Could be!
As more cat owners are choosing, or being compelled to by local government by-laws, to keep their cats contained, an exercise wheel could be in your cat’s life.
Models that allow the cat to enter and exit from either side seem to suit most cats best. Energetic breeds such as Bengals, Russian Blues, Abyssinians and Siamese seem to take to them well.
With some cats you may need to be patient and encourage their interest with treats or other toys. Once accepted, exercise wheels are a safe and effective way to keep them fit, active and entertained – and often yourself amused.
On the negative side, exercise wheels can be expensive, from several hundred dollars up to $500 or more in Australia. Our team at Feline Health Research have found that, while many cats learn to love them, in some instances, cats may choose to ignore them altogether. Forever!
If you have DIY skills and basic tools, there are many videos demonstrating how you are able to make an execise wheel from common materials for a fraction of the cost of a ready-made model.
A no-cost option if you already have a treadmill, is to encourage your cat to use that, like these pretty Burmese.
Whether you prefer the calm, meditative action of our two Silver Bengals or something a bit more frantic and hilarious, searching ‘cat exercise wheel‘ on Youtube will provide some great enterainment and a better idea whether it is a solution for you and your cat.
And you can put all of that wasted time down to research!