This is a sponsored post by Lunchbox, however all opinions about Purina, Walmart and my cats are 100% mine. I have had pets in my life for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid, my mom raised and showed Irish Setter dogs. My sister and I were deemed mom’s helpers. We got to help feed the dogs and run around with them in the back yard. As I got older, I became more of a cat person. This was largely because we rented and cats are just easier.

About 5 years ago, we rescued two kittens, sisters, Meep and Hazel, who were abandoned by their mom at 5 weeks. We fed Meep and Hazel formula with an eye dropper until they were old enough to eat cat food. As the years have ticked by, Hazel has gotten more and more obese. Poor thing is so big now, her belly drags the ground when she walks. My vet said I needed to find ways to help her lose some of that excess weight. Here are some tips my vet gave us to keep your indoor cat active and happy.

1. Food: I had been feeding Hazel a can of soft food for breakfast and for dinner. I also had dry food left out all day for her to snack on. Come to find out, she only needed the wet or the dry food, but not both. Leaving the dry food out was a way for Hazel to over eat…big time! Plus, because she is not an active cat, we needed to cut back on her portions by 10%. Treats are fine, as long as given in moderate amounts.
2. Water: Cats should have access to fresh water all day. Be sure to clean their water bowl every day as bacteria can accumulate in stagnant water.
3. Companionship: Some cats are loners, but many enjoy the companionship of another animal. This does not always mean another cat, like Hazel has with Meep. My daughter has 2 dogs and a cat and those 3 are inseparable. If this is not an option for you be sure to give your cat the appropriate amount of attention.
4. Exercise: It is important to keep your cats active (otherwise they look like Hazel!) My daughter bought a laser pointer and Fiona loves to chase that around the house. You can also buy cat climbers, condos or shelving for them to jump from and climb on. If you can, rig up an outdoor enclosure for them to explore. We are going to put up chicken wire for the deck. This will allow the cats to be outside without being outside!
5. Toys: To coincide with exercise, cats need a few toys to play with. This helps them with their cognitive function and helps keep them active. Cats instinctively love to play games that has them hunting prey because they have a natural hunting instincts. We found Hazel LOVES to play with Wobbert, the Purina Friskies Pull ‘n Play pack wobble toy, which we get from Walmart, our go to destination for our pet supplies.

We have been shopping at Walmart for food, toys and accessories for Meep and Hazel for years. We feel they have the best selection at great prices. We go every Sunday to choose their favorite Purina Friskies Wet Cat Food and a package of the Chicken & Cheese Purina Friskies Pull ‘n Play Tender Strings and a bag of the Party Mix Cat Treats. If we are running short on time, I will head over to the Purina Pet Park at Walmart.com and order plenty of the Purina products Meep and Hazel love so much!

Both the cats love to bat around Wobbert, while nibbling on the Purina Friskies Tender Strings and Party Mix cat treats. All you do is unscrew Wobbert’s head and fill it with the cat treats and lace a Tender String in the holes Wobbert’s head. We pull out Wobbert twice a day, for 20 minutes, which is what the vet recommends for keeping the cats active and happy. This keeps their mind sharp and helps prevent osteoarthritis and conditions like diabetes and urinary problems, which can plague your overweight cat. I love that for just a few dollars a week, I am able to keep my cats active and happy with their yummies from the Purina Pet Park at Walmart.com!

What Ways Do You Keep Your Indoor Cat Active And Happy?