How to get cat more exercise?

[black_cat]

My cat is overweight and I'm worried about his health. Does anyone have tips to get him to exercise more??
As of right now, the only exercise he really gets is walking up and down stairs, around the house, and jumping on and off of my bed.

He's had a cat tree before and didn't use it at all, and he's not interested in laser pointers.

We have a cat harness from his last owners, so I've begun to take him on walks, however, he is not clear on the part of walks where he walks. He walks like 5 feet, then lies down. Will he eventually want to walk longer?
I'm also going to try to do some agility course stuff, like jumping between two chairs, over a jump, etc.


Help???

 

[neo71665]

Any young kids in your family? My barn cats love to play with my son and my g/f son. Neither are interested in playing with any adults. I know my 13 y/o and her 5 y/o will wear them out to the point they have to find a high spot to hide from them after a few hours.

 

[black_cat]

Any young kids in your family? My barn cats love to play with my son and my g/f son. Neither are interested in playing with any adults. I know my 13 y/o and her 5 y/o will wear them out to the point they have to find a high spot to hide from them after a few hours.

I am teenager
What kind of playing do they do?

 

[neo71665]

I am teenager
What kind of playing do they do?

Alex the female Siamese will fetch and chase them all over. Steve the male loves those sticks with a toy attached. He's more antisocial but once Ally starts playing he has to come out. Once ally gets wound up she bounces off the walls running around. She tends to get more wound up with the 5 y/o now days vs my 13 y/o. Steve tends to stay away from him as he aint that hyper.

My son is into minecraft hence the names.

Some cats just aint into playing or interacting. If yours is like that and overweight you might need to limit it's feed.

 

[black_cat]

He used to have a toy that was a long stick for people to hold with a long bit of fabric that he could chase, but it broke. I'll try to DIY one. He's not always in the mood to play, but will sometimes!

 

[neo71665]

Heck a mop or broom handle, some string, and a piece of rag and ya got a free toy.

Alex will fetch a rag tied in a knot. Not normal for cats and she picked it up on her own. Aiden my 5 y/o will play with her for hours throwing it and she bringing it back. Steve gets jealous and comes over rubbing on him like a cat does to pet him instead of playing with his sister.

Steve runs as soon a 4 wheeler is cranked but Alex will jump on the seat and will let them ride her around. Sometimes I think she missed her calling of being a dog instead of a cat.

 

[Dinogrrl]

IF your cat is overweight, yes that will limit how long he is willing/able to play. As he loses weight, his endurance should increase!

If he's enjoyed feather wands in the past, definitely get or make him a new one! Keep trying different sorts of toys too, you never know what kinds an individual cat will like.

If your goal is to help him with weight loss, diet is of course a part of that as well. More wet food than dry food, and no free-feeding dry food are the first two steps! Food puzzle toys are great for those cats who can't shake their dry food addiction, and they come in so many different styles nowadays you're sure to find at least one that your cat will enjoy .

 

[SpotTheCat]

How old is he? the best cat toy I have found is a piece of string, never found a cat who doesn’t like it, mine like different colours and textures (when I first got minou her favourite toy was a dried bit of cabbage tied to a string) so if he is not interested in one string try a different one.

 

[black_cat]

How old is he? the best cat toy I have found is a piece of string, never found a cat who doesn’t like it, mine like different colours and textures (when I first got minou her favourite toy was a dried bit of cabbage tied to a string) so if he is not interested in one string try a different one.

He's an older boi- 11 or 12. He likes a piece of string, but is it really helpful if he's only moving one paw, or his front paws? He likes to lay down and play with it with his paws, not chase it or pounce on it.

 

[black_cat]

He's starting to walk more on his walks, which is good. (before he'd walk a few steps then lay down, now he walks way more before laying down)