Are You Accidentally Doing Too Much for Your Cat?

We seem to be told that we are never doing enough for our cats.

There is always another enrichment activity to try, another toy to buy, another skill to train, another way to make their environment better. And while I absolutely love finding new ways to enrich our cats’ lives, I also think it is important to remember that more isn't always better.

This narrative that we always need to do more can be especially disheartening for those of us who already do so much for our cats. You might already be playing with them, having training sessions, providing multiple puzzles a day, and trying to give them the best life possible.

What if, instead of constantly adding more, we looked at how we could enhance what we are already doing?

When more becomes too much

Adding enrichment can be wonderful, but it is possible to reach a point where adding more activities isn't actually making life better for either you or your cat.

It can become overwhelming for you

Our cats are a huge part of our lives, but the reality is that we all have very busy days.

You have work, school, family, friends, household responsibilities, your own needs, and plenty of other things competing for your attention. A never-ending list of enrichment can quickly become overwhelming.

And when something becomes too difficult to maintain, we often stop doing it altogether.

Your cat needs downtime too

Hot take: your cat doesn’t need to be constantly entertained.

Cats need opportunities to rest, sleep, and simply exist without their people having to provide every activity.

Rest and self-management are parts of a well-enriched life too.

More activities don't necessarily mean better enrichment

If you are constantly adding new things, it can be difficult to figure out what your cat actually enjoys.

Instead of giving your cat ten different activities that they might sort of engage with, what if you focused on the few things they genuinely love?

Good enrichment is about finding opportunities that are meaningful and enjoyable for your individual cat.

How to enhance what you're already doing

You don't necessarily need to add more to your cat's life. You might just need to adjust what’s already there.

Pay attention to what your cat actually enjoys

Think about the things you already do with your cat.

What gets their attention? What seems to bring them the most enjoyment?

Not sure yet? Test it out and write down their faves. These preferences are valuable information.

Use what you already know about them to make the things they enjoy even more rewarding.

Think about what is manageable for you

The best enrichment plan is one that fits into your actual life.

If you have the time and energy to set up a complicated activity every day and you enjoy doing it, great!

But if you don't, that doesn't mean you are failing your cat.

Enrichment doesn't have to be elaborate to be valuable. Think about it… How many times has your cat been absolutely fascinated by a cardboard box or new trash on the floor?

Give your cat opportunities to rest

A cat who has access to comfortable resting places, opportunities to explore, and has learned to move between activity and rest has plenty of enrichment without needing us to constantly entertain them.

Not every moment needs to be filled with stimulation.

Enrichment isn't one size fits all

One of the biggest things I want cat parents to remember is that enrichment is about creating a home where your cat has opportunities to do things that are meaningful to them.

That will look different for every cat.

There isn't one perfect enrichment checklist that every cat needs to complete.

Begin with understanding your cat, notice what they enjoy, and find ways to incorporate those things into your everyday life.

How I approach enrichment at Purrsuasion

This is also why I don't want my work with cats and their people to become a giant “to-do” list.

Whether we're talking about general enrichment or working through a specific behaviour concern, I want to know how things are actually going in your home.

What does your cat enjoy? What are they choosing? What fits into your schedule? What feels easy? What feels like too much?

Sometimes I might encourage you to do more of something your cat already loves.

Sometimes we might change the way you're doing something.

Sometimes we might simplify.

The goal isn't to put more on your plate.

It's to help you find what actually works for you and your cats in real life.

If you’re feeling like you need to do more and more for your cat, maybe it’s time to take a step back and look at what is already working. If you’d like some help figuring that out, that’s exactly what I’m here for. Get in touch with Purrsuasion to learn more about working together.