How To Get A Cat To Exercise: 5 Fun Activities

Cats are natural hunters and love to be on the move. (Yes, even your sleepy furball curled up on your lap right now.) But even with their natural instincts, they’re also creatures of routine. So if they’ve gotten a bit…comfy over the years, you might be wondering how to get your cat to exercise more. Here are some fun and easy ways to get your cat on the move and stay motivated to their exercise routine.

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Why is exercise important for cats?

Regular exercise and activity brings a ton of physical and mental benefits for your cat. With a gentle, adaptable activity routine, you can help them:

• Maintain a healthy weight
• Prevent age- and weight-related diseases – like diabetes, joint pain, and heart disease
• Relieve stress – which can show up as excessive meowing, crying, or furniture scratching
• Stay mentally active, especially from the sensory stimulation
• Deepen their bond with you by spending more quality time together
• Keep their inner hunting instincts happy

In many ways, your domestic cat thinks they’re still a big cat hunting in the wild. It’s why outdoor cats also tend to be on the trimmer side – because they’re constantly patrolling their territory. On the other hand, indoor cats might be a bit more likely to grow less active over time. But why does this tend to happen?

In a nutshell: cats tend to grow sedentary as a result of habit, not necessarily age. They also tend to adapt to your routine and habits – so you can always make it a team effort and get some more physical activity with your cat together. This can both improve your cat’s health and your relationship with them. (Especially if you stay consistent with it over time.)

How to exercise a cat: Simple tips to get started

First, take some time and observe your cat’s natural level of activity. It’ll make it easier for you to adapt your exercise routine accordingly. That’s why we recommend you make sure to start gradually and socialize them to it, step by step.

Use interactive toys & play 

Interactive toys help get your cat moving – especially toys that mimic prey, like feather wands (which resemble birds) or toy mice. These can awaken your cat’s inner hunter and bring out their natural instincts. And the best part? You could even DIY some of these yourself at home with a bit of arts and crafts material.

So start by experimenting with different toys to get an idea of what your cat responds to best. But remember – they do tend to get bored quite quickly. So rotate their toys frequently to keep your cat engaged.

Enrich your cat’s environment 

Cats are naturally curious creatures. So providing them with an enriched environment helps them be both physically and mentally active. Consider adding climbing structures and perches around your house. Setting up vertical spaces like this also helps your cat perch above and get a little space from you and your family – which they also need to decompress from time to time.

Create a scratch-friendly household

Got a scratcher in the house? Cats might actually scratch things in order to get a bit more exercise. It both gives them a nice stretch and also helps them keep their nails sharp. Unfortunately, they might just end up doing it on your couch, curtains, or bed. But with scratch-friendly items like cat trees and scratching posts, you’ll both keep them happy and your furniture safe from their claws.

Install a food puzzle or treat dispenser 

These interactive toys help your cat have to work for their food – so they can help keep their mind’s engaged and also get them moving. It’s a great way to make mealtimes more exciting and turn it into a rewarding exercise opportunity. So you could always switch up a meal or two with a food puzzle to keep your cat on their toes.

Encourage your cat to explore the great outdoors

Spending too much time indoors can make cats feel bored, anxious, or stressed. If you’re just introducing them to the outdoors, start with supervised outdoor activities like a walk in your garden and then eventually your neighborhood or local park. The new sights, smells, and sounds will stimulate your cat’s senses and give them a healthy dose of exercise in a controlled and safe environment.

Initially, as you introduce your cat to the outdoors, we’d recommend investing in a secure harness and leash to prevent them from bolting. Over time, as your cat grows more independent, you could try and let them head outside unsupervised too.

💡 Else, if you’re worried about them getting lost, try strapping a cat GPS tracker to their collar. This way, you’ll get real-time updates of your cat’s location every couple of seconds – and know where to find them with just a glance at your phone.

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What to do if your cat doesn’t like exercise

• Don’t try to do too much all at once 
  Start slow and go one step at a time. Your cat might be suspicious of a new toy or scratching post and might not want to interact with them. Spend some time familiarizing them with this change in routine so they can warm up to it more. With time, they’ll start to associate it with a positive experience – aka, spending more time with you.
• Reward your cat when they do cooperate
  Offer your cat a ton of pats and praise if they chase a laser or feather wand. If you’re looking for a fun way to positively reinforce your cat’s behaviors, cat clicker training is a great option.
• Make exercise with your cat a team effort
  Your cat might be more encouraged to stay on the move if you accompany them every step of the way. Take them out on walks with a safe harness and location tracker in case they get lost. Play with them in your backyard to get them used to the outdoor space. Get your loved ones in on the fun – and make caring for your feline friend a family-wide effort.

Where a smart cat collar can help

Encouraging your cat to exercise is easier when you can track just how active they’ve been. That’s where technology – like the Tractive GPS & Health Tracker for cats – can help. Strapped to your cat’s collar, you can now:

• Keep tabs on how active your cat is all day
  Including calories burned and distance covered, in case they’re outdoors. Portion out their kibble accordingly and keep them at a healthy weight – easily.
• Get a little healthy competition with other cats and cat parents
  From your community leaderboard, where you can compare how active your cat is with other, similar cats around the world. Perfect for a little motivation on days you’re both not feeling it.
• Spot potential health issues early
  With your tracker monitoring your cat’s daily activity, it can also send you a Health Alert if there’s a weird change – like a drop in your cat’s active minutes. (Which could signal discomfort, pain, or even illness.) So you can catch on to a potential health issue early and head over to your vet much for a checkup before it has a chance to worsen.

Finally, if your cat ventures outdoors for some fresh air and exercise, Tractive’s real-time GPS tracking ensures you always know where they are – giving you peace of mind while your feline friend explores safely. A smart cat collar isn’t just a gadget; it’s a helpful companion that supports your efforts to keep your cat active, healthy, and safe.

Ready to create the purr-fect routine for your cat?

Getting your cat to get moving shouldn’t be a challenge. By adapting any new exercise routine to their personality, getting a bit more interactive during playtime, introducing them to the outdoors, and monitoring their activity levels, you can help them stay fit and happy. Just remember to be patient and persistent – every little step towards a healthier, more active cat definitely counts.

Help your cat stay fit and healthy

Get a complete overview of how much exercise and rest they’re getting. Compare their activity to that of similar cats. Set daily goals.

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And if you’ve liked this post, share it with a friend or a loved one – and let’s help build a safer, kinder world for our furry friends together.