by Nomi Berger
Are your favorite felines fascinated by the wide world outside your windows? Have you ever wondered why they seem to LOVE windows, delightfully dubbed “Cat TV,” that much? If so, consider the following reasons:
Mental stimulation and continuous entertainment: Watching the outside world -- leaves blowing on nearby trees, people walking along the sidewalk, cars driving down the street, children on bikes riding past or playing on the street -- keeps indoor cats from getting bored. Since different windows afford different views, if possible, provide your cats with several viewing options.
Excellent staring opportunities: Cats are crazy about staring ... and staring … and staring. Much of the time, cats can be found staring blankly through the window at nothing in particular. Can we chock up our felines’ fancy to our human version of daydreaming?
Bird watching: Because cats are natural-born predators, watching birds through the window satisfies their hunting instincts and typically causes them to “chatter” at them. To enhance this experience, place a bird feeder outside and allow your feline friends to carry on this satisfying, if one-sided, conversation with their feathered friends.
Rodent observing: Being prey-driven, cats are always fascinated with and intrigued by the scurrying and scampering of such assorted rodents as squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits and mice. Once again, for your kitties’ comfort and safety, place a cat tree near the window, install a window perch or set up a soft window hammock for them.
Fly swatting: Excelling at eye-paw coordination, cats especially excel in the fine art of fly swatting. If a fly happens to land on a window and buzz around for a bit, cats can instantly put their enviable dexterity to use by swatting away at it for their momentary amusement. Imagine then, how much more fun your felines will have with an exposed screen. And if there should be a small hole in that screen … the game may suddenly expand, escalating from the nimble act of fly swatting to the deft achievement of fly catching.
Sensory Input: An open window provides fresh air, new smells and sounds that are stimulating to our feline friends’ strong senses.
Territorial monitoring: As territorial creatures, cats consider your home and the area around it to be their personal kingdom. A window provides them a safe, elevated vantage point from which to watch over “their” territory. This way they can keep an eye on neighboring cats, passing dogs and every delivery person possible, helping them feel secure and in control.
Sunbathing and Warmth: Cats are true experts in comfort, and sunny windowsills serve as the ideal, cozy spots for long naps in soothing sunbeams. Besides simply feeling good, this warmth helps them regulate their body temperature and contributes to their overall health.
Condensation to lick: Conversely, when the temperature drops and the weather’s cold outside, condensation forms on the insides of most windows, allowing cats to savor these droplets with every lap, lap, lap of their sensitive tongues.
Waiting for you: Cats can often be found looking out the window for their owners to return home -- associating this welcome arrival with companionship and/or food.
*On a cautionary note: For your cats’ maximum comfort – and safety – always place a cat tree near the window, install a window perch or set up a soft window hammock for them.
Are your favorite felines fascinated by the wide world outside your windows? Have you ever wondered why they seem to LOVE windows, delightfully dubbed “Cat TV,” that much? If so, consider the following reasons:
Mental stimulation and continuous entertainment: Watching the outside world -- leaves blowing on nearby trees, people walking along the sidewalk, cars driving down the street, children on bikes riding past or playing on the street -- keeps indoor cats from getting bored. Since different windows afford different views, if possible, provide your cats with several viewing options.
Excellent staring opportunities: Cats are crazy about staring ... and staring … and staring. Much of the time, cats can be found staring blankly through the window at nothing in particular. Can we chock up our felines’ fancy to our human version of daydreaming?
Bird watching: Because cats are natural-born predators, watching birds through the window satisfies their hunting instincts and typically causes them to “chatter” at them. To enhance this experience, place a bird feeder outside and allow your feline friends to carry on this satisfying, if one-sided, conversation with their feathered friends.
Rodent observing: Being prey-driven, cats are always fascinated with and intrigued by the scurrying and scampering of such assorted rodents as squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits and mice. Once again, for your kitties’ comfort and safety, place a cat tree near the window, install a window perch or set up a soft window hammock for them.
Fly swatting: Excelling at eye-paw coordination, cats especially excel in the fine art of fly swatting. If a fly happens to land on a window and buzz around for a bit, cats can instantly put their enviable dexterity to use by swatting away at it for their momentary amusement. Imagine then, how much more fun your felines will have with an exposed screen. And if there should be a small hole in that screen … the game may suddenly expand, escalating from the nimble act of fly swatting to the deft achievement of fly catching.
Sensory Input: An open window provides fresh air, new smells and sounds that are stimulating to our feline friends’ strong senses.
Territorial monitoring: As territorial creatures, cats consider your home and the area around it to be their personal kingdom. A window provides them a safe, elevated vantage point from which to watch over “their” territory. This way they can keep an eye on neighboring cats, passing dogs and every delivery person possible, helping them feel secure and in control.
Sunbathing and Warmth: Cats are true experts in comfort, and sunny windowsills serve as the ideal, cozy spots for long naps in soothing sunbeams. Besides simply feeling good, this warmth helps them regulate their body temperature and contributes to their overall health.
Condensation to lick: Conversely, when the temperature drops and the weather’s cold outside, condensation forms on the insides of most windows, allowing cats to savor these droplets with every lap, lap, lap of their sensitive tongues.
Waiting for you: Cats can often be found looking out the window for their owners to return home -- associating this welcome arrival with companionship and/or food.
*On a cautionary note: For your cats’ maximum comfort – and safety – always place a cat tree near the window, install a window perch or set up a soft window hammock for them.
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