5 cool SUMMER ideas to do with your CAT

Who said that that summer is over? Not yet, at least not for us! Me, Jacqueline and Puddles wanted to share some of the cool summer ideas that you can do with your kitty (or that your kitty can do with you! 😉)

If you prefer listening vs reading, check out my YouTube video on this topic.

Cats, just like us, experience different seasons differently. They’re sleepier in winter, when it’s cold and dark outside. And in summer, they’re usually full of energy and mischief! Of course, some of you might live in a place without four distinctive seasons, and I’m not sure if you experience a change in the seasons at all. I still hope that you can find something useful in this video, because even if you live in Iceland, you can create your own summer haven for a day or two, right? ☀️

I want the kitties to experience the best of what summer has to offer in a safe and healthy, but most of all, fun way!

All the ideas here are meant to be offered to a cat, not to be forced on them! We can gently offer a fun activity and see their reaction – whatever it might be, it’s okay! If they like it – great, if not – that’s just fine too. Not all people like the same things and not everything fun is considered fun for everyone.

So let’s begin!

Here are our 5 cool summer ideas to do with your cat:

#1: Get cat grass or catnip

Summer is a time when we eat a lot of fresh stuff: fruits, veggies, greens, etc. So why not offer some to your cat? You can grow your own cat grass or catnip, or you can simply buy it at the store, both pet stores and regular grocery stores often sell wheat grass so it’s usually not too hard to find. I usually grow oat or wheat grass, but with fresh catnip, I prefer to buy it. Especially if it’s organic and looks nice and fresh. If you already offer fresh grass or catnip to your cats, here’s a challenge for you: try to find a valerian plant, which is also another safe and attractive plant for cats.

 #2: Meditate with crickets, birds, or other nature sounds

Usually in summertime we can hear all kinds of nature sounds: crickets, birds, frogs, maybe owls if you live in the rural area. This is a cool opportunity to sit down in silence (or better to cuddle!), to listen to the live sounds of nature, and enjoy. So put all the distractions away (yes that includes your phone!), let go of all the negative stuff and worries, and just be here and now with your kitty. If you live in a city or in a place where it’s hard to hear nature sounds naturally, try to find a good video on YouTube and meditate with it.

 #3: Have a breakfast together in the fresh air

What can be more bonding and romantic than a summer breakfast in the fresh air? I don’t offer you to take your cat outside in a loud park, I don’t think it’s a great idea, especially if your kitty has never been outside before or doesn’t have vaccinations. Outside can be a very dangerous and overwhelming place for a cat, it depends on a cat of course, and the circumstances. For my idea, all you need is an open but screened window that you can open, and let the fresh air in! It can also be a screened balcony or a catio. If you have a yard where you cat feels comfortable and is safe, that would be great too. You can put a nice kitchen towel or a small table cloth on the floor or on the windowsill to make it pretty and more enjoyable, and have a little feast! Get some tasty food for yourself, and for your kitty. It would be great if you can find some nice pretty dishes, I call it festive dishware. And that’s it – enjoy your special breakfast! You can invite other family members, too, as long as everyone knows each other and gets along well. Maybe try to get some new food for your kitty or get their most favorite stuff to make this breakfast the most pleasant and special. And again, remember to put all the distractions away, and enjoy this time with your furbaby! It might be hard to do if you have a whole cat crew, but I think it’s still doable! I’d suggest doing it after breakfast when kitties aren’t too hungry and just offer them a snack, like their favorite treat or something like that. Oh, and make sure everybody has their own plate!

A quick note – it’s ok if your kitty or kitties only enjoy it for 2 or 3 minutes, and if they want to leave right after they finish their meal, that’s ok. Let them do what feels right, don’t force them to stay with you for longer if they don’t want to. Our goal is to offer, and let them choose whether or not they like it.

 #4: Make a pool with cork balls and catnip

I’ve never done it before and tried it for the first time a week ago, you can see the whole experience in my YouTube video. For this idea, things you might need are:

• A basin

• Water

• Dried catnip

• Some waterproof toys (I used cork balls)

• *Optional: Beach towel and cat grass

And that’s it! Set it up for your kitty and let them sniff and explore in any way it fits!

#5: Try some new healthy treat with superfoods or fresh ingredients

Our favorite treat right now is Steve’s Protein Bites, but of course you can choose any fresh cat treat you find in your local stores. The idea is to give your kitty something new to try that is fresh and packed with vitamins and all that summer goodness! We like Steve’s Protein Bites because it’s a fermented fresh food with healthy ingredients, and what’s most important – our kitties really like it!

*(I’m not an affiliate with Steve’s Real Food, I’m just a big fan and our cats love their stuff!)

 So there is it, thanks so much for reading! Please share this blog post with your cat-loving friends and enjoy the joyful summer days with your kitties!

~ Vani 🐚