There is no problem for dogs: when they want to play, they will drop their ball at your feet and give you a huge goofy grin, but cats tend to play things a little cooler.
Many people believe that cats don’t require as much attention as dogs. They don’t need much space for walking or access to the outdoors. But as the cat’s owner knows, that is not true. Cats like dogs and humans, they need activity and play (exercise).
In this post, we will talk more in relation to the question; why you should play with your cats and tips to play with them. Let’s start reading!
5 Benefits Of Playing With Your Cat
Play Is Exercise
Play can help your cat express their nature of hunting, and it also helps maintain a healthy body weight, make muscles toned, strong and healthy. Especially for cats who live exclusively indoors.
Break From Boredom
Naturally cats need some type of challenges every day. If they are not entertained, your cat can become bored or depressed. That’s important for them to have playtime.
However, if you are busy or do not have time with them, you can give them some toys, it can help them avoid boredom.
Playing with Your Cat Builds Bonds
Playing with your cat is the best way to increase the bond between you and them.
Building bonds do not need to involve expensive toys, but it just takes some time to interact with them.
The more you play with them, the more you can get attention from them since they know you are paying attention to them.
Play Is Educational for Cats
Many cats do not get enough activity or play, which can affect their prey drive; cats in the wild, they need to hunt to survive, have biologically built into them.
Play is not only for fun or games, but the act of play is a serious business for cats that it helps to teach them crucial survival skills including: hunting, pursuing, catching prey and developing coordination. Even if they never venture outside your home, their natural instinct to hunt can remain.
Play Can Prevent Obesity
According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, most cats 60% of U.S. are overweight, so it’s important for the owner to encourage them to get more moves.
By giving some games to them for only 10min per day, it can help them maintain healthy weight.
Do Cat Play By Themselves
Relation above question; why should you play with your cat, you may be concerned, do cats play by themselves?
Of course, they do, cats can have fun with their owner’s toys or balls that the owner provides to them. They also enjoy spending the entire day on a windowsill.
However, cats can often easily become bored and stressed with those toys. They need to play and mental simulation to be the best action.
Cats are more likely to play with their owner than by themselves, especially for adult cats.
How Long Should You Play With Your Cat Per Day
According to Pam Johnson Bennett, a certified cat’s behavior consultant said: cats need the consistency of scheduled interactive playtime.
They should have once or twice per daily with 10 to 15 minutes per session. However, all cats are different, and they have their own unique play requirements.
You might note, young cats or kittens will often take the initiative in playing with you longer than older cats.
How much time that you should spend with them, it depends on weight, age and health issues.
Consult with your vet about the appropriate cat plays for your cat’s age, biology and other issues that influence their physical health.
Tips To Play With Your Kitten
- Create a cat friendly environment
- Interactive games to play with your cat
- Keep the play session short.
- Keep toys in the room (offer a kind sound toy to make your cat’s attention).
- Activate your cat’s natural hunting instinct by using your hand to play-fight.
- Let your cat win by offering their favorite treat.
- Change different ways of playing to make sure they are not boring for you.
- Let your cat play when they want.
Why Should You Play With Your Cat? Final Thought:
All in all, play is a great way to build a good relationship between you and your cat. It is also a good exercise to keep your cat healthy, reduce stress and maintain her weight.
Ideally, my recommendation is to increase more activities with them on the right. This is the most beneficial for their health and well-being.
However, those activities that you spend time with your cat, it depends on weight, age and health issues.
Ask with your vet about the appropriate cat plays for your cat’s age and other issues to make sure it does not affect your cat’s health.
