The Adventures of Paco the Service Cat 7

Cats love to play, and when they are not encouraged to do so they often become complacent, overweight and even lose some of their intelligence. An active mind and body keeps Paco and his friends sharp and also very happy.

I urge anyone who owns a pet, whether it be birds, reptiles, rodents, cats, dogs, or whatever, that you find ways to "enrich" your pets' lives. Enrichment has been a zoological buzz word for some time. Zoo keepers go to great lengths in order to find ways to make like more interesting for their captive animals. It wasn't always that way of course. Zoos of the past were notorious for housing many animals in small spaces, giving them enough food and water to keep them alive, and occasionally cleaning the animals and the cages. Animals lack a precious ability that we humans take advantage of every day: the power to manipulate our environment. Of course, animals can change their environment to a extremely minimal degree. Paco and friends often find themselves clawing at furniture or knocking down lamps. But only humans have taken it to the point of construction as opposed to destruction (with the noted few exceptions of some animals like beavers who build elaborate structures to house their young and control their habitat. What better way to benefit the lives of the pets we love so much than to construct ways of having fun for both them and yourself?

Many cat dog lovers know the hypnotic affect a laser pointer has on their pets. One flash of that tiny red dot and all three of our cats spring into action! It's a great excerise for them. It obviously keeps them moving, and it also improves their ability to focus as you can imagine--nothing takes more concentration to focus on then a tiny red dot! In Paco's case, he is also learning how to share. Trixie wants her turns with the mystery red invader, and if Paco does not allow her that time she has been known to show him how she feels by taking a few swats at his head.

Some things to take into consideration when you use your laser pointer:

1) Please do not shine it into their lovely little eyes.  A second or two by accident is fine, but any length of time of prolonged exposure may cause damage.  We have to keep a close eye on our four year old son when he uses the laser pointer.  Despite adequate and frequent warnings, he is occasionally tempted to aim into the cats' eyes--testing limits, as four year olds are sometimes apt to do.

2) Give em a break!  If you notice they are gasping for air, please stop laser pointing!  Paco in particular has no aparent perception of his limitations and I am convinced that he will chase the laser pointer until he passes out...  He is still a kitten after all.  So be the adult, and know when to call it quits.

3) Use it sparingly.  Even cats can get bored.  I guarantee that if you bring out your laser pointer every day for a week, by the end of the week your cats will give it a slight glance and without moving a muscle say to themselves  "oh, THAT thing again..."---followed by a hearty yawn and back to sleep.

4) Enjoy playing with your cats!  We have just as much fun watching them chase the pointer as they do chasing it!  How can you not be amused by the frantic shuffling of desperate kitty feet longing to lunge onto this insanely addicting red dot?  BUT, NEVER tease your cats.  My father taught me that cats know when you are teasing them, and just as if you were to hurt them physically, they remember.  Believe me, tease them enough or hurt them enough and your relationship with them will be forever changed in a ways you may not like.

In future hubs, I will share other ways we have found of enriching the lives of our cats. Please feel free to share yours in the comment section!