Cheer Up Your Cat

Before you envy your house cat's lounging lifestyle, consider: Constant napping could be a sign of depression. As many as 40% of felines fall into funks out of sheer boredom. Why? Cats are safer indoors - away from cars and dogs - but the soft life can be downright dull. Signs of depression include overeating, lax grooming and sleeping at daybreak, when they should be up and hunting.

It doesn't take a kitty shrink to cheer up your cat, just attention:

1. Play with your cat everyday, even if he doesn't seem interested at first. It's a misconception that cats are antisocial. Some need just as much attention as dogs.

2. Engage predatory impulses with interactive toys such as feathers on a string or laser-mice toys.

3. Provide climbing towers and scratching poles to keep your cat from climbing the walls (or curtains).

4. Get your cat a pet to watch, like a gerbil, or put a bird feeder outside the window. Or, for the kitty who has everything, try a cat video. Check out on the internet that offers the adventures of Larry Lizard, Freddy Fish and Betty Bird.

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