How much time do cats need?

[Yzma]

How much time do cats need?
If i have 3 cats in an apartment....how much time should i spend playing with them?
I always worry that they're bored...
I play with them for about an hour, maybe two hours everyday, and i'm at home most of the time to hug them and pet them and stuff... But i wonder if that's enough. How much is enough time?

And also, do you think cats in apartments are really happy without an enclosed garden? We have a balcony garden but, oodles of toys and a cat tree... but sometimes i wonder if my kitties are really happy with their quality of life... And if they're not, how do they lodge a formal complaint?

[Tina B and crew]

you know I always wonder the same thing Yzma....we have four cats whose only outdoor exposure is a screened porch...but other than Gizmo's territorial issues with Willow they seem fairly happy. I can just tell when they aren't because the mope (this usually calls for a trip to the vet) Our cats are always getting attention through out the day, maybe not in large increments, but when we are home we constantly talk to them, pet them, play with them in spurts. And they have each other....which isn't always a good thing. I think that if the seem content, are eating and not grouchy or depressed then they are probably happy, at least in our eyes.

[Yzma]

[jason]

How much time do cats need?
I always worry that they're bored...

keep in mind cats sleep most of the day (or night depending on patterns). i spend roughly 2-3 hours a day doing something with them. sometimes playing, petting, brushing, checking for fleas, making a game out of treats, etc.

sometimes i wonder if my kitties are really happy with their quality of life... And if they're not, how do they lodge a formal complaint?

this is only a guess, but if you notice them initiating play time or some form of contact among themselves, then i would assume they are quite happy. from my experience, cats who are frustrated with their environment tend to shut down their feline social behavior in one way or another.

if they are frustrated then i would assume the initiation would be towards you mostly....and should be more of an attention getter than playtime...of course this could mean either social or health related issues but you know what to look for.