Just a curious question..indoor cats, how do they get exercise?

[Rachie0507]

My cat is doing the same as everyone else's--running around the house. We call it the "Crazy Cat Dance", when she propels herself from one side of the house to the other, bouncing off furniture at very high speeds. The dog does the same thing, but then we call it the "Crazy Dog Dance" . She is 16 years old, in great health and still does this dance 3-4 times a day. I think she has had a pretty good life like that. She has no problem jumping on the counters (bad cat!), onto the windowsills or getting up and down the stairs. I'm not sure she needs anything more than that.

I do know that her muscle tone has never been that of an outdoor cat. I have to assume though that that does not play into life expectancy or happiness/healthiness because she certainly is doing fine.

 

[Stitchfans]

I have 3 indoors cats. Just like other POs said they run around like crazy fools chasing each other. Look out if a fly gets in the house when it gets warmer. They nearly knock heads trying to be the one to catch it.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

We picked up my little angel, Singe, off the road last summer. She's burried in our backyard now. She gets no exercise there. I'm sorry, but every time you let your cat outside, you have to think about whether or not you're willing to let that be the last time you see him or her alive. If you're cool with that, open the door.
Personally, I'd give almost anything to have a do-over of that day.

 

[Nancy]

My cats also do the "crazy cat dance" if you happen to be in the basement while it is going on they sound like a herd of elephants running through my house. They run and play and jump and stalk bugs all over the house. I also would be very afraid of them getting killed if they were outside.

As for kids...during the winter they are not out a lot, but a lot of us parents have kids that do outside activities and sports, that gives them plenty of exercise.

 

[Sleepy]

Do you realize how muscle it takes to fling cat litter 10 feet outside the box? He's gotta be getting exercise somewhere.

 

[Sleepy]

I do wonder sometimes if they lack anything by not being in direct sunlight, though. It isn't worth the risk to us, but I am curious about it.

The sun shines brightly through the windows in my house and my cat takes advantage of it.

 

[In a hurry]

So, does that work the same way, in the bodY? I am counting on it, because mine are sun soakers too!

You missed the fun of chasing the bits of dried pooh around once it is flung with the litter!

 

[Sleepy]

Well, I figure if my dog lays on the porch (he is not going to lay directly in the sunlight when it is 100 degres out) and gets sunlight, that is no different than the late evening and early morning sunlight that shines through the windows and screens for my kitty.

 

[jbdreamer]

We have two cats in a apartment, but don't worry they get plenty of exercise. Chasing each other, and jumping up and over the furniture like mad wears them out fast. Maxwell also loves to play fetch - I get tired of throwing the ball before he gets tired of chasing it. We have actually got him panting like a dog before.

 

[CheshireVal]

You can't really compare the exercise needs of a human child to that of a cat. Cats are way smaller, so they have more room to run, proportionally. Not to mention that cats can go VERTICAL, too, by climbing things. They utilize a lot more of my apartment space than DH and I do!

My cats have 1200 square feet (not a ton, but enough) to run around in, and, believe me, they do! They chase each other constantly, and we play with them too (with toys, bubbles, flashlights, etc.)

My parents made me keep my cats outside when I was growing up. None of them lived longer than 4 years before they were run over by a car or killed by a neighborhood dog (no leash laws back then).

My cats are happy, healthy, and *safe* inside.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

We also had cats when we lived in a small apartment and they were happy and got plenty of exercise. Our current cats have plenty of space to run, but our old cats just ran more circles, in tighter spaces. They were our entertainment when we were too poor to go out.

 

[piglet too]

Growing up, my cats were outdoor cats. They loved to run in the fields down the street and lay on the front porch just relaxing. Then one day some fool decided to set Tory's face on fire. She surrvived and from that day on, they were all indoor cats.

Not a one of them gained any weight, in fact, Callie lost weight from not catching all the mice in the fields . They had plenty of exercise just running around and loved to sit in the windowsills soaking up the rays. As for the quality of the sun, in the warmer months, the windows would be open and the sunlight just passed through the screens, so I think that was good enough for them.

Sure, they may have liked it better when they could roam, but after what happened to our beloved Tory, it was no longer a option for them. I know that my parents both regret ever letting them be outdoor cats to begin with. My Dad nursed her back to health. She lost both her ears, and was blind in one eye. The months after were the worst. She smelled so bad, but still wanted to be loved. It was very hard to pet her and not gag from the smell. But, pet her we did, and the vet says it was our love that helped her to live.

 

[merryg]

Our cat has 3200 sf of house to exercise in. She is much safer in the house. I'd rather have a fat kitty then a flat kitty anyday.

I laughed when I saw this, but I totally agree. We have two indoor cats that we love very much. We live out in the country and people constantly dump their unwanted pet cats all the time. I have to feed the outside strays. I have a soft heart. But it is so sad to see one run over or sick.

 

[poohandwendy]

It is just incredible that people have it in them to do such a cruel thing to an animal.

I have a neighbor who would think nothing of poisoning an animal who dared enter his yard. Seriously, he reminds me of the guy who shot and killed a teen a week ago for going in his yard. Some people are just unstable and some people see animals as pests.

I also do not think it would be fair of me to allow my cats to roam where they would use other peoples flowerbeds as litter boxes. I know they would ot appreciate it and it isn't necessary for mine to be out anyways.

 

[just.me]

my cats USE to be indoor/outdoor cats - coming and going everytime someone opened a door -
then winter came - they walked across the shoveled deck - once - and back and have never gone outside since -
their choice

and no i don't think you can compare humans to cat regarding exercise - I wish I could run under the bed and jump out at peoples feet it would be fun

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Thanks everyone! I really enjoyed your stories. Very entertaining thread, some of our DIS kitty's seem like quite the characters!