Keeping an Indoor Cat Busy: Games, Height and Routines

October 22, 2026

An indoor cat needs chances to hunt, explore and discover, every day. When they are bored, they let you know: yowling at night, ankle attacks, scratched curtains. Here is how to keep them busy day to day, with little equipment and little time.

Recognising a bored cat

They yowl or run around the flat at night.
They ambush your feet or hands.
They scratch or knock objects over to get attention.
They sleep a huge amount and put on weight.
They groom themselves excessively.

These signs can also have a medical cause, in particular excessive licking or a sudden change in behaviour. If in doubt, talk to your vet first.

Hunting play, every day

Hunting always follows the same sequence: stalk, approach, pounce, catch, then eat. A good game reproduces these stages.

Choose a prey toy: feather wand, little mouse on the end of a string.
Make it move like an animal: it moves away from the cat, hides behind a cushion, stops, sets off again. Prey never rushes towards its hunter.
Let them win regularly.
Slow down gradually, then let them catch the prey one last time.
Then give their meal or a treat.

A few minutes are enough, several times a day. A session just before your bedtime often helps calm restless nights.

The laser pointer excites cats a lot, but never lets them catch anything. If you use it, always finish with a toy they can grab. Put string toys away after the session: swallowed string is dangerous.

Toys they use alone

light balls and little mice to push around;
a cardboard box with holes cut in it, a paper bag without handles;
a fabric tunnel;
a box in which you hide a toy.

The secret is rotation. Leave three or four toys in free access and put the others away. Swap them every week: a forgotten toy becomes new again.

Eating while searching

In the wild, a cat works to eat. You can reproduce this with part of their ration:

a treat ball that releases kibble when they push it;
a snuffle mat where the kibble hides between strips of fabric;
a few pieces of kibble hidden around the flat, on shelves or in boxes.

Start with easy versions so that they succeed, then increase the difficulty. Take from their usual ration what they find this way. To organise the rest of the meals, see Cat Bowl and Feeding Corner.

Using height

A flat grows upwards. Sturdy wall shelves, a cat tree, a clear wardrobe top: create a route that lets them go round a room without touching the floor. The guide Cat Tree: How to Choose It and Where to Put It will help you find a stable model.

A window on the world

A shelf or a cushion in front of a safe window, with a view of the street or trees, gives the cat a constant show: birds, passers-by, moving leaves.

Stimulating their senses

Catnip makes some cats playful for a few minutes. Not all react to it, and kittens are often insensitive to it.
Grazing grass, in a pot, appeals to many indoor cats.
New objects: a box that arrives, an empty bag, a piece of clothing that smells of the outdoors. Let them explore.

Learning tricks

A cat can learn to sit, give a paw or come when called, with treats and a lot of patience. Sessions of two or three minutes are enough. It is an exercise for their mind, and a moment of closeness.

A routine to count on

A cat likes regular times. Play in the morning, meal, nap, play in the evening, meal, bed: a predictable day reassures them and reduces demands at all hours. Keep the evening play session, even a short one: it prepares for a calm night.

When you are out

A cat generally copes well with a working day, especially if they sleep for a good part of it. Simply prepare their environment before you leave: a toy brought out of the cupboard, a few pieces of kibble hidden, a clear view of the outside, a blanket or a bed in the sun. Put away the strings and small objects they could swallow. When you get back, take a few minutes to play with them before you deal with everything else: it is often when they have the most energy.