cat laying on floor playing with a feather toy — **Give Your Senior Cat a Happy Life**

*Your senior cat needs to have fun too!*

Usually, it happens gradually. Perhaps, it happens so gradually that it takes a long time for you to notice that it’s happening.

You’re used to a kitty that gets the zoomies, scales tall furniture and pounces on anything that moves.

Slowly, that cat that used to leap up on a bookcase in a single bound decides that a hop into that nearby armchair before jumping to the bookcase is safer. Then, one day, the armchair seems good enough.

Little catnaps turn into extended snooze fests. They may even wake up a little grumpy and a little stiff.

Your cat is getting older. But that doesn’t mean that they don’t need fun activities. Senior cats need stimulation, exercise, and enrichment as much as ever, maybe even more.

So, what are the best toys and activities for your senior cat to keep them active, healthy, and happy? Let’s talk about it.

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cat swatting at toys in a cardboard box — **The Cardboard Treasure Chest**

*A simple cardboard box filled with crumpled paper balls, strings, feathers, toys, and treats can give your cat a chance to explore, forage, and hunt in one small space.*

Why Your Senior Cat Needs to Play

Though your senior kitty may seem content to just nap the day away, there are several great reasons to spend some time to keep them active.

Physical Activity

As they become less active, many cats will struggle with weight management. Obesity in cats can put stress on their joints and can cause secondary conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.

Physical activity, including low impact activities and gentle stretching can also lubricate your cat’s joints for increased flexibility to ward off the effects of arthritis.

On the other side of the coin, cats may experience muscle atrophy and lose muscle mass or weight, due to inactivity.

There can be other causes for weight loss, especially if it’s sudden, so a trip to the vet is a good idea to pinpoint the cause.

Mental Stimulation

Keeping your cat’s mind enriched is just as important as keeping them physically active.

Puzzle toys and treat-dispensing toys stimulate your cat’s brain and increase cognitive function, preventing boredom and feline dementia.

Stress Relief and Emotional Security

Bonding with your senior cat over games and toys can provide stress relief and reduce anxiety and depression.

For your kitty, not just you!

But, yes, you can both reap the rewards.

Cat laying on a blanket while chewing on the toy from a cat wand — **Gotcha!**

*When playing with your senior cat, allow them to play at their own pace and at their own level. If that means lying down to play, roll with it.*

Meeting the Instinctual Needs of Your Cat

While your cat may lead a pampered life, with no need to track and hunt for their next meal, a cat has a highly developed instinct to do just that.

That instinct doesn’t go away just because your cat is a senior.

An older cat still needs the stimulation and excitement of the hunt.

But they may not have the mobility, the senses, or the stamina to jump and pounce.

Playing with your cat in their senior years means giving them all the opportunities to be active without causing them pain or injury.

The days of chasing a laser light half way up your wall may be over but there’s plenty of stimulating and entertaining toys to keep a senior cat entertained.

Low impact exercise including light stretching and mentally stimulating puzzle toys can keep your cat feeling strong and fit for years to come.

10 Toys to Keep Your Senior Cat Active and Happy

Cat Ball Track Toy- A stationary toy with balls in stacked circular tracks. Your cat can swat the balls and it stays in the tracks so your senior kitty doesn’t have to chase it across the room!
Cardboard Box Treasure Chest- Use a shallow cardboard box and put in some crumpled paper balls, catnip mice, treats, and other toys to entice your cat to forage and hunt for their treats.
Plush Cat Kicker Toy- A cat kicker toy filled with catnip or silvervine can stimulate your cat, allowing them to attack the toy while lying down.
Scent Work Games- If your cat is super treat motivated, put several high value treats such as plates with small portions of lickable cat treats, catnip or small liver bites scattered throughout the room for your cat to hunt and enjoy.
Interactive Hide-and-Seek Toy- This toy has dual motors, controlling random rotation of butterfly above the toy and plush tail accessories at the bottom.
The animal tail-shaped plush hides under the cover cloth, rotating irregularly to appear/disappear, creating a hide-and-seek game.
It mimics real prey, bringing unpredictable chases to stimulate the cat’s brain and senses. The top has an auto-rotating butterfly that rotates, pauses or swings to simulate real flight.
Bird Feeders and Bird Baths- If you have a garden or yard and a furry bird lover, you can set up a bird feeder or bird bath close enough so your cat can sit at a window and watch.
Just make certain the window has a curtain or blind or stickers to keep the birds from flying into the window!
Cat Wand Toy- These toys are fun because you can sit comfortably and still play with your cat. Keep the ribbons or strings low along the ground so Kitty doesn’t jump or strain to reach them.
Lick Mat- This is another great toy for your treat motivated cat. Different treats such as wet food, lickable treats, pureed pumpkin, or lactose-free plain yogurt can be spread on the mat, providing mental stimulation and a stress release.
Silvervine Powder- Silvervine is made from dried, ground gall fruit. It’s a safe and natural cat attractant.
You can get it in powder form that can be sprinkled on the floor, on a scratching post, or put in toys.
You can get Silvervine sticks as well but you will need to keep an eye on your cat to make sure the stick doesn’t splinter or your cat doesn’t ingest large chunks.
Catnip Spray -You can use catnip in the dried leaf form or, as a cleaner option, get a spray to spritz on their toys or scratching posts to encourage Kitty to play.

Cat sitting comfortably on a cabinet while looking through a window — **A Perch with a View**

*If your senior cat loves to sit in a window and watch the world, give them a comfy spot to stretch out and enjoy.*

Tips to Make Your Senior Cat Want to Play and Enjoy Life

When it’s time to play with your senior cat, you should keep a few things in mind for your cat’s comfort:

Recognize your cat’s limits if they have health challenges such as stability issues, decreased endurance, trouble climbing or descending stairs, limited jumping abilities, poor eyesight, or scent, or hearing.
You need to encourage them to stay active without straining them.
Play on a rug, blanket, or other cushioned and non-slip surface.
Avoid getting your cat over-excited or over-stimulated so they don’t injure themselves.
If you’re playing with a wand toy, keep the toy low so your cat doesn’t have to jump to catch it.
Rotate your toys often to prevent boredom. You may need to work a little harder to ensure your senior enjoys their playtime so bringing out new toys and using catnip or silvervine to attract and stimulate your kitty can entice them to play more.
Respect your senior cat’s boundaries. If they’re having a bad day and don’t feel up to a play session, give it a rest.
Test to see if they would like petting instead and that may stimulate them enough to play. If not, it’s still a bonding moment you can share.
If your cat enjoys watching birds or other animals from a window, give them a comfortable space to relax with comfortable rest area and easy ways to climb gently instead of leaping to a narrow windowsill.
A stool or chair next to a small table with a cat bed or windowsill hammock can make it easily accessible for your senior kitty.

Keeping Your Senior Cat Active and Happy