Playing with your cat is not only fun, but also useful! It helps prevent boredom, keeps your cat slim, and is good for the bond between you and your cat. Many cat owners think their cat is no longer as playful. But maybe you're just not playing ‘cat-style’ enough... It's worth getting into playing with your cat, as play has so many benefits! Pharmacy4pets is happy to help you choose the best cat toys and explain how to play with your cat in the best way.
Cat Toys
Cats are hunters and in the wild, they have to put a lot of effort into finding their food. Hunting behavior is truly a basic need for a cat. If they can’t express this instinct, they become unhappy. Cats that mostly or exclusively live indoors and are fed a few times a day can quickly become bored. Overweight is also a risk if your cat is lounging on the windowsill and only gets up when her food bowl is filled...
Playing helps keep your cat fit and happy. By mimicking prey with a fishing rod or throwing crumpled aluminum foil, your cat can let her natural instincts take over. Interactive cat toys are designed to keep your cat busy and stimulate her hunting instinct. These are toys that make (unexpected) movements and/or sounds, challenging your cat to catch the 'prey'.
To make your cat work for her food and give her some exercise at the same time, you can give her kibble in an Activity Ball instead of a regular food bowl. This prevents boredom but also leads to better satiety since your cat eats more slowly. Moreover, she will stop if she no longer wants to chase the ball and will likely eat less than she would otherwise. Very suitable for cats with (a tendency to) overweight!
Cat toys with catnip have a dual function: the toys are very attractive due to their scent, so your cat will enjoy playing with them. Catnip also has a calming effect on your cat, making it useful when your cat is feeling anxious or stressed.
Online, you can also find many fun and often free/DIY ideas for 'brain work'. This is cat toys that stimulate their problem-solving skills and provide mental challenges. When it comes to brain work, it’s important to gradually increase the difficulty. If cat toys are too complicated, it can lead to frustration or the toy being abandoned quickly.
Tips for Playing with Your Cat
As mentioned earlier, people don't always play with cats in the 'right' way. Here are some tips to get even the laziest cats to play:
- Cats can't see well up close: They can't focus on cat toys from a distance of about 30 cm. So, don’t move the toy too close to your cat's face.
- Move the fishing rod away from your cat and let the 'prey' crawl around corners or underneath something.
- Alternate between stillness and quick, short movements of the toy, just like a mouse would do.
- Let your cat 'sneak up' on the toy from behind an ‘ambush’ like a box or pillow.
- Alternate between movements on the ground and in the air.
- Only stop playing when your cat shows no more interest.
- Success experiences are important: Let your cat actually catch the prey! Laser pointers can be very frustrating and are not recommended as cat toys.
- Two play sessions of ten minutes per day help keep your cat happy.
- Strings and rubber bands have a magnetic attraction to many cats, but they can be life-threatening if swallowed.
So, playing is more than just fun; it’s an outlet for excess energy and helps release frustration and tension. By letting your cat exercise her natural hunting behavior through play, you also prevent her from seeing walking legs as prey. It also helps prevent boredom and obesity. If you have any questions about our products or playing with your cat, please contact us.