It’s common to see dog owners taking their dogs on walks in the neighborhood, or on trips to the park to play Frisbee.
All the while, cat owners spend their time watching their feline friends nap in a cozy, sunny spot.

While there’s nothing wrong with a long catnap, it’s also important that your cat gets exercise on a daily basis.
Unfortunately the outside world is often an unsafe place for your cat to roam freely.

And attempts to harness your cat to take a stroll in the park often end up as a cat drag around the park.

Cat owners definitely face a harder time getting their beloved kitty companions the exercise they need to stay healthy. While it’s a challenge, the good news is that it’s not impossible.

Keep reading to discover a few of my favorite ways to exercise cats.

Laser Pointers

Most cats go crazy over laser pointers.

They fulfill a feline’s natural instinct to stalk, chase, and hunt a moving object.

A laser pointer makes it easy to exercise your cat every day from the comfort of your couch.

You can find laser points for only a few dollars at your local pet store.

Don’t forget to pick up some extra batteries while you’re shopping.

You don’t want your cat’s new favorite toy to run out of power in the middle of playtime.

Pet Safety Tip: While laser pointers are, in general, a very safe toy, it’s important to remember not to shine the laser light directly into your pet’s eyes. The light can cause eye damage if shone directly into the eye.

Bird Toys

A bird toy is another great option to satisfy your cat’s natural instincts to stalk and hunt. This toy simply consists of a few bird feathers attached to a long string that is tied to a handheld wand.

Be watchful of loose feathers. Your cat may attempt to chew and eat feathers that fall off the toy, which can lead to choking.

Outdoor Cat Enclosures

As a general rule of thumb, cats are much safer indoors.

Inside they are protected from bigger predators, cars, and other harmful situations.

However, outdoor time for your feline friend is wonderful if you can build an outdoor cat enclosure.
I recommended hiring a professional to put together your cat’s outdoor play space.

This way you can ensure it’s built properly and is safe for your pet.
Here’s a great example of a well-built outdoor cat enclosure.

Cardboard Boxes

Cats love boxes. And boxes make wonderful jungle gyms for your cat.

If you have leftover cardboard boxes, put them together to create a new play space for your furry friend to play with and explore.

Be sure to keep boxes safely planted on the floor. This way your cat can climb on them and walk through them without the fear of knocking them off a ledge or high space.

While cats are notorious for landing on their feet, we always want to make sure their four paws are firmly planted on the ground.

Scratching Posts

Scratching posts serve two purposes. Not only are they a great outlet for your pet to get some exercise, but they also help your cat to file her nails. An added benefit−they provide your cat an object to shred that’s not your couch.

I suggest purchasing several oversized scratching posts. Oversized posts last longer, giving your pet access to exercise day after day after day.

The only thing more important than getting your cat exercise is feeding your cat the right diet.

That’s why I suggest keeping your pet energized and ready to play by feeding him or her The Original CrockPET Diet®.
Learn more about The Original CrockPET Diet® and what it can do for your cat now.