5 Signs Your Cat is Bored — and How to Fix It
Indoor cats live longer, safer lives — but without the right stimulation, they can become bored, anxious, and destructive. Boredom in cats often goes unrecognised because cats hide their distress well.
Here are 5 signs your cat may be under-stimulated, and what you can do about it today.
1. Excessive Sleeping
Yes, cats sleep a lot — 12 to 16 hours is normal. But if your cat seems to sleep constantly and shows little interest in play or interaction, it may not be resting: it may be checked out from boredom. A tired cat that has played hard sleeps differently to a disengaged cat doing nothing all day.
2. Destructive Scratching
Scratching is a natural, healthy behaviour. But if your cat is tearing up your furniture, it's often a sign they lack appropriate outlets. A sisal scratcher — like the Loft Sisal Lounge Bed or the Ascent Climb Scratch Guard Mat — gives them a legal, satisfying surface to claw.
3. Over-Grooming or Pulling Fur
When cats are anxious or under-stimulated, they sometimes redirect that energy into excessive grooming — to the point of creating bald patches. If your vet rules out skin conditions, boredom and stress are often the culprits.
4. Attention-Seeking Behaviour
Meowing constantly, knocking things off tables, biting your ankles — these are classic boredom symptoms. Your cat is telling you they need engagement, not just food and shelter.
5. Aggression or Hyperactivity at Night
Cats are naturally crepuscular (most active at dawn and dusk). An under-stimulated cat will often release all their pent-up energy at 2am — zoomies, yowling, ambushing your feet. A play session before bed can dramatically reduce this.
How to Fix Cat Boredom
Interactive Toys
Toys that mimic prey movement are the most effective. The Pounce Hunt Feather Wand engages the hunt-catch-kill instinct and gets cats properly tired. Aim for two 10-minute interactive sessions per day.
Puzzle Feeders
Make your cat work for their food. The Nourish Smart IQ Puzzle Feeder and 2-Layer Puzzle Feeder turn mealtime into a mental challenge — slowing down eating and stimulating problem-solving.
Vertical Space
Cats feel safer when they can survey their territory from height. Wall-mounted perches like the Ascent Wall Wooden Perch or a full 140cm Sisal Climbing Tower give indoor cats the vertical territory they crave.
Hiding Spots
A bored cat is often also an anxious cat. Providing enclosed hiding spots — like the Snug Deep Sleep Cave — gives them a place to retreat and decompress.
A Second Cat?
If you're out of the house for long stretches, a companion cat can be transformative. Introductions take time, but two cats who bond will entertain each other in ways no toy ever could.
Browse the full Toys & Interactive collection at Purrfect — and keep your indoor cat happy, healthy, and genuinely tired.