If your cat is bored and needs a little positive stimulation, here are a few ways to get him purring again. These techniques have been tried and approved by cats my family and I have raised throughout our lives. Most cats respond well to touch, for those who don't, try to appeal to them with play instead.
Brushing:
Most cats love to be brushed, once they get used to it. Find a brush that doesn't tug at your pet's fur, and feels good to him. Make sure the bristles aren't too sharp. I like the kind of brush bristles that are coated with little balls on the ends. My one cat loves unused house painting brushes. Brushing him with it, he feels like he's being licked by his mother.
He melts in a pool of fluff as I brush his head, sides, tail and back with the paintbrush. Whatever kind of brush you use, give him a good session, and in no time, he'll be coming by and hinting for you to do it again.
Kitty massage:
The best way to massage a cat is to gently knead his fur as if you're kneading dough. Cats love this because it reminds them of being kittens, and how they used to knead their mothers when nursing. Then, skritch him behind the ears, under the chin, down his back and anywhere else that makes him respond happily. Gently rubbing the top of the head with a finger also feels really good to most cats. Some cats even love having their stomachs rubbed.
I have a cat who begs me to skritch his belly whenever I start to pet him. He rolls over and puts his tummy up, so I can massage his fur. If kitty doesn't like what you're doing, he'll let you know. Let his reactions be your guide.
Catnip
Fresh catnip is always the best, if you can get it. My mother keeps a catnip plant in her garden, under a cage, so it can grow without being leveled to the ground by her catnip-loving cat. She picks leaves off and brings them in to her cat Cinny, and he holds the big leaves in his paws as he enjoys ripping them apart. If you cannot get fresh catnip, buy fresh, dried catnip or toys with catnip inside. Your cat will thank you for any of these things.
Communicate with your cat:
It may sound odd, but talking to your cat will help the two of you form a stronger bond. Though the two of you may not fully know what the other is saying, an understanding of one another is developed. By certain behaviors, noises and looks, we know how they work and they get the idea on what gets our attention, too.
My parents' cat has them trained. He first tries to wake them up by meowing in their faces. If that doesn't work, he tries Plan B, going over to wind chimes and flapping them with his tail. In the rare event that the chimes don't work, he then resorts to walking on them, and purring in their faces.
Cinny is an expert at getting his point across. We get our points across back at our cats, by talking to and responding to them. My one cat is very vocal and will talk to me daily. I have no idea what he's saying, but appreciate the effort he puts into it, and talk back to him. Whatever we said to one another keeps our bond strong. He enjoys my company, even after he's been fed.
Cats add so much to our lives, so it is our duties as pet parents to make their little lives as happy as possible. Show kitty a little extra attention today, and his hearty purr is your thank you for a job well done.
