Cats Get Lonely Too:
What Cats Do When We're Away

In the comfort of our homes, some cats snooze away most of the day or spend their time listlessly gazing out the window for birds. Others amuse themselves and sometimes play with their toys. However, this is not always the case.

When left alone, other cats on the more anxious end of the spectrum have been known to vocalize excessively, groom themselves compulsively and even self-mutilate. To send a message to owners, cats may urinate on the bed, a favorite lounge chair or a peaceful pile of laundry—anything that has your scent. Newsflash: "I'm lonely! I'm scared!"

Cats can get downright crafty in their destructiveness. Climbing up the curtains, tearing up furniture, unrolling the toilet paper and scattering things off desks are not unusual shenanigans for a lonely, depressed cat.

Have no fear. You don't have to suddenly develop a mouse problem to keep your cat amused throughout the day. This is where being a crafty, strategic owner comes in. Although, please keep in mind that something entertaining to one cat may leave the other uninterested. Yawn.

Make certain your cat has access to a window so she can watch the birds. In fact, there are these wonderful cat sun rooms you can attach to your window to give your cat more of the feeling of being outside.
Try popping in kitty movies with nature scenes with small animals and birds. Playing music is also good for some cats.

Cats love three dimensional movement. Consider getting a cat tree or some climbing frames. Put them in strategic locations so that your cat can elevate herself and get a panoramic view of the house or of the world outside. If there are two cats, they can chase each other up and down the tree. Some trees are really sophisticated with tunnels and different tiers.

Place a bird feeder right outside your cat's favorite window. This may appeal to your cat's instinct to stalk birds. Window feeders provide your cat with some excitement at no risk to the birds.

It's important to remember that cats are intrinsically outdoor creatures that thrive off of the excitement of the wild life: the freedom to hunt, protect, mark and defend their territory, all the while interacting with their kind. The key to making our cats happy when we're away is to understand the cat's oldest need: being a predator. Even our most domesticated cats still have that old thirst for the chase running through their veins.
Cats also have a tendency to love fish tanks. Though they can't catch the fish, assuming you put the lid on tight, they get a perfect thrill from window hunting.

Challenge and entertain your cat by buying food puzzles. Put some kibble inside a Buster Cube, a toilet roll tube or ping pong balls with holes drilled in the sides. Cats intrinsically love the hunt; they love having to work for their food.

Automatic predatory games work great in our absence. Each year mechanical mice get fancier, but in the end, anything that puts our cat into chase mode will do the trick.

You can't go wrong with a flying bird cat toy. Just press the magic button and watch the plastic birdie fly right out of your cat's desperate grasp. Expandable cat tunnels are a great way to go. They're easy to store, easy to pull out and it can keep your cat occupied for hours.

However, when you get home from a long day, be sure to find 5-10 minutes of alone time with your cat—giving her the attention she loves—brushing, petting and,
of course, playing.