Without a doubt, one of the main reasons that motivate us to adopt cats is their playful and fun character, as well as how affectionate they are. It is not surprising, therefore, that if your feline does not show interest in the game you are wondering why your cat does not play, since this behavior is a good indicator to know that the furry is happy and he althy. However, as you will see in this article on our site, in collaboration with Catit, the truth is that the lack of play in cats can have various causes and in many of these cases it is completely natural.
Keep reading to find out with us why your cat doesn't play with anything, what to do in each case and when you should take him to the vet.
Why doesn't my cat play like it used to?
It is a fact that the vast majority of people who live with a cat know how affectionate and playful these animals are. Now, in the same way that we, cats over time, change their character as they become adults, during the course of this stage and until they grow older. For this reason, if your kitten was very playful as a puppy and now that he is an adult he has stopped playing (or plays less often), you should not be scared, because your cat is already an adult andhas a more mature character
This change can happen not only as your puppy develops into an adult, but also if your cat is older, as older cats tend to be calmer and less agitated because they don't have as much energy as when he was young and his joints are not what they used to be. However, the fact that your cat has stopped playing may not only be a consequence of age.
So, there are other causes that may explain why your cat no longer plays as before and to which you should pay attention.
You get frustrated or bored playing the game
Many times, when playing with a cat it happens that we don't do it in the most appropriate way, causing frustration in the animal. How does this happen? The truth is that the game, like many other actions, has a beginning and an end. This may seem obvious, but sometimes people when playing with their cats overlook this fact and, for example, prevent their cats from reaching the toy by constantly chasing it. This may seem fun on the surface, but how would you feel if you were constantly striving to achieve something and not succeeding? This situation would cause you frustration by constantly directing your efforts at something useless or boring, because you would get tired of doing exactly the same thing all the time for nothing.
When you play with your cat and never let him reach or chase his toy, exactly what we just described happens to him. So, what was originally intended to spend a rewarding time with your animal, is generating a negative state of mind until finally ends up getting fed up This also happens with a toy that has recently become popular, laser pointers. These awaken the cat's instinct to chase and produce a great feeling of frustration, since they can never capture their prey, generating unnecessary stress in the animal.
Also, having the same toys within his reach also tends to make him bored. This fact is due to the fact that cats tend to get tired of things easily. In this way, your cat will probably stop having fun with the toy that he liked so much because it has stopped seeming novel and interesting, since cats are curious by nature and need to find and experience new smells, sensations, etc. At Catit you can find a wide variety of cat toys of all kinds, including special circuits and tunnels for them.
Not always ready to play
Cats are quite sensitive animals, which generally do not like excesses. For this reason, you must be understanding and avoid being particularly annoying, especially when you see that the cat is not particularly receptive to the game. Perhaps at that time you prefer to rest or be alone. On the contrary, if you continue to bother your cat, he could get fed up with you, avoid you and even surprise you if he gets angry.
Not feeling well
If you have observed a sudden change in your cat's character with no apparent explanation, you should suspect that this is because your feline is not feeling well, that is, it is suffering from some pathology or pain due to to an injury. In this case, you should take your cat to the vet.
You have had a bad experience
Sometimes the refusal to play with you may be because has associated a negative experience with being with you To rule out this possibility, you should ask yourself: has he stopped playing in general or just avoids playing with you? There could be multiple situations for which this has happened, for example if you got angry when playing with him and you have punished him, which you should never do because he does not understand it and you only manage to intimidate him by harming your relationship. It could also be that he has experienced pain when you have interacted with him, that he has been startled by some loud noise or that he has hurt himself with a toy.
My cat is sad and won't play
Cats are animals especially susceptible to the changes that happen around them and their family. This is because, by nature, they need to keep an eye on their environment and know their routines to feel safe. It is not strange, then, that any significant change that happens in your environment, such as a change of address, the arrival of another member of the household and even changes subtle and unnoticeable, such as strange noises in the house or a sudden change of food, cause discomfort and stress. This fact clearly tends to affect his character, appearing sad and bewildered, which implies that he is not interested in playing, among many other things.
Finally, if your cat has recently been adopted by you, it's natural that he still isn't completely trusting you and with his surroundings for everything that we have commented, since it supposes a sudden change of everything that he has known. For this reason, your partner still needs some time to adjustto his new environment, which he still perceives as a hostile place full of strangers. This adaptation time also varies greatly depending on each individual, since some cats are more shy than others depending on their biology and past experiences. Find out how long it takes a cat to adapt to a new house in this other article.
My cat sleeps a lot and doesn't play
Why doesn't my cat play and sleep a lot? Cats are particularly sleepy animals, as they usually sleep between 12 and 15 hours a day to preserve their energy. For this reason, you should not worry if your cat sleeps peacefully and prefers not to play. In addition, as we have mentioned before, you should be especially attentive to when your cat is receptive and wanting to play and respect him when he prefers to rest.
This sleeping habit also tends to vary depending on factors such as age, as older cats sleep more. The temperature also influences, since in summer it is more frequent that the cat is more tired, etc. However, if you have noticed your cat lately more listless and lacking in energy, you should be aware of other signs that may make you suspect that your cat is not feeling well, such as if it has changed its eating habits, if it moves away from you and shows a surly character… If your cat sleeps more than usual, it could also mean that he is not feeling well and would be a reason to take him to the vet.
What to do to make my cat play?
If your cat has stopped playing or is avoiding playing with you, it is important that you try to understand why this is happening. As you have seen, there are various causes that can cause this change in his character. So let's see what to do if your cat doesn't want to play in each situation:
Identify how your cat likes to play
Although it may seem curious, not all cats like to play in the same way. Knowing what kind of games and toys your cat likes will go a long way to making sure he has a really good time and you spend quality time together, so For example, at me altime. This space of time can become a very fun game if we do it with interactive feeders such as the Catit Food Tree, multi-level anti-voracity feeders.
There are all kinds of cat toys on the market that you can choose from, some bounce, make noises, have feathers, fur, tails, light up, etc. Also, you can look for cheaper options and make your own homemade toys (with strings, boxes, etc.). Surely your cat has some kind of preference, therefore, see what items he usually entertains himself with at home
So that your cat is constantly entertained and every day it seems to him that he is living a new game experience, we recommend that you have a container where you can deposit various toys and games. In this way, you will be able to offer your cat different games and toys alternately: hide some of them for a while, take others out, change their places, etc. So, that toy that seemed boring to your cat will seem new and interesting again.
As we have mentioned before, it is good for your cat to entertain itself independently with different games and toys, but playing with our feline is also good for them. In this way, we help you to be more confident and avoid stress or boredom. Playing some classic games with your cat, such as hide-and-seek or “pilla-pilla”, helps them entertain themselves and move around, as they are ideal for avoiding being overweight. Learn to play with your cat in a positive way, as play is a fun and rewarding way to spend time together and get your feline exercise.
Respect it as it is
It is common for caregivers to have expectations and beliefs about how their cat should be, and these can be especially harmful, since it is not possible to try to change the character of the animal by forcing it to be what it is not. Your cat does not have to be as playful as the others, you must know how to accept him as he is and, if possible, invite him to play if he is inclined to do so. Otherwise, you will only endanger his well-being and your relationship with him.
Now that you know the different reasons why your cat does not play with you, has suddenly stopped playing or does not feel motivated to play with anything, we will teach you how to make homemade toys so that you can find their favourites.
Give him time to adjust
Whether it is the case that your cat has only recently arrived at home or if a significant change has occurred, it is best to give him some time to familiarize himself with the environment and the members of the household. family. Let him approach what he is afraid of or uncomfortable with and reward him with food or a light game if he is receptive.
If your cat does not play and is distrustful due to a negative experience associated with the game, the course of action will be the same: transform that situation that generated fear into something positive, with time and patience. On the contrary, forcing him into situations in which he feels uncomfortable will be counterproductive, because you will be making him experience fear and stress and, therefore, you will only make him associate said situation with a negative experience.
Finally, in these cases, it is also recommended to use a pheromone diffuser during the adaptation period, as this will help to be calmer in the environment, especially favoring adaptation in case your cat is shy.
