I work from home. I\u2019m guessing many of you do, too.<\/p>\n
I juggle a busy family. I\u2019m guessing many of you do that, too. <\/p>\n
I also love my cats, Newt and Ripley, to absolute pieces, and I\u2019m positive you love your cats, too.<\/p>\n
But, sheesh. They sure can plan the exact right moment to walk across your keyboard, knock a (full) glass to the floor, or waggle their butt on Zoom. Not the mention the vocalizing. Right when the school nurse \/ boss \/ doctor\u2019s office calls you, the yowling starts. (Or is that just Newt<\/a>?)<\/p>\n I want my cats to be happy. I want them to be happy AND I still need to get stuff done. So, today, let\u2019s dig into how to keep your cat entertained while you\u2019re working through that miles-long to-do list.<\/p>\n As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Before you can utilize the steps outlined in this post, there are a handful of things that must happen first. <\/p>\n Only after your cat\u2019s foundational needs are met can you look into outsourcing some of your involvement. <\/p>\n Cats are natural hunters. The predatory sequence mimics hunting: <\/p>\n Use this instinctive behavior to your advantage because it\u2019s very satisfactory to a cat to complete the predatory sequence. <\/p>\n Provide toys, like toy mice or even crinkled-up newspaper, that your cat can hunt. Or, consider investing in an automatic interactive cat toy<\/a> that you can break out for your cat when you need to focus on a task that doesn\u2019t require her input! <\/p>\n BTW, this is why a laser toy isn\u2019t recommended for all people and cats. There\u2019s no way for a cat to complete the sequence since she\u2019ll never be able to pounce and grab. One workaround is to always end a play session by swapping the dot for something your cat can grab and kill, like a food-stuffed toy. <\/p>\n Indoor cats live longer lives than outdoor cats. This post won\u2019t get into the arguments for keeping your cat inside; instead, I\u2019m going to assume that you do. If you want to read more about why this matters, check out the book Decoding Your Cat.<\/p>\n However, bringing the outside in can provide your cat with incredible enrichment that can keep her focused and playful while you log into your Teams meeting. <\/p>\n Regardless of what type of toys your cat prefers, it\u2019s a classic mistake to toss them all into one basket in the living room. <\/p>\n Those toys become part of the landscape and won\u2019t hold your cat\u2019s interest.<\/p>\n Instead, choose a few toys to put out at any given time. Then, stash the rest in a closet or bin. Swap them out every two or three days. If you have big Zoom meetings or phone calls that need your undivided attention, swapping them right before is a great idea because you\u2019ll pique your cat\u2019s curiosity and buy yourself some cat-interruption-free time. <\/p>\n This is especially true if you buy a new toy for your cat. Don\u2019t set it out until you need to take care of another task. <\/p>\n There are gobs of \u201csmart toys\u201d for cats on the market right now, but they are not all created equally. For instance, you want to avoid the automatic laser toys and anything that projects an image your cat can\u2019t actually catch and \u201ckill.\u201d <\/p>\n Utilizing appropriate smart toys makes the most sense when you need your cat to be busy but you are unable to play with her, or if you need to redirect your cat from an unwanted behavior (read: sitting on your keyboard during the workday). <\/p>\n 3 smart toy options for cats that can help keep her busy while you are also busy:<\/p>\n Free Download: Want our complete breakdown of battery-operated vs. puzzle toys? Join our email list and instantly receive the free One-Page Smart Cat Toy Cheat Sheet in your welcome email!<\/a><\/p>\n Not everyone wants to integrate smart toys in their pet care. And, for those of us who do, sometimes we forget to charge the darn thing up. (This happens ALL THE TIME with my dog Stola\u2019s automatic ball<\/a>.)<\/p>\n Add a few non-electronic interactive toys to your toy rotation. <\/p>\n Just before you jump on a call, break out this multi-feature interactive cat toy<\/a> with dozens of different options for your cat to play with, from diving in and out of the box to batting at the feather and more.<\/p>\n![\"a](\"https:\/\/ohmydogblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/How-to-Keep-Your-Cat-Entertained-While-Youre-Busy-Without-Losing-Your-Mind-683x1024.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nSet the Foundation for a Happy Cat<\/h2>\n
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Tap Into Your Cat\u2019s Natural Predatory Sequence<\/h2>\n
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Bring the Outdoors in with Sensory Enrichment<\/h2>\n
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The Power of Rotating Your Cat\u2019s Toys<\/h2>\n
Leverage \u201cSmart Toys\u201d for Focused Work Blocks<\/h2>\n
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Low-Tech, Non-Electronic Interactive Cat Toys<\/h2>\n