Play is a huge part of cat life. From kittenhood onward, cats play to learn, to hone their natural skills, and just to have fun.
Kittens wrestle and box each other, learning the basics of inter-species competition. Young adult cats find movement – whether it’s a ball rolling across the floor or your feet moving under a blanket – irresistable. And even a very mature, sedate cat can be intrigued enough by an empty box, a catnip toy, or the contents of your knitting basket to go frisky.
Not only does play help cats learn and master innate feline skills and behaviors, it keeps them fit and active. And when we play with our cats we’re reinforcing the bond between us. Playing with a new cat can help her feel at home; playing with a very shy cat can help him develop confidence.
Toys are a big part of feline play, and cats have a knack for making their own toys out of just about anything. But some ordinary household items that cats find irresistible should be kept out of kitty’s reach.
Don’t let your cat play with these items:
yarn, thread, or string: a cat with a ball of yarn didn’t become a cliche for nothing – most cats like nothing better than getting hold of a ball of yarn or wreaking havoc in a knitting basket. But yarn or string is actually a dangerous toy; if the cat swallows the yarn or string it could lead to serious or even fatal intestinal problems
plastic bags: these present a suffocation hazard and should always be kept away from cats
beauty, medicine, or personal care product containers: depending on what the container originally held, licking or biting could introduce highly toxic or poisonous compounds.
items small enough to swallow: for obvious reasons, cats should never be allowed to play with anything small enough for them to ingest.
There are scores of toys available in pet shops, on the internet, and in grocery stores, but not all of them meet safety requirements. Any toy with strings attached, or with small parts (such as eyes or bells, etc.) that could be pulled off and ingested, or toys with decorations such as feathers, tinsel, etc. are potentially hazardous.
Playing with your cat
Initiating a play session with a cat is as simple as tossing a crumpled up ball of paper in her direction, or slowly moving a toy across the floor as though it was a mouse. Cats will often develop a decided preference for one toy over another virtually identical toy and may refuse to play if the favorite toy isn’t available. Some cats will do their own version of “fetch” with a small toy that they can easily pick up and carry in their mouth, though it’s not the same kind of fetching a dog does. Cats don’t generally retrieve an item to please the human who threw it – they bring it back purely to have it thrown again.
If a cat doesn’t seem to want to play, don’t push it. Give her the option and if she doesn’t respond, back off. Cats have moods just as we do, and Kitty just might not feel like playing at the moment. Try again another time.
