A case story about Mivert:

Miwert was a super agile, young neutered male cat who had cost his owners a new wooden floor in the kitchen because he had turned on the water tap - but forgot to turn the water off again. Miwert lived with a busy family with children in a big city where there was a lot of traffic. He was kept inside so as not to risk getting hurt in traffic.

When the cat entertains itself:

 Cats that suddenly become much more active than they previously were may have a metabolic disorder. Therefore, they should be examined by the vet. Miwert had been examined and fortunately was healthy and well, but his family was always very busy and they did not get to play with him every day.

 A young and healthy cat with nothing to do will come up with something to do on its own accord. Maybe it climbs the curtains, maybe it knocks over the bin and examines the contents - maybe it discovers that water comes out of the tap when it pokes at the tap with its paw. Miwert had found that out and he liked to drink from the running water and splash in it with his paws.

"But he has lots of toys" 

The family was super happy with Miwert and they had made sure that he had lots of nice toys. Unfortunately, they just layed on the floor the whole time and Miwert never really played with them. Toys that just lie on the floor and don't move are boring for the cat and they quickly lose interest in them. 

Initiate activity in your cat

 When you need to activate your cat, you can for example mimic hunting, which it would spend much of its time doing if it were out in the wild. But activation is much more than play and the way you decorate your home can actually help to activate your cat. You can make sure that all the senses are stimulated and that the cat gets plenty of healthy exercise.

 Miwert's family got a lot of concrete ideas on how to activate him and let him utilise all of his energy, so that he didn't use it to do ungodly things. The children were tasked with activating him every day. Activating the cat is a fun way to be with it. It also strengthens the bond between owner and cat, so it's not just indoor cats that should be activated by the owner.

Technical solutions

Sometimes there are technical solutions that can help resolve a behavioural problem or reduce its consequences. Miwert's family chose to buy a new tap with a motion sensor that ensured that it would shut off the water again if Miwert turns it on. Then the family didn't have to worry again about another big expense of a new kitchen floor.

3 tips on activation

 1. Safety above all. Adults must always approve the games the children come up with before trying them on the cat. It is for example important that an adult makes sure that there are no small pieces of toys that the cat could swallow or anything else that could injure it.

2. It is a good idea to set fixed activation times for each day. Then it will be easier for you to remember to do it - and your cat likes fixed and predictable routines. 

3. Toys that just lie on the floor all the time are not exciting for your cat. It's like a prey animal that's already been caught and killed but can't be eaten - Boring. You must make the toy alive and interesting for your cat. Toys made of a thick string, also called "fishing rod toys", are particularly good. Make small, jerk-like movements with the toy and make it move unpredictably like prey would, both along the ground like a mouse and up in the air like a bird. Do not leave the cat alone with cords, as it can become entangled in them and be injured.