Should You Spend More Time With Your Cats in Winter? Vet-Approved Indoor Enrichment Ideas

For many people, winter is the perfect time of year to stay inside, where it’s cozy and warm. These cold months of the year can be particularly rough for some folks and even for our pets. If you have an outdoor cat or a catio for your indoor kitty, they may not take so well to being cooped up indoors all day. So, should you spend more time with your cats to help pass these long and cold days a little faster? It depends on your kitty and their personality.

Read on to learn more.

Should Cats Get More Attention in the Winter?

When the weather gets colder, your kitty will likely prefer spending most of their time indoors where it’s cozy and warm. They may like snuggling up for a good, long nap on a warm blanket instead of participating in play and getting their required physical activity in. You must provide them with the entertainment they need to ensure they’re getting the mental and physical stimulation they require to stay happy and healthy. Inactivity can lead to weight gain, which can predispose them to health conditions, such as joint issues, diabetes, urinary tract disorders, or impairments to cardiovascular health.

Of course, not all cats will be receptive to receiving more attention during the winter. If your cat prefers to be alone and not fussed over too much, don’t go overboard with your attention-giving. Offer play sessions throughout the day, but don’t force them into it.

Young adults and kittens are likely to get bored from being indoors for longer than usual, and they will certainly need more of your attention and environmental enrichment to keep them occupied.

What Activities Should I Do With My Cat in the Winter?

Winter is a great time to ensure your home is set up to be an enriching and cat-friendly space for your feline family members.

1. Invest in Different Types of Toys

Cats will derive much enrichment from having access to many different types of toys. Visit your local pet store and invest in the following types of toys:

• Toys that replicate hunting
• Toys for cats to play with on their own
• Electronic cat toys
• Kicker toys
• Catnip toys

Our Favorite Cat Toys Right Now

Here are a some of our favorite toys, each catering to a variety of senses and play preferences. Which one will your feline fancy? 

Image	Product	Details
	Hepper Catnip Mice Toy Set	Contains catnip Kitten safe Encourages self-play	Check Price
	Hepper Furball Set	Set Added bells Satisfies prey instinct	Check Price

At Catster, we've admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!

2. Get a Scratching Post (or Two!)

If you don’t already have scratching posts in your home, now’s the perfect time to buy one. Scratching is a natural behavior all cats engage in, and without a dedicated place to do so, your kitty may turn to your furniture or walls. Scratching helps cats express emotions, sharpen their claws, stretch, and mark objects with their scent.

Our recommendation

Hepper Hi-Lo Cardboard Cat Scratcher with Real Wood & Metal Frame

• Premium Materials - Hepper's cardboard scratcher is made with dense, B-flute cardboard, and a metal core. Encased in a 1/2" plywood frame with gloss coating. Stable and beautiful, use after use
• High, Low and Lower - A single cat scratch pad won't keep your cat engaged. 3 unique positions keeps them coming back, and back, and back again. Finally, something to get them away from the couch!
• Activates Muscles - The Hi Lo isn't just a cat nail file to stop the chief cat couch scratcher. The deep cat scratcher wave encourages maximum musculoskeletal activation for a healthier workout

Check Price on Amazon

We're quite fond of cardboard as a material in cat scratchers, which is why we love the Hepper Hi-Lo Cat Scratcher. Encased within a well-constructed, modern birch plywood frame, this scratcher is designed with both cats and their owners in mind. It offers three versatile configurations to keep your feline friend active and entertained while enticing them to fulfill their natural scratching instincts (and away from scratching things they shouldn't). For more details, click here!

At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest, so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!

3. Consider Quick Outdoor Sessions

If your kitty spends much of their time outside during the warmer months of the year, they may really struggle with staying indoors all winter. If this is the case, you might consider offering them quick outdoor sessions on the warmer days of the season. The keywords here are quick and warm. Cats can be susceptible to hypothermia, and frostbite is a risk, so you shouldn’t allow them time outside on particularly frosty days. Still, provide places to shelter outdoors if it gets cooler out and they’re not ready to come in, such as an insulated outdoor shelter or cat house. Do not let them sleep outside in the winter.

We have a catio at our house that is accessible to our cats via a window. We open the window during the day in the winter sometimes if it’s warmer outside. Not all of our five cats will venture out during the winter, but most of them will go out to do some bird-watching for a few minutes before coming back in to warm up. Sometimes, all they need is a quick 15-minute jaunt outside to make sure they’re not missing out on anything exciting. The amount of time they can spend outdoors when it is cold will largely depend on the temperature and their kind of fur. Some cats, like the Norwegian Forst Cat, are more tolerant to colder temperatures, while hairless breeds will be required to wear a sweater or jacket when it is cold. The main point is you need to keep a close eye on them and ensure they don’t get too exposed to the cold temperatures.

Final Thoughts

Cats may need more attention from you during the winter, especially if they’re used to going outside to burn off all their excess energy. Ensure your pet has plenty of opportunities for play throughout their day so they don’t become complacent and lazy over the season. Buy new toys if you must, and even consider investing in a catio to give your pet some safe, structured outdoor time during the warmer days of the winter.

Featured Image Credit: Olezzo, Shutterstock