- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Cats spend a significant amount of time lounging around the house. But is it normal for a cat to be a giant (but adorable) loaf all day? And when should you worry that your cat is bored?
Though cats are generally independent and self-sufficient, they can get bored and act out if they have nothing substantial to do or they’re not being challenged, says Dr. Jessica Pierce, a bioethicist with a focus on human-animal relationships. And being bored isn’t healthy for your cat or the rest of your household.
“Boredom most often manifests as stress,” explains certified cat behaviorist Tom Kirby of Kitty Help Desk. A stressed-out kitty may begin overgrooming, overeating, house soiling, or even getting into spats with both you and other pets in the home.
With our experts’ advice, we share how to tell if your cat is bored and what you can do to help them find their zest for life again.
Signs of Boredom in a Cat
Boredom in cats, unlike fear, is a much more complex emotion to identify, as many natural cat behaviors can indicate boredom. However, below are 10 common signs of a bored cat.
Excessive sleeping
Cats can sleep up to 15 to 20 hours a day, so more hours than that may signal boredom. Dr. Pierce explains that cats should spend their awake time alert and taking an interest in their surroundings. If they don’t, or if they are sleeping more than usual, they may be bored.
Overgrooming
Cats spend up to 50% of their day grooming themselves, so overgrooming in cats can be challenging to identify. Some signs of excessive grooming include bald spots in the fur, more hairballs than usual, and sensitive sores on their skin.
Lack of interest in toys
Lethargy is another cat boredom symptom. But it’s important to note that cats are crepuscular, meaning they’re most active around dawn and dusk. So, it shouldn’t be too concerning if your cat is lazier during the day. The real worry, though, is if your kitty starts losing interest in the things they usually love, points out Kirby.
“Truly lethargic behavior occurs when a cat no longer responds to positive stimuli like play requests, treats, or mealtimes,” he says.
Increased vocalization
Another way to tell if your cat is bored is if they start “talking” more. Cats generally meow to get attention because they’ve learned that certain sounds get human attention. If your cat is vocalizing more often than normal, particularly making long, drawn-out cries, they may be trying to get you to interact with them.
Anxious and excessive behavior
Bored cats may start exhibiting restless and anxious behavior if they’re not getting enough mental or physical stimulation. This anxiety can morph into excessively acting out normal cat behaviors.
“Mild stress is often indicated by lip licking, suddenly grooming small areas, or twitching back muscles,” notes Kirby. “Higher levels of stress that push cats over their anxiety thresholds often result in house soiling, overgrooming, and/or increases in conflicts with human caregivers and other cats.”
Destructive behaviors
Without enough enrichment, cats may also engage in destructive behaviors, including spraying, scratching, and chewing. It’s important to remember that your cat isn’t being malicious. They’re just trying to entertain themselves.
Overeating
Just like humans, cats can be emotional eaters, too, overeating to cope with their feelings of boredom. While you could restrict food access, this isn’t necessarily the best solution. Instead, think of other outlets besides eating that you can give to your cat.
Attention-seeking
Bored cats might also act clingy or pester you for more attention. Studies show that cats can build strong bonds with their pet parents and become more playful and exploratory when they’re around. This social interaction is essential for creating a stronger bond with your cat and is paramount to their overall well-being.
Rise in aggressive behavior
An increase in aggressive behavior, like fighting with another cat, biting, or grabbing your ankles, is another symptom of boredom. If your cat is chasing, attacking, or stalking other pets in your home, they may be trying to release pent-up energy.
Inappropriate elimination
The anxiety caused by boredom may throw off a cat’s bathroom habits, causing them to pee and poop outside the litter box. Cats may also urinate in inappropriate places when they’re experiencing separation anxiety, which might be heightened when they’re alone with nothing to do.
Stock/Oleg Opryshko
Why Do Cats Get Bored?
The two main reasons cats get bored are a lack of self-rewarding systems and the inability to express natural behaviors, says Dr. Pierce. As the genetic makeup of domesticated cats remains relatively unchanged from that of their wild ancestors, feline behaviors and desires remain the same. Simply put? Cats may no longer need to hunt and catch their food, but the instinct to do so is still there.
“Cats are wired to find hard work rewarding,” says Dr. Pierce, adding that the rewards cats receive (like catching a mouse) are nature’s way of reinforcing resourceful behaviors. Below, we’ll take a look at how these instinctual needs can make a domesticated cat feel bored in their everyday life.
Lack of stimulation
Cats are born hunters. And they rely on both their physical and mental prowess to stalk, pounce, and eat their prey. When cats don’t have outlets for these natural hunting instincts, they’re often left unsatisfied, restless, and bored.
Lack of exercise
A boring home environment with limited toys and activities can leave a cat feeling lethargic and even depressed. A sedentary life can also lead to obesity and health problems that can make a cat feel crummy.
Regular exercise can bust boredom and reduce kitty stress. As noted above, cats need ways to act out their natural hunting instincts for their mental health. And play allows them to do this by chasing, pouncing, catching, biting, and batting toys.
Lack of socialization
Cats are often perceived as solitary pets. However, just like dogs, they have social needs. In fact, research shows that cats may have attachment styles similar to humans. As such, cats that lack interaction with their pet parents or other animals in the house may feel lonely or bored.
Left alone too long
Being left for long periods can be distressing for many cats. Older and senior cats set in their ways and routines may have a particularly difficult time if you leave them alone for too long. You might also start seeing extreme behavior changes, along with the signs of boredom, if your cat starts developing separation anxiety.
Do indoor cats get bored more than outdoor cats?
“Indoor-only cats can exhaust the possibilities within your home in relatively short order,” says Kirby. “Since the environment there doesn’t change as frequently as it would in the outside world, they quickly run out of new things to experience and explore.”
Indoor cats have fewer opportunities to practice:
- Finding food (by stalking and pouncing on prey)
- Exploring their surroundings
- Observing and responding to their environment
- Identifying threats and protecting themselves against those threats
- Engaging in social behaviors
Risks of Cat Boredom
The effects of boredom on a cat range from emotional to physical. On the health side of things, boredom and a lack of activity can lead to weight gain, increasing the chance of diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease. Chronic stress may also weaken a kitty’s immune system, making it more likely that they get sick.
Behaviorally, the risks run anywhere from being depressed to being destructive. These behavioral issues can strain the relationship between a pet parent and their cat. And overall, a bored cat is an unhappy cat, with a lower quality of life.
How To Help a Bored Cat
The best boredom busters for cats will enrich and engage their natural instincts, says Kirby. He also adds that cats get bored with games that never pay off, so you’ll want to give them toys they can catch or puzzles they can “win.” “Otherwise, you’re basically running a casino that never pays out,” he says.
To help you out, here are 14 various ways to entertain your cat.
- Try new and different types of treats and foods.
- Build a catio to help indoor cats enjoy the outdoors safely.
- Ensure your cat has access to multiple windows. “Each window is like a different streaming channel to a cat,” says Kirby.
- Try interactive puzzles, which are great for mental stimulation.
- Give them a kitty massage.
- Listen to music together.
- Let them sniff new scents, like boxes, packing paper, junk mail, and even your hands when you come home.
- Use a wand toy to tap into your cat’s instinct to hunt and chase.
- Rotate toys so your cat doesn’t get bored with their playthings.
- Play hide-and-seek with toys and treats. “Hide small toys that can hold treats in different places each day for the cat to find,” advises Kirby. “Start with these right out in the open and then gradually make the hiding spots more difficult.”
- Invest in a scratching post or a cat tree to activate climbing and balancing instincts.
- Train your cat to feel comfortable in a harness for safe outdoor walks.
- Explore the neighborhood with your cat on a leash or in a cat backpack.
- Take a road trip with your cat.
Should You Get Another Cat?
Adopting a second cat may help a bored cat get out of the doldrums, but you’ll want to ensure they have compatible energy levels and temperament. Otherwise, annoyance and aggression could quickly replace boredom as the primary problem.
Not all kitties want a cat sibling, either, and that’s okay. If you want to reduce your cat’s alone time and keep them entertained while you’re away, consider hiring a pet sitter to drop in and check on your kitty. Not only will it help keep them occupied, but they might just make a new friend!
