Dear Sparkle,
My human has one of those job things she has to go to most days, and while she is gone, I am alone and have nothing to do. It’s boring so I just sleep all day. By the time she gets home I am well rested and ready for action, but all she wants to do is flop on the couch and watch stuff on the TV for hours. Then she goes to bed. Of course by the time she is falling asleep, I am going nuts and start doing sprints all over the apartment just to get rid of my excess energy! But every time I do this, she gets mad and starts yelling at me to “Pipe down!” (For the record, I don’t even know where any pipes are around here.) Look, I gotta blow off some steam somehow — what do you suggest?
Signed,
Bouncing Off the Walls
Dear Bouncing,
Frankly, I don’t see anything at all wrong with your behavior! A kitty can only be bored for so many hours before she wants to cut loose! And if your human has done nothing to engage your interest, either while she is away all day or when she comes home, then she is just getting what she deserves. Lots of humans have to do the job thing most days, but if they don’t want their cats going crazy at night, they need to set up activities for them during the day. Your home should be full of your favorite toys, whether they are crinkly balls, catnip mice, cat kickaroos, a crinkly tunnel or other toys you can enjoy solo. You should have a cat tree placed by a window that has a great view of Bird TV (your human can encourage bird activity with the addition of feeders for them, right near the window). A treat ball would keep you busy too — a plastic ball that contains treats that you have to bat at and roll around before it will expel a treat or two. Then when she gets home, she should spend some time playing with you — you know, toss some toy mice around or fly Da Bird or wave a feathered wand or something that you two can enjoy together. If she really wants to get some peace when she goes to bed, she should have a very active play session with you before she turns in, and save part of your dinner until after you’ve played. That should wear you out for at least a few hours! But yeah, if she isn’t doing any of this, she has no right to complain. It’s the Kitty Law of Cause and Effect at work!
Purrfect answer to the booooring human 🙂
Jeez no wonder the poor kitty is bored! I would be too. I would also add, to your sage advice, perhaps another friendly kitty for company. A pal to play with is the BEST fun 😆
Excellent advice! Having a lot of toys around and the addition of a tower to watch Bird TV sounds exactly like what is needed here. If nothing else, your human can easily wave Da Bird around while she’s zoning out in front of the TV! Love the saving part of dinner until later! Purr-fect! Purrs…
Bouncing Off The Walls needs a companion kitty and some active toys on the floor. Like turbotrak and rattley mice!!!
Brava! I always have toys laying around, even if I won’t play with them. If TW is busy during the day or goes out, she’ll stay up past midnight to play with me some.
That’s fabulous advice! We need to remind our Mommy of that sometimes!!
Purrs,
Dunkel, Smokey, and Vito
As usual, that’s some good advice, Sparkle.
Sparkle you always have the best advise for feline and human!
Great advice, Sparkle! Everybody needs a variety of activities!
Doesn’t the stupid human realise that cats are not an accessory?? Huh! I think some training would be in order. Good advice as always, Sparkle xx
Great advice Sparkle and different activities sure does help. ..even with humans!
Sparkle you have surpassed Dear Abby your advice is excellent and informative.
Hugs Madi your BFFF
Some good advice. Happy Friday Sparkle.
Great advice, Sparkle.
So your Human went to Bark World and left you alone with the computer, eh? I had an idea that you could use to freak her out when she gets home – you could show up at the door wearing the catawful necklance from yesterday! tee hee
Sounds like someone may also need a companion.
good advice as always!!! we have lots of toys around (and yes, the foster kittens count as “toys”) but mom tries to make time to play with us too….
As always great advice Sparkle! You are definitely the Dear Abby of the Cat World! Meow and Namaste! ‘~ Pippy the Feline Yogini
That human sounds as if they only want their cat to be a decorative object. Hope they get with the program or Bouncing will be packing her bags for the neighbor’s house. As always, Sparkle, great advice. Purrs and hugs, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
Great advice Sparkle. M always has to play with me before she goes to bed – always. I’m a very lucky boy too because my humans are retired or tired – whichever it is – so they are home all day. Either M or D plays with me off and on during the day – just for a few minutes at a time anyway. It all helps.
Great advice… We take up a good deal of HH’s time playing when she comes home from the studio. It is just understood that it’s her job.
Have a great day.
hugs, Bugsy and Knuckles
Great advice Sparkle not for us but to make sure our Mum gets her share of exercise. Maybe we could put her chocolate in a human version of treat ball.
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
Very good advice, Sparkle!
we all like to play and interact,xx Speedy
Excellent advice! Happy Furday!
Good advice! HUmans would be healthier if they spent
more time playing with their kitties instead of sitting
on the couch!
Purrs Tillie and Georgia,
Treasure,Tiger, JJ and Julie
Excellent advice for any cat, and even better for their humans.