Your human's screen addiction

Feline and human, we all spend a lot more time indoors these days than in previous generations. This keeps us safe, so on the whole it’s a good thing. We’re safer from foxes, hawks, coyotes and, of course, automobiles. And we’re warmer and drier in bad weather. But this step forward in safety and comfort comes with behavioral changes that have their downsides. For humans, one of the major downsides of indoor living is screen addiction.

A screen is a flat, rectangular object that may be small and portable, huge and permanently installed on a wall or in a cabinet, or anywhere in between. Viewed from an angle they may appear to be gray or black, but seen face-on they display moving patterns of lines and colors. These moving patterns are what so entrance a human.

Think of it as a laser pointer for humans. The effect is similar—it hooks them right in the brain stem and they can’t help but be drawn in. But unlike a laser pointer, a screen doesn’t spur healthy exercise. In fact, a lack of exercise is one of the major negative effects of screen addiction. Feelings of sadness and loneliness are another. What you are most likely to notice first, though, is that they are ignoring you.

So what is a cat to do? Sadly, total remission of screen addiction is rare. Your efforts should be directed toward mitigation of the condition and its side effects. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Don’t chew through the power cords. That is not only counterproductive, but also dangerous. Inserting your claws through the fabric of their clothes in an effort to distract them is also unlikely to bring about any lasting behavioral changes.
2. Encourage your humans’ personal relationships. If strange humans come over to visit, be nice. Don’t growl or hiss. If you can manage to bring yourself to it, try to look cute. This may encourage further visits and deepening friendship.
3. Encourage your human to play with you. Find a toy and invite her to play. If you can convince her to play a round of laser pointer, it will do you both a great deal of good. Postpone your next nap for this if you have to.
4. Give your human something real to look at. Strike graceful yoga poses as you bathe, or chase your tail while balancing on the back of a chair. If you can make him laugh, so much the better. 
5. Give your human pleasant sensory input. If they can’t stop sitting like a lump in front of an inanimate screen, you can mitigate some of the negative effects by curling up in their lap and purring. The vibrating warmth will do them good.

As you implement your intervention strategy, keep in mind that not all uses of screens are evidence of a debilitating addiction. Some screen use falls into the category of work. While that word sounds unpleasant, don’t be too critical. Work is what keeps the kibble coming, so be tolerant of it in moderation. Some additional screen use falls into the category of interpersonal relationships. Sometimes humans are actually performing meaningful communication rituals when they use their screens. Interpersonal communication helps keeps humans sane, so you should be supportive when they try it.

It can be hard to tell the difference between work, communication, and addiction. As a general guideline, the more they are talking, the more likely it is to be communication. And the longer they sit there silently, the more likely it is to be addiction.

Good luck as you take on this challenge! If you find additional strategies that work, please share them.