Let’s face it, cats are control freaks.
They like to know what’s coming and when. You can help your cat to live his best life by making things predictable and stable for him. Have you noticed how your cat knows exactly what time dinner is supposed to be? We all have our internal timers and rhythms. Cats do best when they know what to expect in their world. Having a basic routine for things like playtime and mealtime and even cuddle time can make them feel comfortable and relaxed.
There are some things that you can also add to your cat’s routine for extra enrichment. Think about how a wild cat’s day might go. She wakes up and goes on the hunt first thing in the morning (hmm – morning zoomies) looking for her first meal of the day. Once she catches that first mouse, eats well, grooms, and then what? You guessed it! Time for that first nap. And on her day goes. Predictable and ordered in it’s own way. And in that order we can find a particular pattern that is excellent enrichment for a cat. Hunt (play), catch it and eat, groom, nap. By following a rythym that is natural for a cat you are adding to her wellbeing and health. Slow feeder toys are a great way to add this enrichment to your cat’s feeding time. And play enhances your bond with them. Regular play sessions twice a day for at least 15 minutes before morning and evening meals can go a long way in your cat’s wellbeing and also add to your cat’s physical health because it includes regular exercise.
Sometimes these patterns can help alleviate other problems. For example, if your cat regularly wakes you up at night, establish a pattern of rowdy play, food, cuddle time, and then time for everyone to go to bed. Thought there is another piece to that puzzle. It involves not interaction with your cat during the night at all, not to push them off, not to roll away, just don’t move. Which, I will warn you ahead of time, means you may have to ride out a period of time of, sometimes increasing, attempts to get you to interact in the night. This is called an extinction burst, where an established behavior will get worse just before it goes away. We all do this. If that soda machine doesn’t work this time, we tap, bang, shake until we decide it just isn’t going to work.
Here are some kitty play tips to help you on your way:
Any cat, any age can benefit from play and can learn to play.
If using a wand toy, move the toy in an erratic manner across the floor and over cat trees. Lots of fast movements will catch their eye while periods of slow movement will give your cat a chance to stalk and get ready for the pounce. Moving the toy around the room away from them can help. In reality a prey item will rarely come towards a cat.
Experiment with different types of wand toys. Some cats prefer feathers, some strips of material that wiggle like snakes, some like little stuffed toys to grab onto. Some prefer the wands where the toy is at the tip with a bell, some prefer a wand with a string then the toy. There are lots of things out there to temp your kitty into play.
Lot’s of kitties love lazers. If you have a cat that goes crazy for these, be sure to toss a treat or a favorite toy into the beam now and then so they have a chance to “catch it”, otherwise these can become frustrating to some.
Try the interactive cat toys that move on their own. Some cats love these, but be cautious with your introduction, some are afraid of the noises or movements.
Some cat’s will play fetch or hide and seek under a blanket. One for mine likes when I pull her around the wood floor on a banket while she attacks the wrinkles. You may even come with others all your own.
And lastly, never play with your cat with your hands. This might seem cute and harmless with a kitten, but can cause bigger scratches later on. It also teaches your cat that attacking you is an acceptable way to play.