What do you do to keep your cat entertained when you are not home or around?

I have a problem with my cat. We can't let him sleep with us at night because he is CRAZY. He knocks things down, pushes the door open, knocks over anything on the nightstands, etc. So, we are now keeping our door shut, but at 6:00 in the morning he walks on over and sings to us (that's what dh calls it..in other words, he MEOWS until one of us has to get up and open the door). At this point, I literally have to "Tiger proof" my bedroom so that dh and I can fall back asleep. Tiger proofing means removing all objects from the nightstands, etc. So, what do you guys do to keep your cats entertained while you are not around?

Message edited 1/19/2006 8:58:07 AM.

Re: What do you do to keep your cat entertained when you are not home or around?

I have two cats, and it seems like their best distraction is eachother. They keep themselves busy and out of trouble. Is it possible to get your kitty a companion? If it isn't, how about some new toys, cat nip, maybe a kitty condo? When I come home, I try and tire my cats out. I let them chase a laser pointer, a remote control car, balls, etc, so they let us sleep.

Re: What do you do to keep your cat entertained when you are not home or around?

I am def. considering buying him a kitty condo. I think he would love it. The only toys that he likes to play with are those toy mice. I give him a handful of those to keep him busy, but by the time 6:00am rolls around..they end up under every piece of furniture we own.. and than he starts singing at our door..:

Re: What do you do to keep your cat entertained when you are not home or around?

Believe it or not what keeps a kitty from boredom and stir craziness is ANOTHER cat!!! You can try to kitty condo or those carpet standing toys that have balls hanging from them and also have sisel rope for him to scratch at. put catnip on it so he knows that is for him, if that doesnt work I would get him a friend. Good Luck. I have 5 cats and they ALL HAVE thier claws, and they have NEVER climbed the curtains, knocked down any of my knicknacks and I have many! they once in awhile scratch at the couches but as soon as I go ah they stop and go to their post and when Im not home I just move furniture over to block those areas. Also the best thing is they sleep on thier condo its so cute, my is huge its 8 feet tall with 5 beds on it, they love it!

Re: What do you do to keep your cat entertained when you are not home or around?

Message edited 1/19/2006 10:35:54 AM.

Re: What do you do to keep your cat entertained when you are not home or around?

I got mine from ebay it cost like 250.00 but they have different sizes, if I was to get what I got in a store forget it, it would have cost me 350 plus, its a cat tree with a closed lil h ouse and beds with sisel rope and it is very sturdy! Its really heavy too. its soooo worth every penny!

Re: What do you do to keep your cat entertained when you are not home or around?

I have two cats and they serenade us every morning at 6. My best advice is to tire them out at night so they sleep later. We blow bubbles around the house...the cats seem to chase them all over!

Re: What do you do to keep your cat entertained when you are not home or around?

We have 3 cats, they keep themselves entertained. They know where their basket of "toys" are as well. They love sitting in the windows, or staring at the fish tank.

Re: What do you do to keep your cat entertained when you are not home or around?

We only have 1 cat (we always consider getting another, but she's "mostly" so good, we're afraid another cat might spoil the mix. ) But, I really think she entertains herself when we're not around by sleeping. It seems no matter when we come home, she almost always seems to be stretching like she just woke up. Lazy butt!!! My life should be so uncomplicated!!

Re: What do you do to keep your cat entertained when you are not home or around?

from my experience our cat makes all these lovely noises in the morning when she is hungry... we usually "throw her out" of the bedroom and she will give us few more hours of sleep or I have to get up and feed her, but sometimes that backfires and she wants to play

Message edited 1/19/2006 12:54:51 PM.

Re: What do you do to keep your cat entertained when you are not home or around?

Posted by oneday

But, I really think she entertains herself when we're not around by sleeping. It seems no matter when we come home, she almost always seems to be stretching like she just woke up. Lazy butt!!! My life should be so uncomplicated!!

Message edited 1/19/2006 4:02:05 PM.

Re: What do you do to keep your cat entertained when you are not home or around?

Posted by FeliciaDP

Posted by oneday

But, I really think she entertains herself when we're not around by sleeping. It seems no matter when we come home, she almost always seems to be stretching like she just woke up. Lazy butt!!! My life should be so uncomplicated!!

My cat is the EXACT same way!
Mia is so self-sufficient.. though she has her moments when she is sooooo needy, though not really in a rambuctious/playful way.. more like a "pet me/cuddle with me/pay attention to me" sort of way.. generally she sleeps CONSTANTLY so we really consider ourselves lucky! On the weekends, we sleep in and she might just jump on the bed to cuddle in between us or head-butt us (means she wants to be petted) but overall she is a really really good cat

I will say that when she was a kitten, she was up ALLL Night .. that really was a test... but now that she is old lady of 2 she is really sooo calm, laid back and loveable

Re: What do you do to keep your cat entertained when you are not home or around?

Jo - my only advice is - get a 2nd cat!!! I swear!!! We only had Lincoln for a few months and he was the biggest brat - then we brought home TJ and he had a playmate...and he settled down!!

Re: What do you do to keep your cat entertained when you are not home or around?

We got a 2nd cat! Although, when we're out, the cats are usually sleeping anyway. Scratching posts are good, (we also have a Turbo Scratcher, it has a scratchable center with a ball that can be swatted in a circular track around the scratching part), but our guys seem to prefer to make their own "toys" out of things they find around the house.

How old is your kitty? If he's still a kitten, he should calm down a bit when he gets older. (Our youngest cat was an absolute terror as a kitten, but he grew out of it!)

Good luck!!

Re: What do you do to keep your cat entertained when you are not home or around?

I don't think I can get a second cat. One is enough for both of us right now. But, I just bought him a Kitty condo and he loves it!!

Thanks for all of the helpful suggestions.

Re: What do you do to keep your cat entertained when you are not home or around?

Posted by oneday

We only have 1 cat (we always consider getting another, but she's "mostly" so good, we're afraid another cat might spoil the mix. ) But, I really think she entertains herself when we're not around by sleeping. It seems no matter when we come home, she almost always seems to be stretching like she just woke up. Lazy butt!!! My life should be so uncomplicated!!

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Message edited 1/21/2006 11:34:12 PM.

Re: What do you do to keep your cat entertained when you are not home or around?

Posted by lvdolphins

Posted by oneday

We only have 1 cat (we always consider getting another, but she's "mostly" so good, we're afraid another cat might spoil the mix. ) But, I really think she entertains herself when we're not around by sleeping. It seems no matter when we come home, she almost always seems to be stretching like she just woke up. Lazy butt!!! My life should be so uncomplicated!!

My cat is the same way! He will meow for maybe 5 mins. in the AM and when he sees we aren't coming out of the bedroom yet, he will stop. He does lay in the hallway though, until we come out.
I think he entertains himself..today he decided to tire himself out by chasing his tail so, I found his toys " a bunch of balls" and he chased them around.
I'd love to get another cat, but, I think "simba" would be upset. He was born @ my parents house and was always the cat to "keep to himself"..we took him when we moved into our house last summer! He's a big orange mush!
ETA: Plz excuse the "green eyes"..LOL

Re: What do you do to keep your cat entertained when you are not home or around?

LOL, my Tigger is the same color too!!

He is almost 5, and is still bad...at 6:15 EVERY morning, he is at the door crying...we keep our door closed too...

for some reason he keeps jumping on my computer tower, and knocking out the plug...he also wants you to hold him, pet him, etc..and then he BITES!

Hes got a screw loose for sure...altho he has calmed down a tiny bit in the past 5 years, but hes still bad....

I think it might be because he is an indoor cat...is everyone else's an indoor cat?

Re: What do you do to keep your cat entertained when you are not home or around?

Posted by Holly

LOL, my Tigger is the same color too!!

He is almost 5, and is still bad...at 6:15 EVERY morning, he is at the door crying...we keep our door closed too...

for some reason he keeps jumping on my computer tower, and knocking out the plug...he also wants you to hold him, pet him, etc..and then he BITES!

Hes got a screw loose for sure...altho he has calmed down a tiny bit in the past 5 years, but hes still bad....

I think it might be because he is an indoor cat...is everyone else's an indoor cat?

Re: What do you do to keep your cat entertained when you are not home or around?

Posted by Holly

LOL, my Tigger is the same color too!!


for some reason he keeps jumping on my computer tower, and knocking out the plug...he also wants you to hold him, pet him, etc..and then he BITES!




Oh greeeeeeeeaaattt!! sounds like we have the same cat...I call mine TIGER THE TERROR!!! So, basically, my cat is never going to grow out of his singing...he is an indoor cat also!

Message edited 1/23/2006 11:13:40 AM.

Re: What do you do to keep your cat entertained when you are not home or around?

Posted by jozieb0925

Posted by Holly

LOL, my Tigger is the same color too!!


for some reason he keeps jumping on my computer tower, and knocking out the plug...he also wants you to hold him, pet him, etc..and then he BITES!




Oh greeeeeeeeaaattt!! sounds like we have the same cat...I call mine TIGER THE TERROR!!! So, basically, my cat is never going to grow out of his singing...he is an indoor cat also!

we call ours Tigger the Terror!!!!!!! We always have!!!

And ours always tries to dash out teh door when we open it...its nuts...and he knocks his head angainst anythig that has been outside..including shoes

Re: What do you do to keep your cat entertained when you are not home or around?

Cardboard boxes are great for them. Get a few at your local drug or grocery store. My cats jump in and out of them, on top of them.

Cats love change. Move their beds and toys around every 2 - 3 days.