Is Your Cat Bored? How To Tell & 5 Ways To Bust Boredom

• Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

If your cat has started scratching furniture, meowing constantly, or picking fights out of nowhere, boredom could be the culprit.

According to Dr. Jessica Pierce, a bioethicist with a focus on human-animal relationships, there are two main reasons cats get bored: a lack of self-rewarding systems and an inability to express natural behaviors. Simply put? When cats don’t have any outlets for their hardwired instincts, they become bored.

The longer the boredom lasts, the more problems it can cause. The lack of activity can lead to weight gain, increasing the chance of diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease. Boredom can also cause chronic stress, which may weaken the immune system, increasing the likelihood of illness. Behavioral risks include depression and destructivity, which can strain your bond.

In this guide, we’ll share how to reduce these risks by recognizing when your cat is bored. We’ll also share what you can do to help them find their zest for life again.

Signs Your Cat Is Bored

Just like humans, cats need variety to stay mentally and physically engaged, and it’s up to pet parents to know when intervention is needed. Below are some common signs that your cat may need more enrichment in their life.

Abnormal behaviors

• Destructiveness. Without sufficient stimulation, cats may start spraying, scratching furniture, and chewing household objects. Your cat isn’t being malicious. They’re just trying to entertain themselves or release pent-up energy.
• Overeating. Just like humans, cats can eat their feelings. Some cats snack more often when they’re bored because food is the only excitement available to them.
• Rise in aggression. Without an outlet, hunting and stalking instincts may get redirected toward ankles, hands, or housemates. Look for an increase in aggressive behavior, like fighting with other cats, chasing, or biting.
• Inappropriate elimination. Boredom-related stress can disrupt a cat’s bathroom habits, leading them to pee and poop outside the litter box. Cats may also urinate in inappropriate places when they’re experiencing separation anxiety.

Lethargy

• Excessive sleeping. Cats already sleep a lot, as much as 15 to 20 hours a day. The rest of the time, Dr. Pierce explains, cats should be alert and interested in their surroundings. If they’re disengaged while awake or sleeping more than usual, it could be due to boredom.
• Lack of interest in toys or play. “Truly lethargic behavior occurs when a cat no longer responds to positive stimuli like play requests, treats, or mealtimes,” explains certified cat behaviorist Tom Kirby of Tom Kirby of Kitty Help Desk.

Anxiety & stress

• Anxious behaviors. When cats don’t get enough mental or physical stimulation, boredom can turn into anxiety and restlessness.
• Stress 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.”
• Overgrooming. Cats spend up to 50% of their day grooming themselves, so excessive grooming in cats can be challenging to identify. Some signs include bald patches, increased hairballs, and sensitive sores or skin irritation.

Attention-seeking behaviors

• Increased vocalization. Cats generally meow because they’ve learned it gets human attention. If your cat is vocalizing more than usual, especially making long, drawn-out cries, they may be trying to get you to interact with them.
• Clinginess. Following you around can be a sign of affection—but a cat who sticks to you like Velcro might also be looking for more stimulation.

How To Eliminate Cat Boredom

The good news? Cat boredom is solvable, and small changes make a big difference in your cat’s mental health and quality of life.

The best boredom busters for cats engage their natural instincts, says Kirby, noting that cats lose interest in games that never pay off. You’ll want to give them toys they can catch or puzzles they can solve. “Otherwise, you’re basically running a casino that never pays out,” he explains.

Here are five ways to break through cat boredom and keep your kitty happy and healthy.

Increase mental stimulation

Cats are born hunters, and toys encourage these instincts and work their brains. Even if a cat’s “prey” is a feather on a string, it gives them the opportunity to stalk, chase, and pounce. Here are some other ideas.

• Use a wand toy to mimic prey movement, letting your cat chase and catch the toy at the end of play sessions.
• Rotate toys regularly so they feel new again.
• Try interactive puzzle feeders and treat-dispensing toys.
• Introduce new treats and foods.
• Play hide-and-seek. Hide treats or small toys around the house for your cat to seek out. “Start with these right out in the open and then gradually make the hiding spots more difficult,” says Kirby.

Help your cat safely explore the world

Indoor life is safe for a cat, but it can be predictable. For cats who don’t have much freedom to explore, one way to manage boredom is by letting them interact with the outside world in a safe way. Here’s how.

• Allow access to multiple windows. “Each window is like a different streaming channel to a cat,” says Kirby.
• Create a catio. For pet parents with the space and resources to set one up, a catio is another option. It offers fresh air and immersive outdoor experiences while keeping cats protected.
• Take leashed walks. Some cats can even be trained to wear a harness and walk on a leash for outings. The training process alone is a great way to fight cat boredom.
• Use a backpack or stroller. If walks aren’t your thing, you can still explore the neighborhood together with your kitty in a cat backpack or a secure pet stroller.
• Explore the open road. More adventurous humans (and kitties) might also consider taking a road trip together.
• Introduce new scents. For the kitty homebodies, introduce new scents from the great big world by bringing them items such as cardboard boxes and packing paper from packages you receive, junk mail, and even your hands after you’ve been outside.

Svetlana Popova via iStock

Increase opportunities for exercise

“Bored cats are at a higher risk of obesity if their only activity is going from the bed to the food bowl and back,” says Dr. Kiley Daube, a lead veterinarian partner at CityVet Chapel Hill.

Physical activity is key to keeping your cat’s mind and body in good shape, busting boredom, and reducing kitty stress. To encourage movement:

• Provide scratching outlets. Invest in a sturdy scratching post or multi-level cat tree.
• Create vertical climbing spaces. Put up window perches, mounted shelves, and climbing towers so your cat has more opportunities to climb and explore.
• Schedule daily interactive play sessions. Toss lightweight toys that your cat can chase. Or engage in other play that mimics hunting behavior to get your cat up and moving.

Fill their social cup

Cats may have a reputation for being solitary, but many thrive on connection. In fact, studies show that cats may develop attachment styles similar to humans. When cats don’t get regular social interaction, they may become lonely or bored. To fill your cat’s social cup:

• Schedule in some spa time. Offer gentle brushing or give them a kitty massage.
• Make time for cuddles. Snuggle while you read or listen to music together.
• Consider a playmate. If your cat seems lonely, adopting a second cat could help them get out of the doldrums, but only if their personalities and energy levels are compatible. Not every cat wants a sibling, and that’s okay.
• Prioritize personal time. Whether you have one cat or several, each one still needs one-on-one time with you.

Don’t leave them alone too long

Cats are often considered easier than dogs because they can be left alone for longer stretches. The reality of cats is not that simple, though. Most adult cats can be left at home for around 8 hours—the length of a typical workday. But long sessions alone can lead to boredom, especially for social butterflies.

To keep your cat entertained while you’re away:

• Schedule drop-in visits from a trusted cat sitter during the day.
• Book a house sitter or board your cat if you need to be away overnight.

When To See a Vet

Many of the symptoms of cat boredom look similar to those of serious medical issues. So how do you know if your cat is bored or sick?

Dr. Daube recommends seeing a vet for any sudden behavior change. This is especially true when it comes to litter box habits, appetite, or energy levels. Once any health concerns have been ruled out, it’s time to try enrichment and behavior modification.

“Enriching a cat’s environment with appropriate toys, things to climb on (i.e., cat trees), and even things like puzzle bowls can help keep your kitty busy,” she explains. “Providing them with hunting games, a good session of chase the feather toy, or even just throwing a spring for them to go after can help keep your kitty’s instincts satisfied and boredom at bay.”

With a little creativity and consistent interaction, most bored cats bounce back quickly. All they need is your help to give them more opportunities to hunt, explore, and connect.