Is your cat a party pooper? When you get out the toys, does he just stare at you, wondering why he can’t just take a nap? Or does he play with a toy for 3 seconds then never touch it again?
While most young kittens are bundles of energy who seem to play constantly, some adult cats are not all that interested in playing. For others, it’s a matter of finding just the right toy to get them off the sofa and moving. Assuming you get a clean bill of health from your veterinarian, getting those seemingly lazy cats to get active again is a matter of trial and error with toys.
To help figure out which toys might be best suited to your cat’s play style, let’s play a game of our own: “How Does Your Cat Like to Play?”
That means your cat enjoys the hunt and would most enjoy toys that simulate the hunting experience. Toys with movement that looks like birds or mice will get your cat’s motor running. Feathers, wands with toy birds or mice and small toys that move on their own would be purrfect. You can also set up a bird feeder near a window, so your cat can do some bird-watching.
Your cat most likely loves to bring you his hunting spoils, so small stuffed toys, small balls or any toy he can carry around in his mouth would be most appealing. My cat, Simba, likes to play fetch with those tiny hollow golf balls or his favorite red straw. He will bring it to me over and over again so I can toss it for him to chase.
Your cat would love full-body toys that he can really get his paws around. Full-sized plush toys, long, catnip-filled kick sticks and scratching boxes would be a favorite here. Your cat can roll around with them and practice “killing” his toy with his back feet (aka the bunny kick). Want some extra fun? Just add some catnip.
Highly inquisitive cats like to investigate their world. Breeds like Bengals and Savannahs need mental stimulation just as much as they need to run and jump. These cats enjoy working a puzzle toy (such as a treat ball filled with yummies), kitty tunnels to investigate and hide inside or any self-play toy that includes motion and
Get him chasing that laser light (plus give him something to catch, like a treat, at the end), toss some treats for him to chase or offer self-moving toys, such as battery-operated toy mice or birds. Cat trees are also a must, so he can run up to the top and watch his world from above while plotting his next dash around the house.
If your cat enjoys all of these activities, then you are one lucky cat parent. Just about any toy will do, and he will enjoy getting all kinds of new toys to play with, as long as he can interact with you in the process.
Now that we’ve pinpointed what it takes to get your cat’s motor running, get out there and stock up on the toys that will really make him come alive. Engage your cat in active play at least once a day to help him expend his pent-up energy and sharpen his appetite.
You’ve won the game, and the prize is a happy, healthy cat who is also fun, active and enjoys playing with you.
No matter how your cat prefers to play, switch out his toys often so he doesn’t get bored with them. Fun, new toys can really make a difference and make playtime much more exciting.
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