Content
- Playing with cats: why is it so important
- how to play with cats
- Toys for cats that simulate hunting
- Cat Toys That Stimulate Intelligence
- 6 games with cats
- cat wand
- Play hide and seek with the cat
- Proprioception exercises
- olfactory exploration
- Tunnels and hidden prizes
- Games for cats online
- Cat games: because my cat doesn't play alone
- Play for cats: puppies, young people and adults
- play with kitten cats
- play with adult cats
- play with old cats
- Playing with cats: for how long?
- How to tell if the cat is playing or attacking
The game is a fundamental activity for the cat and on that depends a healthy physical constitution as well as a positive emotional state. If you observe the cat cleaning itself excessively, binge eating, or sleeping more than 18 hours a day, you may think it has a stress-related problem and can help channel a positive routine of play and interaction.
Also, it is common for domestic cats to have a limited hunting conduct, which is innate in its species, and which generally provokes frustration or change behavior, which is shown as a direct attack on the tutor's hands or ankles.
In this article by PeritoAnimal, we will explain to you çhow to play with cats for you to know all about recommended toys, feline behavior related to game and hunting and also give ideas and tips to improve your pet's quality of life. Start taking notes!
Playing with cats: why is it so important
the lifestyle significantly influences behavior and well-being of the feline. Although cats can sleep between 12 and 18 hours a day, it is important to note that their activity level is quite intense when they are awake. This is reduced on many occasions when it comes to domestic cats that live in a home with no access to the outside.
In these cases, the cats cannot perform the hunting behavior, which in nature would take up to six hours of daily physical activity to cover the pussy's nutritional needs. This translates to bored cats, overweight cats, or cats that just hunt small insects or toys.
Furthermore, this problem is exacerbated when the caregiver cannot correctly interpret the feline tongue and considers the cat to be asking for food when, in fact, it is seeking social interaction and play. When playing with cats, the quality of life improves, the well-being and the relationship with the tutor, and several problems already mentioned, such as excess weight and stress, are avoided. That's why it's so important to play with a cat.
how to play with cats
Cats are curious animals that need to experience new experiences to feel stimulated and it is important to emphasize that they do not always use predetermined toys as an exclusive form of entertainment. A cat can play with plants, boxes, catnip and even the appearance of a new object in the house that will arouse curiosity and challenge its senses.
However, when it comes to play with cats, it is advisable to use toys to avoid possible scratches and bites, as the game is closely related to hunting behavior. So what toys to choose to play with a cat and positively motivate him?
Toys for cats that simulate hunting
Toys for hunting cats are usually the most recommended and the cat wand or a toy stick, which has feathers or stuffed animals on the end. It is generally the most popular toy for cats, although each has their own preferences. Also in this category, we find stuffed mice or interactive toys that move by themselves, such as the butterfly toy for cats, many of them also emit noise.
Cat Toys That Stimulate Intelligence
We can also use toys for intelligence cats, such as circuits with balls for cat, kong and other similar toys that act as food dispensers. In general, these toys combine physical and mental stimulation, however, they do not include the caregiver as a participant in the game.
If you are looking for a more economical and ecological option, also find out how to make cat toys and how to make cat toys with recyclable material in these PeritoAnimal articles.
6 games with cats
Regardless of age, the game conduct is fundamental and necessary for any cat, therefore, it is advisable to spend quality time with your feline to promote natural play behavior, especially if combined with hunting behavior. As a tutor, you should strive to know the cat preferences and the activities that promote feline nature.
Here are 6 games for cats:
cat wand
This is generally the most attractive game for a cat, as the quick movement of the stick captures the attention of felines, who are much more sensitive to movement. If you don't have this toy, you can use whatever you have nearby, moving it constantly.
Play 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 look for you. After finding him, praise him effusively and reward him, even if only with a little food. You can always use the same words to associate them with this activity. For example, "Garfield, where am I?"
Proprioception exercises
You don't need much for this activity and, in return, it allows your cat to stimulate balance, touch and the sense of sight. They are especially popular on dogs, but they can also be excellent on cats. Furthermore, they help the cat to gain self-confidence. You just need to put different textures and objects in a room, like bubble wrap, a square meter of fake grass, or a ladder on the floor. Then you must spread prizes to the cat or rub them with catnip. The cat will experience new textures and shapes as it discovers.
olfactory exploration
Try to hide in a semi-enclosed box, different aromatic herbs, always paying attention to avoid plants that are toxic to cats. Some good examples to use include catnip, valerian or aloe vera. Your pussy will enjoy a great time discovering new things.
Tunnels and hidden prizes
Any pet store (and even for children) can offer tunnels that your cat will love. Hide inside the tunnel a prize or a plant that might attract you to stimulate your curiosity. If you don't know what to use, find out: 10 scents cats love.
Games for cats online
Another interesting game for your cat can be accessed in the next video, just place an Ipad on the ground and let your cat "chase" the fish on the screen:
Cat games: because my cat doesn't play alone
Many people confuse environmental enrichment for cats with making all toys available to the cat. That is one big mistake. You should know that cats show great interest in new objects, substances and smells, so after a single session of games and without the stimulation you can provide, a static object doesn't cause them any curiosity, so they stop playing alone, even when it comes to interactive toys or ones that move by themselves.
It can be very interesting to have a box with toys of the cat and take only one or two a day to show interest in them. If the goal is to play with cats, you need to invest time to surprise them with toys and socialize, but if, on the contrary, the goal is to have fun in the absence of the tutor, you can rub cat toys with catnip, so that your senses are awakened.
Play for cats: puppies, young people and adults
The games for cats must be adapted to each stage of the cat's life, so we'll show you some facts you should know when playing with cats:
play with kitten cats
Kittens are especially playful and easy to motivate and, unless they have had a very traumatic experience, they generally enjoy playing with their humans enormously, being satisfied with just about any new toy. It is very important to encourage them at this stage, although never excessively, as this will favor a more positive behavior and better well-being, in addition to predisposing the animal to be playful at all stages of its life.
play with adult cats
Not all cats play in adulthood. If they haven't learned hunting, or even game behavior in their socialization stage, it may happen that they don't know how to play correctly. Some did not even play in their entire lives, as they were quickly separated from their mother and siblings, and the fact that the humans they lived with did not motivate them. So, if you've adopted an adult cat and you can't get him to play, you may be facing this case.
How to play with adult cats who don't know me? This is, without a doubt, a very complicated case and takes time, dedication and use of all possible tools. By combining catnip, toys and movements, we can make the cat show interest in the game. In severe cases, such as a sensory deprivation syndrome, it may happen that the cat is never predisposed to play.
play with old cats
Have you ever wondered how old do cats play? Most owners are unaware that many cats play until old age, although they are obviously not as active as a kitten or an adult feline. In these cases, you must adapt the game considering the limitations of the cat, always trying to motivate him to continue exercising and stimulating his mind.
Playing with cats: for how long?
A study published by the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare with 165 shelter cats [1] showed a significant improvement in the wellness and stress reduction in those individuals who were in an environment enriched with a system based on the manipulation of positive reinforcement and where consistency was prioritized, the opportunity to relate and favor the feline's natural game behavior in 69 to 76% of cases.
So how long should cat play be per day? It is important to note that needs vary with each individual. and while it is true that play can improve stress and anxiety levels in cats, a study in the book Animal Behavior highlights the negative effects of overstimulation, which would notably increase stressful situations and which would not always be an indicator of good. -being, as in the case of cats that have been deprived of stimulation for a long time.
Therefore, the game should always be progressively favored and adapted to the individual and their specific needs for play, fun and stress reduction. However, on average, you can set the daily playtime to around 30 minutes.
How to tell if the cat is playing or attacking
Especially when you encounter a problem with aggression in the cat, it can be difficult to differentiate between cat play behaviors and those that are actually part of aggression against you. As we explained earlier, aggression can be a consequence of lack of play, which causes the animal to redirect hunting behavior towards us, although it could also be due to the accumulated energy that the cat was not able to channel properly.
However, if the cat is aggressive beyond playtime, we may suspect that this behavior is due to another reason such as lack of socialization, trauma or a bad experience, due to the cat's own genetics and even an organic factor, that is, pain or having a hormonal problem, between others.
In the face of any of these problems, the most advisable thing is perform a veterinary examination to rule out any pathology and, in cases that show serious behavior, consider going to an ethologist or feline educator.