Ways to keep your cat happy and healthy

Our Clear the Shelters campaign continues and if you're thinking about adding a cat to your family, it's important to know how to make sure that they stay entertained. 22 News reporter Claire Overton has what you should do to keep them happy and healthy. >> Unlike dogs, cats can spend hours at home by themselves as long as there is food, water, and a clean and kept litter box. But while you are at home with your cat, it is important to make sure they have enrichment whether outside or inside. Don Humane Society does not insist someone adopting a cat keeps the cat indoors. But there are some factors to think about when it comes to outdoor enrichment and safety. First, Dacon said if you are thinking of letting your cat outside to make sure they know during the adoption process so they can match you with the best pet. There are a few other factors to consider as well. You want to think about where your home is. Is it in a suburban setting? Is it rural? Uh is it urban? Are there spaces out there where a free roaming cat is going to be welcomed or pretty safe? >> For outdoor cats, it is important to ensure they have a collar with an ID and are also microchipped in case they get lost. >> While outdoor cats may get their enrichment from being outdoors, for indoor cats, it's important to schedule enrichment into their daily lives. There are a lot of toys on the market that um are perfect for entertaining your indoor cat. Toys that mock little uh prey animals like wand toys and things on a stick that you can play with the cat and wave it around and the cat kind of that speaks to that cat's instinct to hunt and track something and get it. >> There are also other toys that can dispense food or treats for cats to work on enrichment by themselves or even a place where they can look out the window and watch birds go by. working for you. Claire Overton, 22 News.