2 Signs Your Cat Needs More Exercise, According to a Vet
There are many ways to make sure your cat lives a healthy, happy life. While basic needs such as food, water and a clean litter box are essential, incorporating movement and enrichment into your cat's daily life is also incredibly important for their overall well-being and health.
Getting enough exercise ensures that your cat stays at a healthy weight, which may help prevent obesity-related diseases such as diabetes or arthritis. Getting daily exercise also keeps your cat mentally engaged, reducing stress and boredom as well as releasing pent-up energy. Playtime and exercise are also ways for your cat to engage their natural instincts such as batting and pouncing.
Now that you know the importance of making sure your cat's getting enough exercise, the real question is how do you know your cat is getting enough movement in their life? And if they are exhibiting those signs of a sedentary lifestyle, how can you increase your kitty's activity levels in a safe and sustainable way?
To get more details on signs your cat needs more exercise and the safe ways to incorporate more movement in their routine, we spoke with Dr. Jordyn Zoul, a Georgia-based veterinarian at Seaside Veterinary Hospital on St. Simons Island, to get her expert insights. Here are some telltale signs your cat needs more exercise, as well as easy ways to make sure your cat gets more movement.
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Signs Your Cat Needs to Exercise
Dr. Zoul says these are the two signs your cat may need more exercise in their life.
1. They're Overweight
One of the biggest indicators that your cat needs more movement in their day is that they are overweight.
"House cats are commonly overweight. When you sleep more than half your day away and don't have to hunt for food, it's easy to add on the pounds," Dr. Zoul says. "The most obvious way to tell your cat needs to start an exercise regimen is if they're overweight. Your vet can help you determine if this is the case. We grade cats on a body condition scale out of 9. Anything over 4 or 5 out of 9 is overweight. Getting to the goal of 5/9 is best done via diet and exercise."
2. They Engage in Destructive Behaviors
Another sign your cat needs more exercise is if they end up causing a ruckus. Think things like scratching furniture, getting into things they definitely shouldn't be and having accidents outside of the litter box.
"While weight is the most obvious indicator of needing exercise, sometimes destructive behaviors will start rearing their ugly heads too," Dr. Zoul says. "Scratching furniture, soiling the house, biting or scratching, and so could be signs your cat is bored and needs more exercise and enrichment."
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Vet-Approved Strategies to Safely Increase Your Cat's Activity
You don't need to spend a ton of money to get your cat moving more. Simple cat toys are a great way to ensure your cat increases their activity level. Buying a laser pointer, a ball, a cat tunnel and other toys gives your cat options and encourages movement. If you have room, a cat tree or a cat perch is also a nice addition to their choice of toys.
"The easiest way to increase exercise in a house cat is toys," Dr. Zoul says. Laser pointers tend to be a big hit, and since they're controlled by you, can constantly change movement to keep the cat engaged. You'll be surprised how much your cat will run and jump chasing the mysterious red light."
Of course, you need to respect your cat's limitations, particularly at the beginning of starting their exercise regimen, and especially if they are overweight. It may take time for your cat to build up their strength before they're really around and playing.
"If your cat tires quickly, let them rest and be done. Sometimes, just like in people, they need to build up more stamina and conditioning, especially if they're already overweight," Dr. Zoul says. "Getting cat trees or other items with height differences can encourage exploration, movement and activity as well. Having safe toys around the house so there's always an exciting array of options is a good idea too."
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This story was originally published May 18, 2026 at 7:43 PM.