ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT FOR DOMESTIC CATS
The increase in the number of cats as companion animals is a worldwide phenomenon. Also, who can resist the charm of these cats? But before bringing one to your home, it is important to understand the basic needs of these animals, in order to provide better well-being for them and a better conviviality with us.
An animal in perfect well-being should be free from hunger and thirst, free from discomfort, free from pain, fear and stress, insults and diseases, as well as being free to express its natural behaviors. Can we provide all this for our cats?
Environmental enrichment requires dedication and consists of adding one or more elements to a relatively poor environment in order to improve the physical and psychological well-being of the animals that live there. Cats that live in poor conditions of well-being can present alterations of natural behaviors, besides harming their development and even cause possible diseases.
The physical environment is a critical factor for animal well-being. In nature, cats have the opportunity to climb, jump and seek comfort in high and safe places. In closed and restricted environments, we need to use and abuse our imagination to provide them with situations similar to those mentioned above.
Shelving, preferably in quiet places, is a good and simple option. In addition to stimulating the practice of physical exercises, they provide the cats with an opportunity for rest and observation with safety. The use of boxes is also interesting, helping in the diversification of the space and offering a place for the animal to play, rest and hide.
The addition of scratching post allows the animal to keep the nails trimmed and mark territory (behaviors that are observed in nature), avoiding that the furniture of the house is used for this purpose. If the cat is not interested in the scratching post, just use the famous herb (not the one you're thinking of). CatNip is a natural herb that attracts and stimulates felines. Just put a little of it in the scratching post, which will make your pussy forget the gorgeous upholstery of your sofa.
What about feeding your cat? Does it please your natural eating behavior? Free-living cats get food in small amounts throughout the day. So it is interesting to spread pots of food with small amounts of feed through the house. Water pots can also be scattered in the environment and preferably left away from the food pots. This is because in nature, cats hunt and seek water at different times; therefore, the presence of water near the food containers can cause the smaller quantities to be swallowed. The number of suitable feeders and drinkers in one environment is equal to the number of cats plus one.
Environmental enrichment of felines results in reduced stress, improved well-being, physical fitness, and interaction with other individuals in home. How about trying in your house, too?
By : Dr. Simone Amitay - Veterinarian
