How To Keep Your Cat Happy When He’s Home Alone.

Many of us work full time.  And who doesn’t, when life is getting so expensive?

However, the result is that there are hundreds of thousands of solitary pet cats who find themselves left Home Alone between the hours of 8am and 6pm.

 Now I know that most cats sleep for a large chunk of the day - but what happens where they wake and don’t find you there? As owners, we need to be as aware of our pet’s mental health as we are of their physical well-being and a bored cat can quickly develop behavioral problems. Problems such as scratching and chewing your prized possessions and furniture, overturning bins in a search for something tasty to eat, soiling outside their litter tray or even in extreme cases, self-harming by pulling their fur out in clumps or by grooming excessively to the point of soreness and infection.

 So here are a few tips for making sure that your pampered pet remains happy:

• An acceptable scratching post - one that your cat will actually be happy using!
• Food - use an automatic feeder, leave dried food available or ‘hide’ titbits around the house for him to discover.
• Buy an activity center or a cat tree. Again, hide treats inside from time to time to keep him interested.
• Be imaginative in the toys you buy him. Bouncy ones, dangly ones, ones with noises, furry, feathery, rolling ones.

And once you return home, remember that your cat will be pleased to see you and not just for your can-opening skills - so be sure to make a fuss of him.  Spend quality time together watching your favorite TV show.

 After all, there’s really nothing better than settling down to relax with your warm, furry and loving companion, is there?