Cats need play like all pets. As a pet parent, you can provide a variety of outlets for play either by playing interactive games or providing suitable toys for your cat to play with alone or with another pet. Playing with your cat regularly will help you learn about your pet’s personality and deepen your connection.

Try different activities

Activities that stimulate a cat’s natural hunting instincts are often the best bet. Small motorized remote-controlled and battery-powered furry mice are great for getting a cat’s attention. Even the economical non-motorized mice are appealing; you will just have to do all the mock mouse movements using a string that is attached to the mouse.

Activities that stimulate a cat’s natural hunting instincts are often the best bet.

Simple things can be fun

Keep the fun novel for your cat by trying stuff you already have around the house. Empty boxes with holes cut into them make great “caves” and scratching toys, and crumpled paper, especially the tissue type that makes lots of noise, is great for batting around. Paper bags are fun for crawling into, too, but avoid the plastic bags; you don’t want to risk accidental suffocation. Also: plastic rings, empty toilet paper and paper towel rolls, stuffed animals, etc. Just be careful none of the household “toys” can become choking hazards.

Create areas to explore & climb

Scratching posts and cat trees entice cats to climb, which uses their muscles and naturally wears down the points of their claws. If you have space, set up a cat obstacle course in your home so that your cat can jump from place to place to get to the next perch. There are pre-made shelving systems that you can find online, or you can build a system of your own, with shelves that go from the floor to the ceiling in a step pattern.

Things to remember:

  • Play for a few short sessions every day
  • Allow your cat to catch and grab the toy at the end of each game
  • Provide a variety of toys
  • At the end of each session, put away toys with a string or anything that might present a danger to your cat
  • Never force your cat to play or be trained
  • Have fun!