10 MIND GAMES THAT WILL MAKE YOUR CAT SMARTER

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1 10 MIND GAMES THAT WILL MAKE YOUR CAT SMARTER

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3 Having a cat is great, but having a smart cat is more fun. As a cat grows older, their level of activity tends to decline and subsequently, their cognitive function deteriorates. The good news is that there s something you can do to preserve your cat s mental health. Experts advice engaging the feline in challenging activities to stimulate their brains. Here are 10 games that will make your cat smarter.

4 1. Interactive Puzzle For this game, you'll need an old shoebox, your cat's favorite toys, and a few treats. Use an X-acto knife to cut a variety of different-size holes into the shoebox. Next, fill the shoebox with cat toys, catnip, and treats. Close the box, using a bit of tape to secure the lid. Finally, put the box on the ground next to your cat and watch as she works to free the goodies inside!

5 2. Food Puzzles Food puzzles can go a long way towards improving your cat s I.Q. They come in a wide range of shapes, sizes and prices, but you can also make your own as a DIY project. The idea is to make your cat exercise his/her mind and body before receiving a treat. An excellent example is The Kong. These are toys with a hollow intrusion in the middle that are stuffed with food treats. They have been around for long and involve placing a rawhide right in the middle of the hollow part with a few inches protruding out, and then filling the remaining section with cat food.

6 3. Feather and String This game is perfect for cats with a lot of energy. You can either purchase a toy wand, or make a DIY wand using a stick, a string, and a feather or bell. Wave the wand above your kitty's head and entice her to jump up and catch the flying object. Spice things up by pulling the wand slowly away from your cat's view and watch as she pounces at it around corners and under furniture. Make sure to choose an open room with lots of space to bounce around. You don't want your kitten to run into valuable objects!

7 4. Water games While your cat may not be a good swimmer, most are fascinated by water. You can take advantage of this to improve your cat s cognitive intelligence. Fill up a bathroom sink and then drop marbles to the bottom. Add ping pong balls at the top or kids inflatable wind up toys. The idea is to have your cat strive to get the marbles out of the water while still having a good time.

8 5. Fetch Contrary to popular belief, fetch is not just for dogs. Games like fetch bring out your cat's natural instinct to catch prey. Play fetch with your kitten by tossing a catnip-filled toy across the floor. Be sure to choose a toy that you can easily throw across the room. You'll also want a toy that is easy for your kitty to carry in her mouth. Watch as your cat chases after the toy, giving a few kitty kicks with her hind legs when she finally captures her prize. You'll be surprised to see that your feline friend will often bring the toy back to you! Reinforce this behavior with petting and praise or treats.

9 6. Hide-and-Seek Games Cats love hide and seek games, and can be very good at it. They know how to squeeze into tight spaces, and use their natural hunting instincts to hide. However, you need to reassure your cat that what you are doing is fun. You will want to let them know you are still looking for them, or call to them from your hiding position. Start by hiding in a designated place, and then call the cat to come find you. Give it 5 minutes, and then stop the game. The more you communicate, the faster he/she will understand your meaning. Sneak up on it, and then make a fuss over finding him/her. They ll enjoy the attention.

10 7. Paper Bag Great news for cat owners on a budget: You don't need a fancy three-level scratching post to make your kitty happy. You can easily turn an empty, brown-paper shopping bag into one of your cat's favorite toys. Lay the bag on its side so your cat can crawl inside. Then, scratch and poke the sides of the bag while your kitten bats at the movements and noises from the inside.

11 8. Obstacle Courses Putting your cat through hoops is fun and can be great for your cat. It is one of the best ways to improve their agility. One good way to nurture this ability is through agility competitions. The only quandary is that pacing from one point to the other and dealing with the hustle of the competitions can be nail-biting for a not-so-outgoing cat. If your cat has a tendency to freak out when attending a competition, it is advisable to build your own obstacle course at home instead of pushing the issue.

12 9. Tablet Games If you own a tablet, you have access to hundreds of games made just for your kitty! Here are three to get you started. d Games for Cats, Free for ipad: The Games for Cats app features three different activities. The laser pointer game is free and displays a bouncing red light for your cat to chase. If your cat is able to hit it, she receives a point. Two additional games are available after a $1.99 in-app purchase for the full version. These two games are similar to the laser pointer game, but they feature a mouse and a butterfly for your kitten to play with instead of a laser. If you decide to upgrade, you can even control the pointer, mouse, or butterfly using your iphone.

13 9. Tablet Games d Paint for Cats, $1.99 for ipad: Paint for Cats is exactly what you think it is: a game that allows your feline to play with (digital) paint. With 10 different color palettes to choose from, your cat might turn into a bona fide ipad artist before you know it! d Friskies Jitterbug, Free for ipad, iphone, ipod touch: Friskies JitterBug is a free universal app in which tons of creepy insects crawl all over the screen. The goal is to hit the bugs during five, 15-second rounds. You also can put the game into "endless mode" so your kitten isn't restricted by a time limit.

14 10. Supervised outdoor time Instead of keeping your cat indoors all the time, you can stimulate their brain with a little outdoor time in an outdoor enclosure. This can be in the form of stroller walks, a fenced yard under supervision, an outdoor enclosure such as a catio, or a closed-in porch. You can even take the cat in front of a tree with plenty of squirrel activity. Not only will this enrich the cat s mental health, but it will also give them the chance to experience the seasons outdoor.

15 Finally: If you have a kitten, now is the time to begin mental fitness training and maintain it as she grows so that you ll increase her chances of slowing the progression of age-related brain issues later in life. If your cat is already a feline senior citizen, keep her brain active to help slow the deterioration and improve her quality of life. She may not be able to manage the more difficult puzzle feeders but she may enjoy the more basic ones or even just having a schedule of twice daily interactive play sessions. The key to success is to maintain the routine.

16 If you have any particular questions about cat health, adoption and training tips, please let us know. You can reach us and we d be happy to help :)