An increasing number of people are not allowing their cats to go outside. They see the wisdom of keeping their cats indoors since it increases their life spans and keeps them from becoming the victims of cars, other animals, diseases and thievery. Unfortunately many of these cats are left alone without stimulation or another pal to interact with while their human companions put in long hours at work and school every day. Some of these cats develop behavior problems, others become dangerously obese from not exercising. Most of these latchkey cats suffer from Bored Cat Syndrome!
It is impossible for most pet people to stay at home and entertain their cats all day. The remedy for Bored Cat Syndrome is enriching the home environment and giving the cats choices. There are a number of ways this can be accomplished.
Providing stimulating activities and choices for cats helps fight boredom and obesity. Cats need vertical territory for exercise as well as a way to demonstrate to everyone in their world their status. Tall cat trees with lots of shelves, carpeted shelving with runways around the perimeter of rooms and window perches help provide opportunities for exercise, play and status displays. The shelving should have many access points so that the cat has more choices and can't be cornered up high without an easy route off the shelves. Hours of entertainment and stimulation can be provided by positioning a tall cat tree next to a secure window and then hanging a bird feeder outside the window. The cat trees should be checked for stability. Adding a larger base or fastening the tree to a wall or the ceiling will keep it from falling over when a cat becomes over-exuberant. Wide, carpeted window perches can provide entertainment for cats, giving them the opportunity to scope out the neighborhood from the safety of their homes. Additionally, hanging a bird feeder outside the window with the perch adds variety and excitement to a cat's day.
Fight obesity and provide mental stimulation by creating scenarios where the cat works for his food. Encouraging cats to work for treats stimulates their minds; helps provide more exercise and can be fun. Treat balls inspire cats to chase and busy themselves, removing the treats from the balls. Pet-N-Play has a couple of treat balls commercially available, or treat balls can easily be made by taking a lattice ball and stuffing it with healthy treats or dry food. Many imaginative treat structures and balls can be built out of every-day items. Triangular pyramid type structures can be created from fastening empty cardboard toilet paper rolls together. The bottom level can have five rolls fastened together forming a pentagon; the next level up has four rolls. Each level is built with one less roll, finally forming a triangle shape. The structure should be fastened to a cardboard base for stability. Placing healthy treats or dry food in the openings will encourage cats to work for their treats. Taping up one end of a few of the rolls can make it a little more challenging for a cat to find and catch the treat. There are some interactive toys such as the Peek-A-Prize available that can function both as a toy and a way to work for food. The Peek-A-Prize interactive wooden box has holes in it where toys and treats can be placed. Puzzle boxes can be made out of a cardboard box by putting two to three holes in each side. The holes need to be just big enough for a paw to reach in, but not big enough for a head. It's very important that the cat can not get his head stuck in the box. Ideally, the size of the box should be no wider then two paw lengths. Another way to encourage cats to work for their food is to play hide and seek with healthy treats and/or dry food. The cat should be in another room while you hide his treats. The hiding places work best when scattered throughout the room, including behind sofas, up in cat trees, on shelves, etc. Place about one tablespoon of dry food or treats in each hiding place. Make a note where the treats are hidden, just in case the cat doesn't locate all of the special hiding places. The cat will run around searching for treats, getting some exercise and some mental stimulation. Let your imagination run wild!
Exercise wheels are enjoyed by many cats. There are a number of styles available commercially. A couple of links for commercially available wheels are: www.bengalspot.com, and www.bengalspot.com/catwheel.htm. 
Another option is to build them. There are many sites on the web that provide plans for building cat exercise wheels, including here that demonstrates one of his cats using the wheel. Richard is very inventive and has devised a self-rewarding system where the cat is rewarded with a treat after a set number of rotations by the wheel.
Televisions and cat-centric videos can help keep cats occupied and stimulated when they are left alone. These videos are available in different formats and are made specifically for cats. They feature the sights and sounds of birds, fish, mice and other animals. Some cats are fascinated by these videos; others give a passing glance and continue with their own agendas. Video Catnip and The Cat Sitter are two that are available for your cat's enjoyment. Leaving the television on can also provide entertainment for cats, though be aware of the channel that the TV is tuned to. Animal channels and shows featuring animals often televise the sounds and visuals of animals in pain. These sounds and images can cause distress to cats. Talk shows are good choices, as are home and garden shows.
Other accessories that can help cats through the long days of being alone are cat-centric toys and water fountains. Some cats love to play in running water. Drinkwell Pet Fountains provide filtered water and can be fun for cats to play in.
Many cats enjoy the company of other cats. Bringing another cat into the household can provide stimulation and someone to play with while the family is away. It is important to consider both cats' personalities before bringing a newcomer into the house. Some cats do not adjust to another cat in the household. Additionally, it is very important to take a long time when introducing a strange cat to the resident cat. Proper introductions can take months.
Enrichment should be continued when the family comes home from work and school. Cats need to be interacted with, not ignored by their families. Clicker training, grooming, kitty massages and play are a few examples of how cats and their people can interact and benefit from each other's company.
Clicker training stimulates cat's minds, and bonds them more to the people they share their lives with. There are hundreds of neat behaviors that cats can be trained and persuaded to do. A small sample of these behaviors includes shaking hands, turning lights on, sitting and fetching. Clicker training should be a fun activity for both the cats and their family. It is based on operant conditioning; behaviors are rewarded and reinforced with treats. To learn more about clicker training, visit Karen Pryor's site www.clickertraining.com.
Grooming and kitty massages are a great way to relax while simultaneously providing a calming experience for the cat. It's important to remember that all of these experiences need to feel good or be fun for the cat.
Thankfully, pet owners are demonstrating a growing concern for the health and well-being of their cat companions. By keeping them inside, they are increasing their life spans and decreasing sickness. Along with the physical health, the mental health of their cats should also be considered. Some cats do develop behavior issues due to boredom resulting from being alone all day. Environmental enrichment and interaction can mentally stimulate these latchkey cats, keeping them happy and decreasing the possibilities of their suffering from Bored Cat Syndrome.
