Keeping Your Cat Excited to Play

Tips for getting your finicky, couch-potato kitty up and moving!

Everyone knows about the importance of a game of fetch or a long walk for your dog. Playing with your pet gives them an opportunity to exercise both their body and their brain, and can be a kind of social bonding that brings you and your dog closer. Did you know that play is just as important for cats too? The aloof and independent nature of many cats might lead their owners to think they don’t care about playing at all, but engaging in a couple of 15 minute play sessions every day can improve your cat’s fitness and alleviate boredom. Here are some tips for how to engage with your cat and their unique enrichment needs! 

Rotate Toys 

Cats can get bored in the blink of an eye. Think of how many times you’ve been petting or playing with your cat, and all of the sudden they just get up and leave for seemingly no reason. If your cat is giving their toys one or two half-hearted swats before wandering off, try rotating out those toys for new ones. You can offer a couple toys at a time and put the rest away for a while–by the time you switch them out again, those toys you put away will be as exciting as if they were brand new! 

Play Hide and Seek

If your cat is a fiend for treats, or if they tend to scarf down their food so fast they get a tummy ache, hide and seek can be a great way to keep them active even while you’re away. All you have to do is hide a few treats or small handfuls of kibble in different places all over the house. Try the top of their cat tower, under furniture, scattered in their cat bed, or anywhere else that you don’t mind encouraging your kitty to explore. If you need to up the challenge level, use a slow feeder toy that they have to knock around to get the pieces to fall out, or make a DIY slow feeder using a paper towel roll or cardboard box. 

Try Shorter Sessions 

Cats are creatures made for leisure, it’s natural that they’ll probably spend most of their time lazing around. If your cat is getting bored or tired only a few minutes into their play sessions, feel free to try engaging them in more frequent, shorter sessions. Aim for a total of 30-45 minutes per day, though older cats or those with health issues may not be up for as much play. You can also use a mix of high- and low-energy playstyles. For example, chasing a laser pointer up and down the stairs for a few minutes before switching to a whack-a-mole game so your cat can stay in one place and catch their breath. 

End With a Treat

Cat experts recommend ending play sessions always end with a treat–no, I promise your cat didn’t bribe me to say that! Giving your cat a treat after a play session emulates the experience of stalking, catching, then eating prey. By rewarding them after a play session, you’re reinforcing those instinctual feelings of excitement and satisfaction for a successful hunt. If you’ve noticed your cat getting less excited to play, they might need to be reminded to keep their eyes on the prize!

If your cat needs a little more play time during the day or while you're away on vacation, consider hiring a pet sitter to make sure they are satisfied, enriched, and healthy!