Does your cat simply stand there and look at you when you throw a ball or dangle a thread for it to chase? You might be concerned that your cat needs the mental and physical stimulation that play gives. Learn the reasons behind your cat’s seeming lack of interest in playing and what you can do to fix it.
Cats naturally have a range of personalities and activity levels. All kittens like playing, but between the ages of 4 and 5 months, their enthusiasm in high-intensity games peaks, followed by a fall. Cats often divide into two groups as they become older: the lap-sitters, who prefer less action, and the ankle-rubbers, who still like to play. You can encourage activity, which is healthy for the body and the brain. One can evaluate additional issues that might affect cat behavior using the H.I.S.S. exam.
HISS Test
Health
Health obviously affects activity levels. People may be less interested in playing games if they have age-related diseases like arthritis. The cat may become less active if they have any medical conditions that make them feel sick, such as intestinal worms.
Instinct
Games for cats imitate hunting. Movement incites paw-patting and pursuit behavior. Kittens are amusing and like acting for themselves. Mature cats prefer more immediate stimulation, even though they enjoy tossing their cat toys and chasing human feet. Typically, the quality of a cat toy depends on the person holding the other end.
Symptoms
Any differences from your cat’s usual behavior could be a sign of a health problem. Cats who are anxious won’t be in the mood to play.
Stress
Any type of stress can alter a cat’s level of activity, which is typically triggered by a sudden change. If your cat is normally active but suddenly becomes sedentary or lethargic, it will be beneficial to speak with your veterinarian. A physical examination may reveal a treatable condition, such as a urinary tract infection. If your cat is healthy, you can look into more potent ways to encourage play.
Encouraging play
An adult cat has outgrown the wild playstyle of a kitten.
The cat might not be inclined to play by itself because of its lap cat attitude. Maybe the cat really likes watching you behave like a cat and do the tricks for her on “kitty TV.” However, it’s conceivable that you haven’t yet found the appropriate cat toy.
Even though you might have tried catnip toys, not all cats enjoy the plant. Three in ten cats show no interest. Fresh catnip may convince a cat that was previously uninterested due to its increased potency. Get some catnip that grows by going to a pet store. See if crushing a leaf improves your cat’s response to the real thing. Catnip comes in a variety of strengths and can easily become rancid and stale. If you can, give some of the toys a boost by placing them inside a bag of really potent catnip.
Toys must move in an enticing way to catch your cat’s attention. Here are some alternatives to think about. Some have bells, colorful mylar, rattles, and other characteristics to draw cats. Cats rarely manage to resist them. The feather can be held over the cat’s head to wrestle with it, or it can be “snaked” across the floor to be chased by it. When they play a game with a feather that “disappears,” some cats become very agitated. Underneath an old shirt or a cushion, carefully drag a long feather or a piece of yarn until it “hides” just in front of the cat’s eyes. The cat can lose its mind trying to catch it before the feather disappears.
Fishing pole lure toys are very intriguing to many cats. Instead of the boring yarn, get “Da Bird,” a toy with a fluttering feather on the end of a line that soars through the air. In cat supply stores, you can buy these lures as well as several kinds of feather wands called “cat teasers.” You can purchase pheasant feathers by visiting a pet supplier or even a hobby shop. Alternately, you may make your own toys to test out more affordable pleasures.
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