(BPT) - Love your feline family member but feel stretched thin juggling work, family, and life? Don't worry - you can still give your cat the love and attention they deserve, even on your busiest days.
With just a few adjustments and handy tricks, you can ensure you are able to support your cats' needs around your busy day. Check out these four easy tips from Purina pet behaviorist Dr. Miles Bensky to keep your pets happy and healthy without adding to your busy schedule.
1. Create a Routine
A consistent routine creates a happier household for you and your cat as the foundation for a cat-friendly household.
"Just like humans, cats thrive on predictability. Knowing when they get to eat and play can help reduce their stress," says Bensky. "Take a look at your daily schedule and see how you can seamlessly integrate your cat's needs."
Habit stacking is a simple way to set a routine for your cat and include them in your own. Typical habit stacking works by attaching a new habit to an existing one. For example, you could time your cat's meals to coincide with your own, ensuring everyone gets fed at the same time.
If you've built in time to drink coffee and make your to-do list in the morning or have a wind-down hour at night, use that time to play with your cat.
2. Stay on Top of Litter Box Maintenance
"Maintaining a clean litter box is one of the most important things you can do for your cat," says Bensky. "Cats like clean, and if a box isn't tended to, your cat may avoid it, resulting in more accidents outside the litterbox, or potential health issues. "
To make the litter box chore as easy as possible, try a self-cleaning litterbox like Litter-Robot® by Whisker, featuring The Perfect Cycle™ with Tidy Cats Designed for Litter-Robot - both created to simplify life for busy cat owners. Litter-Robot uses patented sifting technology to remove cat waste, depositing the clumps into a drawer below the globe. It leaves a fresh bed of litter every time it cycles, so your cat always has a clean place to go.
Tidy Cats Designed for Litter-Robot offers hard and fast clumping for better sifting, motion activated scent that provides a fresh, clean boost with each cycle, and powerful odor control technology to minimize odors in the waste drawer.
During The Perfect Cycle™, Litter-Robot uses advanced sifting technology to automatically separate the dirty clumps from the clean Tidy Cats Designed for Litter-Robot litter. As a result, your cat companions enjoy a consistently clean and odor-free environment, a key factor in keeping them happy and healthy.
3. Make Your Cat Your Co-Worker
Does your cat sit in front of your monitor or lie down on your keyboard while you work from home? They're not trying to prevent you from working!
"If your cat is seeking you out during work hours it's because they crave companionship and want to be part of whatever you're doing," says Bensky. "To keep your feline co-worker happy while staying on task, try placing a box near or on your desk to give your cat their own workspace. Reinforcing your cat with treats or some play when they use this spot encourages them to seek it out more often, helping it become their go-to place."
Another way to keep the boss happy? If you work near a window, consider setting up a bird feeder or birdhouse outside. Your cat can sit and watch on the windowsill while you prepare your notes for your next meeting.
"Bird watching is an enriching activity for cats, it keeps them entertained so you can get some work done, and it's mentally stimulating for them," explains Bensky.
4. Keep Them Occupied with Fun Activities
Keeping your cat entertained while you're busy can be a challenge, but the right tools can help ensure they stay happy and active.
Cats love to scratch, so consider getting a post or cat-scratching furniture that both you and your cat will enjoy. In addition to keeping them entertained, scratchers cater to their natural instincts and soak up the cat's scent, making them feel even more at home.
Puzzle toys that dispense treats can be an excellent way to keep your cat engaged and mentally stimulated throughout the day, providing both entertainment and enrichment.
Cats also love to climb and jump, which is part of what makes them playful and lovable. Set up a human-approved vertical play space for your cat, which could include cat trees, special cat shelves or cat walkways. Just be sure to test them after installation to ensure they're safe for your cat and can hold their weight.
"Every cat is unique so you may need to experiment with options to find the perfect fit for your cat's needs," says Bensky. "Keeping them entertained ensures they stay active while you focus on your to-do list."
By implementing these four tips, you can balance your busy schedule with your cat's well-being, ensuring plenty of love and playtime for years to come.