We recently had Dr. Randy Aronson on our podcast and he says it best “Activity is non-negotiable for our cats.”
Cats spend 14-16 hours a day sleeping, and after we come home from a long day at work, we just want to snuggle with them. So why should you be playing with your cat, when you can just relax and let them make biscuits?
Cats are natural born hunters. Even though they are safe inside our homes, their prey drive doesn’t just disappear. It still needs an outlet.
Why Play Helps Our Cats
When we take time to truly play with our cats, we exercise their prey instinct and enrich both their mental and physical well-being. Think about how you would feel if you laid around all day and only got up to eat. You’d likely be stiff, cranky… and probably overweight. This is the same for our cats. Cats that don’t play will have unresolved stress resulting in behaviors like overgrooming, nighttime zoomies, hiding, aggression and going outside the box.
Some of the benefits of playing with your cat are building confidence, maintaining their muscles, managing weight, and reducing stress.
Your cat is biologically wired to stare, stalk, chase, pounce, and capture prey. When we don’t give them an outlet for that instinct, it doesn’t disappear. It redirects.
Cats Want to Play (Even if they say they don’t)
A cat behaviorist once told us, “If you think that your cat doesn’t want to play, they are lying to you.” We often mistake excessive sleeping for contentment, when sometimes it’s unspent energy or unresolved stress.
Ways to Play with Your Cat
There are many ways to play with your cat and capture their attention. Our favorite is a wand toy – but you can also try a laser toy or just throwing a bouncy ball or toy mouse for them to chase. If you use a laser toy, always end with something they can physically capture to avoid frustration, and follow up with a treat.
Try to set a schedule for play time so that they have something to look forward to every day.
Interactive play is one of the most powerful tools we have to prevent behavioral issues before they start.
By engaging them for 15-20 minutes in active play daily, you will start to see a more confident and happier cat! These few minutes of intentional play can change your cat’s entire day… and yours!
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