Play is a fundamental activity for the cat and a he althy physical constitution, as well as a positive emotional state, will depend on it. If you observe your feline cleaning himself excessively, eating compulsively or sleeping more than 18 hours a day, you may suggest that there is a problem related to stress, which you can help channel with a positive routine of games and interaction.
In addition, it is common for domestic cats to have limited hunting behavior, innate in their species, which usually causes frustration or redirection of behavior, shown as a direct attack on the owner's hands or ankles.
In this article on our site we will show you everything you need to know about how to play with a cat, recommendingjuguetes , explaining in detail feline behaviors related to game and hunting and also giving you ideas and advice to improve their quality of life. Take note!
Why is it so important to play with a cat?
The lifestyle notably influences the behavior and well-being of the feline. Although it is true that cats sleep many hours a day, between 12 and 18, it is also important to note that when they are awake, their level of activity is very intense, something that is diminished on many occasions when we are dealing with domestic cats who live in a home with no access to the outside.
In these cases, the felines cannot carry out the hunting behavior, which in the wild would involve up to six hours of activity daily physical to meet their nutritional needs. That translates into bored cats, overweight cats or cats that can only hunt small insects or toys.
Furthermore, this problem is aggravated when the owner is not able to correctly interpret feline language and considers that the cat may be asking for food, when in fact it is looking for social interaction and play. By playing with cats, we improve their quality of life, well-being, relationship with the owner and prevent various problems already mentioned, such as excess weight and stress. That's why it's so important to play with a cat.
What do cats play with?
Cats are curious animals that need to experience new experiences to feel stimulated and it is important to underline that they do not always use pre-designed toys as a way entertainment exclusive. A cat can play with plants, boxes, catnip or catnip and even with the appearance of any new object in the home that makes him curious and challenges his senses.
However, when you want to play with a cat, it may be advisable to use toys to avoid possible scratches and bites, since play behavior is closely related with hunting So, what toys should we choose to know how to play with a cat and motivate him in a positive and correct way?
Hunting toys
Hunting toys are usually the most recommended and we can highlight the fishing rod or toy rod, whether it has feathers or stuffed animals in the end. It is usually the most appreciated toy by cats, although each one has its own preferences. We also find within this category the stuffed mice or the interactive toys that move on their own, such as the butterfly toy for cats, many of which also emit noise.
Intelligence Toys
We can also use intelligence toys, such as the ball circuits for cats, the kong and other similar toys that act asfood dispensers In general, these types of toys combine physical and mental stimulation, but do not include the owner as a participant in the game.
How to make a cat play? - 5 fun games
Play behavior is fundamental and necessary for any cat, regardless of its age, so it is advisable to dedicate our best friend quality time by your side that promotes natural play behavior, especially if combined with hunting behavior. As owners, we must strive to learn the preferences of the cat as well as carry out activities that encourage feline nature
Here we propose 5 games for homemade cats:
- Fishing Rod Motivator: This is often the most engaging game for a cat, as the rapid movement of the rod fishing captures the attention of cats, which are much more sensitive to movement. If you don't have this toy, you can use any other you have at hand, moving it constantly.
- Playing hide and seek with the cat: Do you think dogs are the only ones who know how to play hide and seek with humans? Hide behind a door and call your cat to come get you. Once he finds you, congratulate him effusively and reward him, even with a little piece of food. You can always use the same words to associate them with this activity. For example, "Garfield, where am I?"
- Proception exercises: to carry out this activity you won't need much and, in return, you will get your cat to stimulate its balance, touch and also the sense of sight. They are especially popular with dogs, but can be great with cats as well. In addition, they help the cat gain self-confidence. You will only need to place different textures and objects in a room, for example, bubble wrap, a square meter of fake grass or a ladder on the ground. Then you should spread treats for the cat or rub them with catnip. The cat will experiment with new textures and shapes, as he discovers
- Olfactive exploration: Try hiding different herbs with odors in a more or less sealed carton of toilet paper, always paying attention to avoid plants toxic to cats Some examples may be catnip, valerian, or aloe vera. You will have a great time discovering new things.
- Hidden Tunnels & Treats: At any pet-specific (and even kid-friendly) store, you can find tunnels your cat will love. Hide inside the tunnel a prize or some plant that may attract him to stimulate his curiosity. If you don't know what to use, discover 10 scents that attract cats.
Why doesn't my cat play by itself?
Many people confuse home enrichment with leaving all the toys available to the feline within reach. This is a serious mistake You should know that cats show a lot of interest in new objects, substances and smells, therefore, after a single play session and without the stimulation that you can provide them, a static object does not cause them any curiosity, so they stop playing alone, even when we talk about interactive toys or those that move alone.
It can be very interesting to have a box with our cat's toys and remove only one or two daily, with the aim to show interest in them. If the objective is for him to play with us, we will spend time surprising him with those toys and socializing, but if, on the contrary, the objective is for him to have fun in our absence, we can rub the toys with catnip, to awaken their senses.
Adapting the game to each stage
The game must always be adapted to each stage of the feline, therefore, we will show you some curiosities that you should know when making your best friend play:
How to play with a small cat?
Kittens are especially playful and easy to motivate and, unless they have had a very traumatic experience, they tend to greatly enjoy the he plays with his humans, settling for practically any new object within his reach. It is very positive to stimulate them at this stage, although never excessively, as this will favor more positive behavior and better well-being, as well as predisposing the animal to be playful at all stages of its life.
How to play with an adult cat?
Not all cats play in adulthood and it may happen that, if they have not learned hunting or playing behaviors in their socialization stage, they do not know how to play correctly. Some have not even played in their entire lives, since they were quickly separated from their mother and siblings, in addition to the fact that the humans with whom they lived did not motivate them. Therefore, if you have adopted an adult cat and you are not able to make him play, you may find yourself facing this type of case.
How to play with an adult cat that doesn't know? This is undoubtedly a very complicated case and it takes time, dedication and the use of all possible tools. Combining catnip, toys and movement, we can get our feline to show interest in the game, although in serious cases, such as a sensory deprivation syndrome, it can happen that the cat never gets to play.
How to play with older cats?
Have you ever wondered how old cats play? Most owners don't realize that many felines play until their old age, although obviously not as actively as a puppy or adult cat. In these cases we must adapt the game based on the limitations of the cat itself, but trying to motivate him to continue exercising and stimulating his mind.
How long do you have to play with a cat?
A study published by the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare on 165 shelter cats [1] shows significant improvement inwell-being and stress reduction in those individuals who were in an enriched environment, with management based on positive reinforcement and where consistency prevailed, the opportunity to interact and favoring behaviors of natural play in the feline in 69-76% of cases.
So, how long should you play with a cat a day? It is important to highlight that the needs vary according to each individual and, although it is a fact that the game can improve the levels of stress and anxiety in the feline, a study of the The Animal Behavior book highlights the negative effects of excessive stimulation, which would notably increase stressful situations and would not always be an indicator of well-being in cats that have been deprived of stimulation for a long time.
Therefore, play should always be favored progressively and adapted to the individual and their specific needs for play, fun and stress reduction. But on average, you could put your daily play time at 30 minutes roughly.
How do I know if my cat is playing or fighting?
Especially when we are faced with a problem of aggressiveness in the cat, it can be difficult to differentiate the behaviors typical of the game and those that are effectively part of an aggression towards us. As we have explained previously, aggressiveness can be a consequence of a lack of play, which causes the animal to redirect its hunting behavior towards us, although it can also be due to to the accumulated energy that it has not been able to channel properly.
But if our cat shows aggressive beyond the moments of play, we could suspect that the behavior is due to another reason, for example, due to a lack of socialization, a trauma or a bad experience, due to the feline's own genetics and even due to an organic cause, that is, due to pain or due to a hormonal problem, among others.
In the face of any of these problems, the best thing to do is carry out a veterinary exam to rule out any pathology and, in the event of serious behavior, consider go to an ethologist or a feline educator.
