At Tilly & Ted, we know better than anyone how important your furry bestie is; we firmly believe your pet deserves a seat at the table. We all want the best for our feline friends, and sometimes that can be keeping them indoors, whether it's for health, safety, or any other reason. So how can we keep them happy and stimulated, and let them express all their chaotic energy?

Read on below for our top tips to help you stimulate your indoor cats and create a fulfilling space for them. There are many ways that you can elevate your kitty's kingdom just a little bit more, and create an environment you can both enjoy in harmony.

Toys and Playtime

The easiest way to keep your indoor kitty stimulated and happy is to make sure they have lots of different toys and activities to keep them entertained for hours. From feather toys, to catnip mice, to crinkly balls, there's a toy for every cat. Some cats prefer you to join in on the playtime, with toys they can chase and stalk, which is a great way to keep their hunting senses stimulated in an appropriate setting (as opposed to your ankles at 3am). There are also many toys that cats can hunt independently, such as battery operated flapping butterflies or flopping fish. We recommend giving your cat a variety of toys so they'll always be able to enjoy playtime no matter their mood. 

Our top tip is to incorporate some of our tasty cat meals into playtime as well, for an extra stimulating experience. For example, you can hide some of our Chicken Casserole kibble under cardboard boxes to help them to explore and discover, or reward them with a hearty portion of Turkey Pâté with Chicken and Squash to recover after a long playtime.

Now playtime is over, how can your kitty find some solitude and high ground?

High perches and Exploration

Having high up spots, perches, and hideaways is key for your kittycat, as elevated spaces are a naturally relaxing and comfortable place for your cat to be. Having full scope of a space and a high position means cats can be safe from threats, and truly chill out. Therefore, make sure your home has lots of areas where your pussycat pal can explore above without ruining the peace. For example, find naturally high spots such as the tops of drawers or above the wardrobe that your cat is allowed to make home, and block off high spaces you'd rather they don't occupy. 

To give your cat their very own treetop perches, you can utilise cat trees, window beds, or even cat shelves and walkways, if you don't mind adding some feline touches to your home decor. When introducing a new space like this, it can be useful to make it feel familiar, perhaps by popping their favourite toys or blanket up there, or sprinkling a little of our Salmon Traybake kibble up high to tempt them to explore.

You may be happy with your cat cosying up on top of your cupboards, but not scratching up the sofa! So how can we stop them ruining the furniture and still scratch that itch?

Scratching Posts and Scratch Pads

All cats will have a natural inclination to keep their claws sharp and ready for action, both for comfort and for their hunting instincts. But unfortunately most kittys don't understand that your Grandma knitted you that fleece, and you'd rather they didn't rip it to shreds. So how can we curb this destructive behaviour? It is important to give your cat lots of opportunities to sharpen their claws, so they won't need to attack your favourite belongings. Most cats enjoy a scratching post or scratch pad they can access whenever they need, which will satisfy their cravings and save your antiques. Try a variety of scratching items if your cat hasn't taken to them yet, such as corrugated cardboard or different shaped and angled pieces. There are many different options, so we guarantee you'll find something to satiate your kitty's desires.

Hiding some of our dry food within scratching items can encourage them to give it a go, such as popping some Chicken with Salmon Delight kibble within a pad of corrugated cardboard: as your kitty digs to free the delicious biscuits, they will learn that this is an acceptable place to scratch. You can also pop on a bit of catnip, or play with them on/near their new scratching items to encourage them to get in and play rough.

As elaborate as you can make your cats indoor palace, they may always have a fascination and need for the outside world. Here's how you can help them whilst still keeping them safe:

Outside Views and Space

Although your cat may be an indoor diva, giving small insights to the outdoors can be beneficial to your kitty. This can be as simple as having easily accessible windows and viewpoints for your cat to watch the world go by. If your windows don't offer the best view, or are difficult for your cat to access, you can always use a window bed that sticks to the glass, so your kitty can get an accessible birds-eye view of your outside world.

Another option is training your cat with a harness and leash for some supervised outside time. If this is realistic for your kitty, you can get them used to the harness by wearing it indoors first, and rewarding them with some Chicken Casserole every time they do. You can always build or install a Catio as well: an enclosed yet airy space that allows your cat to feel the breeze and experience the outdoors, whilst staying safe and content. 

After all of this excitement, surely it must be time to relax and have some kittycat cuddles. Even a simple hug can help your feline feel at home!

Cuddles and Hugs

 There's nothing like a furry cuddle or some kittycat love to feel paw-some, and your cat probably feels the same. Not every cat is going to want hugs and kisses from their humans, but for those particularly affectionate felines, a cuddle can make all the difference. Make sure to give some one-on-one time to your cat, so they can express their social energy and feel as comfortable as possible in their indoor kingdom. 

For an extra stimulating cuddle-time, nothing gets a cat purring like our Salmon Traybake, so pop open a bag if you want to give them a clear signal of your love, and encourage some biscuit making as well as biscuit eating. If you're not sure as to whether your kitty is the huggable type, or what they're trying to tell you, check out our recent blog post on what your cat is trying to say for more advice on understanding your furry bestie. 

Puzzles and Treats

Something that indoor cats can miss out without outdoor access, is the chance to explore and discover. A safe way to give your cats these opportunities is to provide them with puzzles to keep them stimulated, such as treat and task mats, where they have to solve puzzles to discover and dig out treats and rewards. This allows them to gain the same benefits of exploration without digging in next doors bin or getting stuck under fences. 

Our Chicken with Salmon Delight is perfect for hiding inside different puzzles and shapes to test your cats curiosity, or can be used as a tasty reward for solving obstacles and completing tasks. 

Now it must be time for dinner after all of that fun, surely?

Exciting Meals and Flavours

Mealtime may just be another part of your cats routine, but it can be an easy way to introduce some more excitement into your kitty's day with some stimulating flavours and smells. Preparing their meal with them can help involve them in the process and keep them excited for some meow-zing meals. Try letting your cat see and smell the food as you are arranging their dinner, such as letting them lick some Chicken with Carrot Pâté before you plate it up. 

If they are not particularly fussy, you can also surprise them with new flavours and ingredients to keep them on their fluffy toes. Check out our full range of cat food to see what whisker-licking meals and combinations you can treat your favourite kittycat with.

The more you know your feline friend, the easier it is to create a pur-fect indoor world for them, as you can understand their wants and satisfy their needs, for harmony in your home. Indoor cats are very common, and a happy space can always be created for your kitty, so if you're ever worried about whether your providing enough for your cat pal, take another look at our tips and see what your cat could be missing. 

If in doubt, a delicious Tilly & Ted meal goes a long way. Check out all of our paw-some meals to add some variety and energy into your pets world today.

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