‘Low maintenance’, not ‘no maintenance’

Unlike dogs, who love going for regular walks to stay healthy and burn off excess energy, cats can be a bit more challenging when it comes to exercise.

But that doesn’t mean we don’t need to stay active! 

Why do cats need exercise?

There are plenty of motives for keeping your cat inside for some or all of the time. You might want to protect them from hazards, stop them terrorizing the local wildlife , or simply keep them safe when the weather’s bad. And if they do go outside regularly, make sure you’ve got cat insurance in place – just in case anything happens. 

Regardless of how much time your pet spends outside, each and every cat needs exercise to maintain an appropriate body weight and keep their muscles strong. If your cat does spend most of its time indoors, then this is particularly important. They won’t get any of the exercise they’d otherwise have from running around outside. 

Similarly, special toys like scratching posts help your cat maintain healthy claws. And they’ll stop your pet from going to town on that new couch you’ve just bought! 

But, exercising your cat isn’t just about keeping them in shape. It’s also a great way to bond with your pet, and relieve any stress or anxiety they might be dealing with.

How much exercise do cats need?

This is a tricky question. Cats can be notoriously difficult, and you might struggle to get us out of bed, let alone play with us for an extended period of time every day.

However, if you do start to introduce scheduled ‘playtime’ sessions, your cat will slowly get used to them. Younger, more energetic cats may even take the initiative and request longer or more frequent periods of activity.

As a general rule of thumb, you should aim to play with your cat for between 20 minutes and an hour each day, split into a few short bursts of activity. This will stop your cat from getting too tired and losing interest.

Cat exercise equipment

Helping your pet stay healthy with play isn’t just about letting them loose on a scratching pole. Cats need different types of stimulation, and a range of toys that they can play with either by themselves, or with their human (that’s you!).

One of the easiest and healthiest ways to engage your cat is to bring out some of its predatory instincts. Stalking, chasing, and pouncing are all great exercises, and a remote-controlled cat toy is the perfect way to get your pet moving. Just be prepared to replace it every now and then. We won’t show any mercy when we finally get our claws on it.

We’ve already talked about the benefits of scratching poles, but there are also special toys that are good for your cat’s teeth. The most common ones are chew toys that clean when they’re bitten, removing leftovers and keeping teeth and gums healthy.

Cat exercises to lose weight

If your cat is a little bit on the heavier side, you might need to pay more attention to an exercise regime. If they don’t get enough physical activity, cats can become overweight, and while it might be cute, there can be serious ramifications for their health. These include diabetes and osteoarthritis, so it’s important to act quickly.

Of course, it is not always easy to tell if a cat is overweight. Some of us are just a bit fluffier than others! If in doubt, there are cat health check tools you can find online, but the final call should always be your vet’s. They’ll be able to tell you exactly how healthy your pet is, and if they need to get more exercise to shed some of those extra pounds.

When it comes to actually losing the weight, you might need to start small. After all, your pet may not be used to long periods of activity, so a few minutes here and there is a good way to ease into a healthier routine. Other than that, the best types of exercise are the same as other healthy cats. You just might need to be a bit more proactive in initiating playtime.

Don’t forget about diet

Just like humans, staying fit and healthy for cats is a combination of exercise and diet. If your pet keeps gaining weight even with regular playtime sessions, it might be time to cut back on the treats. (And it really hurts us to say that.)

Whatever you do though, don’t put your pet on one of those fancy diets that humans are so obsessed with. That means no skipping mealtimes or only eating certain types of food. We still need all sorts of different nutrients, so focus on portion control.

If your indoor cat is overweight, it might be a good idea to think about letting them spend part of the day outside. They’ll naturally move around a lot more, which can be a great way to stay healthy. Just don’t forget about that cat insurance!

Finding a pet insurance program

When you’re looking for a pet insurance program, make sure you keep in mind the costs of keeping your cat happy and healthy. That doesn’t just mean covering illnesses or accidents, but everyday costs like regular check-ups.

TrustedPals’ Wellness Plan gives you an annual allowance for these extra bits and pieces, to make sure there’s never any reason to give your cat anything other than the best.