September 18, 10:07 AM
Having pets in an apartment can sometimes be a challenge. There is no backyard to get them exercise and the square footage of a one bedroom apartment is often quite small for them to let loose inside.
Dog owners know that keeping a dog, no matter what size, can bring trouble when that animal is cooped up all day. Either they become so wound up from having all that energy in a small space and run around in circles or tear up the carpet... or they go the opposite route and become lazy and overweight.
Believe it or not, cats also can be destructive in apartments. I know we all know they can be lazy, but cooped up cats can get arrogant and tear up furniture or poop on the ground out of spite because they don't get enough excercise.
Dogs are easy. Just put them on a leash and take them to the nearest park. And you are not allowed to complain about not having enough time...when you decided to be a pet owner, you accepted the responsibilities that comes with it. With a dog, that means taking it for walks...especially when you live in an apartment.
But what about cats? Do they need exercise too?
The answer is: absolutely. The best way to get your cat up and moving around to expel some of that feline zaniness is to get a laser pointer and let them chase it around. My cat absolutely loves it and will chase it for hours. She actually has learned to bring it over to me when she wants to play. I kid you not! It's like a dog and a ball. I'm not sure why cats get such a kick out of chasing a spot, but they do.
In fact, both of my cats love it. They have both dropped some of the pounds they had gained from copious amounts of canned cat food and treats that I have been spoiling them with, just from being active in the apartment.
It's easy, they love it, and they don't poop on my floor anymore. How awesome is that!?!??!