Playing with your cat

Your cat loves to play and hunt. Give her enough opportunities to express herself with a variety of toys.

What do cats like to play with?

Provide toys that cats can enjoy on their own. Rolling toys like balls or toy mice are often a huge hit. Battery-powered moving toys are also guaranteed fun. Provide climbing opportunities — your cat will love them, and they are great for muscle development too. Give your cat about four toys and rotate them regularly so they stay interesting.

How do I get my cat to play?

Say you have bought a great toy but your cat ignores it. A trick is the cat-and-mouse game: slowly make the toy disappear behind something, mimicking a mouse disappearing into its hole. Your cat's hunting instinct will make her want to catch the disappeared toy.

Spread toys around the house to stimulate your cat everywhere and keep them exciting for her.

Why play together?

Build a strong bond by playing with your cat. It is wonderful to see how much fun she has. And since she moves around a lot during play, it is healthy too. For indoor cats, playing together is a must: the hunting instinct needs an outlet. Finally, it gives you a chance to teach your cat all sorts of things through play, such as fetching.

How do I play responsibly with my cat?

Cats often play with their claws and teeth. When they catch their "prey", they frequently bite into it or throw it into the air. That is normal behaviour. Therefore always use toys so your cat does not start treating your hands or feet as prey. Also keep your hands and feet as far away as possible during play.

Do cats play with each other?

Kittens especially love playing together. An adult cat is less likely to do this; she will sooner start fighting or ignore the other cat. Two cats used to each other may still enjoy a friendly bout of play-fighting. This is perfectly normal and usually over quickly.

What if my cat eats her toys?

Some cats eat their toys and other non-edible items. This urge is called Pica. Pica is the desire to chew on or eat inedible objects and materials. This behaviour may have a medical cause. Have your cat checked by the vet if she shows signs of Pica.

How do I know my cat no longer wants to play?

Stop playing when your cat walks away or lies down without responding to you. She is indicating she has had enough. Does your cat play a bit too roughly and accidentally bite your hand? Walk away. This teaches your cat that you are not a toy and she will be more careful with her playmate in future.

Making fun toys for your cat yourself

Your cat is often perfectly happy with a simple chestnut, an empty toilet roll or a ball of paper. She can also be entertained for hours with a shopping bag or a cardboard box. Cat toys are easy to make yourself. For example a fishing rod: tie a few feathers to a piece of string and fasten it to a stick. Move the stick back and forth and let your cat catch the feathers. Just make sure you do not use materials that break apart easily.

In the wild, cats hunt for their food. This instinct is still present in your pet. Hiding her food is therefore an excellent idea.