A cat makes a wonderful companion; they are full of mischief, love to play, and are comforting to cuddle up with. But many of us must go out to work to earn an income, which means your feline friend has many solitary hours to fill in while you are away. Most city cats live indoors, rarely moving outside the walls of their home. This situation can lead to boredom as they are confined to the home while their owners are away.
What will they do when you are not at home? This is a question that intrigues many owners. Do the cats just snooze in the sun? Are they getting into things they really shouldn’t? Do they roam from room to room, counting the minutes until you return?
To prevent your cat from being bored, anxious, or from getting into trouble and possibly hurting themselves, it pays to think ahead and provide your cat with some healthy and safe options to keep them busy during the day.
Why bother going to all this trouble. Doesn’t a cat entertain itself?
If you are a new owner, you will soon learn that cats are curious animals. They will go to extreme lengths to find out about something that has caught their attention. They love things that move when batted with a paw … such as the cord ties on your curtains or dangling cables. They are agile climbers and when you are not there to dissuade them, they will test your curtains, your shelving and they can quickly learn how to open doors and cupboards!
Then there are plastic bags, boxes of ‘stuff’, and containers of food on the bench top. Pillow attacks are fun, with both front and back paws getting into the action to disembowel the soft, white filling. They will investigate plants and chew the leaves. While this may seem a minor offence, be aware that many house plants are poisonous to pets, so this trick can end in disaster. In summary, a bored cat can create havoc.
Why do they get into mischief?
Although cats are independent by nature, they still love some attention and interaction. It is a lonely life to be shut in a house for 7-8 hours at a time.They are not doing these activities to upset you, it's just they need something to do. Like a bored teenager, they need to burn off that energy. If you can fulfill this need, your life will be a lot easier.

Start by providing a ‘watching’ platform
Your feline friend is a nosey little creature; they like to see what’s going on in the yard, what the neighbour is doing, meow at nearby birds, and observe what is going on around them. A cat tree that is placed in a strategic position will pay dividends. They will feel safe being up off the ground, and the clear view to the outside world will keep them enthralled for ages. Some cat trees have toys attached that your cat can play with, plus the platform makes an excellent snoozing place. If you don’t have a cat tree yet, check out our in depth guide. The beauty is that you can move the cat tree around (or have a couple for them to choose from) to give them variety.

Simple toys make the best fun!
Cats LOVE to play in boxes. They will squash themselves into any box and spend hours playing their cat games with it. You can cut holes in the side to allow your cat to squeeze through. Sturdy empty boxes or cardboard bags (never the plastic ones for safety sake) are cheap, hardy, and they can be picked up and put away when you come home. Invest in a few cat tunnels and leave them exploring to their heart's content. These are often easy to stack up and put away at the end of the day.
Any ball that they can bat around the room is a diversion, or a small soft ‘mouse’ toy filled with catnip will fill in a few hours. Be careful of leaving those feathered flick toys lying around, the long cord can get wrapped around your cat’s throat! They are for supervised fun only.

Leave a few delectable food treats
Your cat will love a cat treat to nibble on throughout the day, but make them work for their treats. Stuff a special cat treat dispenser with kibble and they will spend hours trying to get all the food out! A timed cat food dispenser feeder will prevent your cat from eating all day, as cats can eat to comfort themselves which can become a health/weight issue. Make sure they have access to plenty of fresh cool water to wash the treats down.