Energetic kittens - how to keep them entertained

So, you’ve decided to take the plunge and add a furry friend to your family, but the question is how can you keep these cute and cuddly kittens entertained, so they don’t behave like such cheeky monkeys?!

Naturally kittens will be inquisitive, fearless and playful, it’s all part of their learning process and is derived from their hunting instinct. This learning also aids brain development (in the same way a human child develops). Kittens are born with the desire to chase moving objects and pounce on anything that catches their eye, whilst you can never eliminate this completely (as they are hard wired to hunt) you will be able to entertain your kitten for short bursts of time.

We’ve compiled a list of our top items to help your new furry friend from bouncing off the walls (and curtains!)

Scratching posts – we found that there are many different types available to buy online and in the shops, from basic to luxury there is a scratching post to suit all! However our favourite are the ‘play and scratch’ types as these not only encourage your kitten to entertain themselves, but also help to preserve your furniture too!

Laser pen – it is advised not to have pro-longed use of a laser pen and to stimulate your cats play with other toys, however in short bursts a laser pen can provide fun entertainment for your kitten as long as this is done in a safe manner (don’t point the laser beam directly in your cats eyes, bear in mind the time span of each session and keep your kitty entertained with other, more physical toys too).

Toys – there are a huge variety of toys available for kittens and cats to play with. These range from cat feeding exercise balls (which help to increase feline activity and decrease excessive eating), wand toys (which mean you can engage your cats natural instinct to chase and hunt), squeaky cat toys (provide extra stimulus for your kitten to play with) and the classic mouse and jingley toys.

Technology – with the ever advancing world of technology there are now apps that you can use to amuse your kitty, from your classic catch-the-mouse type game to laser pen stimulus and fishing, there’s a few to choose from! We found that our kittens liked the ‘GoCat Cat Fishing’ app best (available to download for free on the iTunes store).

However you choose to entertain your feline friend, we hope they settle in quickly and become part of the family!

Have you got any hints or tips to help other cat owners keep their new kittens happy and entertained that you’d like to share? We’d love to hear them! Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter, or Instagram and join our Paws & Claws community. Also, if you’re not already signed up to our Paws & Claws newsletter, click here to receive the latest edition to your inbox!