Play With Your Cat!

Watching our cats leap through the air and chase their favourite toys definitely gives us the feel-good factor. But did you know that playing with your cat isn’t just fun, it also has a lot of benefits (some of which might surprise you)…

Play provides a safe outlet to perform predatory behaviours, such as stalking, chasing, pouncing, and biting. For cats, who are genetically programmed to hunt, these behaviours are essential to meet their needs as a species.

In the wild, cats that rely solely on hunting for their food can spend up to 50 per cent of the day hunting — eating 10 — 20 prey to meet their daily calorie requirement. Despite our pet cats being well-fed, they still retain that natural motivation to hunt. They didn’t get the memo that food will be provided daily.

This is because cats are solitary survivors that don’t rely on the support of other cats, and therefore hunting is a solitary activity. If a hunting trip is unsuccessful, the cat won’t eat, which is why cats will still hunt when they aren’t hungry — better to be safe than sorry! Because of this, cats are incredibly opportunistic; if they encounter prey, even unintentionally, they will instantly switch into predatory mode. Though our pet cats are fortunate to have their nutritional needs met through daily feeding of a balanced cat food, play is required to fulfil their welfare need to perform this natural hunting behaviour.

Play is particularly important for indoor cats whose only outlet for predatory behaviour is through toys. Without regular play, our hands and feet also risk becoming unwanted targets, especially from kittens and younger cats that are most likely to initiate play.

However, we shouldn’t assume that older cats don’t enjoy or need to play, just because they may not initiate it.

Cats are opportunistic, so if the opportunity isn’t presented, our older cats may not engage. But the toss of a ping pong ball or the swooping of a feather toy on the end of the wand can see even the oldest of cats instantly switch into play mode. Short play sessions can also help with ageing joints and muscles (just be sure to speak to your vet first if your cat has been diagnosed with arthritis or a condition affecting their movement to ensure this is suitable for them).

Owners whose cats have outdoor access are sometimes concerned that playing with their cats will make them hunt more. Fortunately, the opposite is true. Researchers from the University of Exeter found that owners who played with their cats for just 5 — 10 minutes every day with a wand toy and a toy mouse, reported that their cats captured and brought home 25 per cent less prey. And by seeing those predatory behaviours close up — the leaping, pouncing, and batting — we get to see what magnificent and skilled athletes we have in our homes.

There is also no doubt that regular active play helps keep our cats in tip-top physical condition. All that stalking, chasing, leaping, and pouncing helps maintain a healthy bodyweight. For those cats that have become overweight, play can be a vital component of a weight loss programme. One study found that a daily 15-minute session of intense play using a variety of toys, combined with other weight loss initiatives, that motivated the cats to move for food, led to significant weight loss in just four weeks.

A recent survey of cat owners found that when owners reduced opportunities to play from their cats, they saw an increase in attention-seeking behaviour, vocalisation, destructive behaviour, aggressive behaviour, and reclusive behaviour. This highlights just how important the opportunity to play is for cats. Without it, problems can arise, which at the very least may be frustrating for you, but at worst, represent significant welfare concerns for your cat.

Finally, play isn’t just important for your cat’s well-being, it also has many benefits for us humans. It creates a beautiful bonding experience where both cat and owner can have fun together, but it’s important to play safely for everyone involved. The use of long wand toys, where the toy on the end of the wand is well away from hands, is a perfect option for safe play where even children can get involved without the worry of being scratched or bitten.
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In scientific studies, owners who play with their cats have reported that it has helped them establish and maintain a bond with their cats. In fact, owners who played a variety of games with their cats felt their cats’ experienced a better quality of life than those who played less. Longer reported daily play times have also been associated with owners reporting a closer relationship with their cats.

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