PLAYING WITH YOUR CAT:
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
Did you know that cats also get bored? Unlike dogs, cats are not endurance animals, meaning they don’t necessarily need to be engaging in athletic feats when they play. But that doesn’t mean they don’t need mental stimulation. Play is important for facilitating your cat’s instinctual behaviours, preventing stress or anxiety by providing an outlet for pent-up energy, and reducing any behavioural issues such as destructive chewing or aggression.
Mimicking Natural Behaviours
One of the best ways to engage your cat in play is to mimic their innate ability to hunt.
The more convincing a cat toy looks or acts as their prey (such as a toy mouse or fish), the more fun they’ll have ‘pretending’ to hunt. Playing with your cat is a great way to keep them engaged with this natural hunting play. By ‘moving’ the toy, you can make the activity more stimulating for your cat.
At Dan & Sam we have a variety of toys to suit all types of cats and their needs. Look out for the below symbols to help decide which toy is right for you:
Variety
Cats are easily unimpressed when a toy has been hanging around for a while. Switching things up by rotating different kinds of toys will help to keep your cat excited and engaged.
Keep It Short
Unlike dogs, cats aren’t endurance animals. The best way to keep them engaged is to have short and frequent play sessions. Every cat is different, learn the signs for when your cat is tired, or has had enough of playtime.
Bonding
Playing with your cat is a fantastic way to bond with them. A study on the relationship between play and cat welfare even found that cat owners who initiated and engaged in play with their cats were more likely to have a closer relationship with their cats.[1]
Catwalk
Cats love walks too! A common misconception is that only dogs like walks, but cats can enjoy a walk as well. Taking your cat for a walk is a great way to let your cat explore the outside world in a safe way, get some exercise and to get some fresh air together.
[1] Henning, Julia et al. “Cats just want to have fun: Associations between play and welfare in domestic cats.” Animal welfare (South Mimms, England) vol. 32 e9. 27 Jan. 2023, doi:10.1017/awf.2023.2
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