says Dr. Neely. “It’s very important to use a harness, not just a collar, and to let your cat get accustomed to short periods of time wearing the harness indoors before going outside.”
PetSafe’s Come With Me harness and bungee cat leash, for example, is designed to give you control while keeping your cat comfortable.
3Bird Feeders and Aquariums
An interesting, enriching environment naturally leads to exercise—and there’s nothing more interesting to a cat than watching birds and fish in their natural habitats.
“Cats need stimulation,” says Dr. Neely. “This includes multiple places to jump and climb, bird feeders [to watch] outside windows, aquariums to view and even videos made especially for cats that feature birds, fish, and other moving things that catch a cat’s interest.”
Make viewing the outside world easier with a cat window seat, like Coziwow Cat Window Perch, or by placing a cat tree in front of the window.
If you opt for real-deal animals over TV versions, make sure that all creatures are safely behind glass and out of your cat’s reach.
4Catnip
For kitties who respond to catnip, the plant can be a great way to kick playtime into high gear. Grow your own or look for cat toys stuffed with the good stuff.
5Clicker Training
Clicker training isn’t just for dogs. Not only do cats respond to the method, but they can learn some pretty impressive tricks, including obstacle courses.
“I had a cat who was 9 years old, who never had exposure to training, and I trained him to ride a skateboard,” says Ingrid Johnson, certified cat behavior consultant. “We don’t give cats enough credit.”
6Catios
Although completely screened in, “catios” provide cats with an engaging, stimulating taste of outdoor life.
“They can experience the seasons, but they’re safe,” says Johnson, who custom-built her own catio. “It can be a pretty exciting place for a cat to be.”
7Cat Puzzle Toys
Not only do food puzzles and foraging games like the KONG Active Treat Ball toy prevent cats from eating too quickly, but they turn mealtime into exercise time.
8Feather Toys
Cats love feather toys because cats love birds. With that in mind, try to think like a bird.
“Interactive play is really important,” says Johnson. “You can’t just dangle a feather toy in front of your cat’s face—you have to be the prey, be the bird. Let it flutter, let it tumble across the floor.”
Pet Fit For Life’s 2 Feather Wand comes with two feathery attachments, like the name implies, and a detachable bell to help keep her interested.
9String
As cliché as it is, a ball of yarn is cat toy gold—as long as you ensure your cat doesn't chew or swallow it.
“The old standby that cats cannot seem to resist is a string pulled along the floor,” says Susan Bulanda, a certified canine and feline behavior consultant.
For an engaging play session, make sure you dangle the string and move it across the floor as if it’s “alive” or a snake.
Additionally, make sure you put away the string once you’re done playing with it, and make sure your cat is never left alone with a string toy. Swallowing the string could cause serious problems.
10Hidden Treats
Cats are natural hunters, and hiding treats provides exercise and a sense of adventure.
“Hide them in different places each time and check to see that the cat found them,” says Bulanda. “Since cats are smart and observant, don’t let the cat see where you hide the treats.”
11Hidden Toys
Just like treats, cats want to stalk their toys.
“A basket of cat toys looks fun, but from the cat’s point of view, the basket is full of dead prey,” says Suzanne Denk, animal enrichment specialist at Animal Friends, a non-profit companion animal resource center. “Toys should be hidden so the cat can discover the toy in the course of the day. Toys should rotated so they stay new and interesting. ”
12Bubbles
Fun to pop and chase, bubbles are a natural but often-overlooked cat toy that provide visual stimulation, says Denk.
They even make catnip-infused bubbles for added fun. SmartyKat’s Bubble Nip Catnip, for example, are just like soap bubbles, but they’re spiked with catnip oil.
13Vertical Space
Have a climber? Save your curtains by providing your cat with vertical space to explore.
“Cats enjoy any perch that expands their territory,” says Denk. “Cat trees are ideal but can be expensive. Provide a wall shelf with a pillow, a raised box or a basket on top of a cabinet.”
14Cat Trees
If a cat tree is in the budget, the right one can help keep your kitty entertained and fit.
“A good cat tree reaches from floor to ceiling, does not wobble and has several different materials on it for scratching as well as climbing,” says certified animal behavior consultant Debbie Winkler.
Pro tip: Place cat trees near a window for optimal bird watching.
15Toilet Paper Roll Toys
Cats don’t just love unraveling toilet paper—the empty rolls are tempting toys, as well.
Fray the ends of the cardboard roll with scissors and it’s a blast to bat around (assuming you’re a cat, of course).
16Furry Fake Mice
The furry mouse toys you can pick up at almost any pet store are perennial favorites for a reason.
“Can a toy substitute for a mouse? No. It doesn’t smell right, it doesn’t make the right noise, and its movements aren’t right,” says author and behavior consultant Celia Haddon.
Still, she highly recommends the furry fake mice as a satisfying alternative—not only is the texture appealing, but they’re lightweight enough to be batted around like prey.
17Household Items
Chances are your kitchen junk drawer is full of potential.
Household items that double as cat toys include boxes, paper bags, stuffed animals, ping pong balls, a paper towel or toilet paper roll and old cat toys.
18Rod Toys
“Most cats get excited by hunting and will enjoy rod toys with feathers or fur mice,” says feline behavior consultant Anita Kelsey. “Even older cats or cats that appear not to play can be motivated by seeing the right ‘hunting’ toy.”
19Cat Wheels
As crazy as a cat exercise wheel sounds, some friskier felines love them.
Kelsey recommends them for clients who have agile, high-energy cats—and, of course, the space to accommodate a cat wheel.
20Electronic Toys
Many cats love the high-energy play session that an electronic toy can provide, Kelsey says.
The SmartyKat Hot Pursuit Electronic Concealed Motion Cat Toy has a concealed wand that spins around the base unpredictably as your cat waits for a chance to pounce.
Just make sure to schedule interactive playtime with your kitty, too—there’s no substitute for you!
More ways to keep kitty active:
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