Make time for structured play with felines

Our feline friends benefit from structured playtime and a constant need to be entertained.

All the destructive behavior that occurs during the holiday season can easily be avoided or lessened if you make time to play with your felines on a daily basis. Structured playtime is important to keep your feline's mind and body active.

Felines that are not constantly sleeping are more alert and are more than likely not apt to be overweight. A bored and overweight animal is also much more likely to develop serious health issues.

My cure for the feline holiday blues is to establish a routine of play now, before the holiday season runs away from you. Why not buy their holiday toys early so that they can have their fun now and feel like they are included in the family's Christmas, rather than feeling like they are lost in it?

If you encourage play with wispy and feathery wand toys, your feline is more apt to play on their own when you are not around with the toys they can work on their own.

Make sure that you always leave out a safe collection of toys that encourage self-play. This will allow your feline to have an extra fitness workout each day. Please, also remember to have a secure, feline-proof hiding spot for the toys that need your supervision.

Play between multiple cats in the household can be encouraged by adding cat trees and furniture of varying heights. Jumping from perch to perch is great fun and exercise for your felines when you are not around. These kinds of items enhance their natural stalking instincts. Cat beds and furniture with multiple openings also can cause a stir of interest between two or more felines.

Try adding a dangling toy to this enclosure and watch them go nuts. This is all safe fun for your felines when you are not home, as long as you have removed all the bells, feathers, bows and elastic.

Window perches are a nice element to bring the busy outdoors inside. I just don't mean the activity between the birds, squirrels and rabbits. My felines are amazed by the leaves and the snow blowing past the windows.

If you try extra hard to encourage extra playtime this season you might find that you have cut down on the destructive, bored behaviors such as box chewing, paper shredding, toilet paper shredding and just plain clawing up the family sofa.

Remember, I only said you might succeed. A certain measure of success is left to the temperament of your feline.

Featured felines

• Beba is a female calico that was raised from a kitten by the family that gave her up. The husband was become allergic to cats and the family was moving out of state. So, they decided that Beba had to go.

Fortunately, she came to us. Beba is still a little bewildered by what has happened. The environment she grew up in is gone and she is surrounded by strange cats and people. She is friendly with people, but doesn't get along well with other cats.

She is adapting to the shelter, but is a little reluctant to explore when given the opportunity. She really needs a nice, quiet, loving family and a new forever home.

• Brad is so unique looking and adorable, a dark black tabby with a white face. Brad loves the attention when everyone oohs and aahs over him.

Brad was a shy kitty when he came to the shelter, but a volunteer loved him and taught him to trust people. Brad loves to play and is very kitten-like. Brad would thrive in a home where someone would be patient with him.

He really could be a great companion if he could find someone who would give him the love he deserves.

Upcoming

• Mr. and Mrs. Santa and all of their helpers will grace The Buddy Foundation building again this festive season. The times for photo opportunity will be the next consecutive Saturdays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Bring your children and furry friends dressed in holiday attire and take a photo to grace your holiday cards.

• Don't forget to visit our lobby for animal-themed Christmas ornaments for a $5 donation. The price has not changed since we began 21 years ago.

Check our other locations at veterinary hospitals and pet stores, including Animal Feeds & Needs. If you are having a Christmas party and do not want presents, ask your guests to bring pet store or grocery card gifts for Buddy. A gift to our homeless animals is more in the holiday spirit than a hostess gift you will regift or pass on.

• The Buddy Foundation, 65 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, is a nonprofit (501c3), all volunteer, no-kill animal shelter. For information, call (847) 290-5806 or visit www.thebuddyfoundation.org.