Cat's Playground of Wall Shelves

About this drawing

Good cat wall shelves give indoor pets something they need almost as much as food: a territory that keeps them busy. A cat living in an apartment cannot hunt or roam, and boredom can lead to weight gain, stress and shredded furniture. Experts call the solution environmental enrichment, which simply means setting up a home to suit a cat's instincts.

Going vertical makes the biggest difference. Cats think about space in three dimensions, so shelves, bridges and tall trees add a whole new level of room to explore. High perches let a cat keep watch and help several pets share a home without conflict. Just make sure everything is mounted securely and that no route has a dead end.

A few other items belong on the list. A scratching post should be sturdy and tall enough for a full stretch. Scratching is not bad behavior. It keeps claws healthy, leaves scent marks and works the muscles. Hiding spots are important too, and a simple cardboard box can do the job as well as anything from a pet store.

Mealtime can be part of the fun. Puzzle feeders make a cat work for its food, and small portions hidden around the room imitate a hunt. Rotating toys keeps them interesting, and a daily play session rounds things out. With a few changes like these, even a small apartment can be a satisfying home for a cat.

• cat
• cat furniture
• indoor cats
• enrichment