How do I play with my cat?

Playing with your cat for 10 to 20 minutes daily is enjoyable, but also crucial for your cat's physical and mental health.

Frequent play allows your cat to express its natural behaviors and reduces mischievous actions. It will also lessen their desire to hunt birds and other wild animals outdoors.

Stimulate their natural instincts

Playing is essentially an expression of their hunting behavior. Cats are primarily attracted to new things and movement. Toys left on the floor for a while won't be very appealing. Store toys away, rotate them, and regularly introduce new ones. Cats enjoy spotting movement in the distance, so stand a few meters away from your cat to play with a teaser wand or toss a soft toy. Rapid movements also encourage play. Always move toys away from the cat and let them disappear behind a corner or under a cabinet.

Discover your cat's favorite play style

Provide toys in various shapes and sizes, such as small toys your cat can pick up and throw around, and larger toys they can comfortably clutch and kick. Laser toys, moving toys, or sound-making toys... the choice is endless.

Cats have a refined sense of smell and enjoy discovering different scents. Most owners are familiar with catnip, which you can sprinkle on a scratching post or put into a toy.

Enrich your cat's life, even when you're not home.

Does your cat sleep indoors all day? They might be bored. Cats are social animals who need the companionship of friendly cats. They prefer to live with family. Boredom can also lead to problems for your cat, such as destructive behavior, anxiety, and obesity.

Use snacks as encouragement and reward

If your cat is motivated by food, you can further encourage them to play by using food as a reward. Hide snacks around the house so your cat can go on a scavenger hunt, or put their kibble in a slow feeder / puzzle so your cat has to work for their food. This keeps them engaged longer and more active.

You can also use snacks as an incentive to teach your cat a few tricks! But you'll need much more patience than with a dog. Be careful to give healthy snacks in moderation.