You've heard the expression "play is a child's work." The same is true of cats. Cats are predators. Their instincts tell them to run, to chase, to pounce... Without a mouse to hunt, a toy becomes a cat's prey. For cats who live indoors, play serves other purposes, too. It provides much needed exercise and relieves stress. How do you provide a stimulating indoor environment for your cats? Here are a few suggestions.
-- Leave some blinds or curtains open so your cats can see outdoors. You'd sleep all day, too if you had nothing to look at but the furniture. Then put perches at some of the windows so your cats can get a really good view.
-- Open a window for a few minutes. There's nothing like a breath of fresh air to boost the spirits. Or give your cats some real fun by opening a sliding door so they can watch the
squirrels nose-to-nose.
-- Hang bird feeders outside your windows to entertain your housebound hunters. If your cats go out, put the feeders up high and out of reach. And don't put them on the railing of your deck!
-- Invest in tall scratching posts or other cat furniture, so your cats can scratch, stretch and climb on something besides the sofa. Scratching posts should be tall and stable. The platforms of cat trees should be wide enough for an adult cat to nap on. You'll find fabulous cat furniture online.
-- Rotate toys to avoid boredom. And "marinate" out-of-service toys in catnip, or spritz them with catnip spray before you give them to your cats again.
-- When you reintroduce a toy, wiggle it in front of your cats or toss it across the room so the cats will chase it. To a cat, a toy just lying on the floor looks like a mouse who's already been caught. Without the thrill of the hunt, the game's not much fun.
The Aging Hunter
Cats are predators all of their lives. And even aging cats enjoy catching "prey" at the end of a fishing pole or wand toy. Cats who don't see as well as they used to will feel more successful with larger toys -- a tuft of feathers, rather than just one feather, for instance. And toys on piano wire or bouncy plastic are more easily managed (and caught) than toys on string.
To make the game seem even more real, give your cats something to eat when you're finished playing. Outside, cats eat what they catch!
-- Different cats have different styles of play. Some like to bat at things flying through the air. Others like to chase little critters that scurry along the ground and through the grass. Try playing with wand and fishing pole toys both ways -- zinging them overhead and dragging them across the floor.
-- When you're playing with your cat, bring the toy to life. Make it wiggle and scurry and change directions and hide. A real mouse wouldn't stroll along in a straight line begging
-- If your cats love to eat, toss some treats across the floor. Some cats enjoy chasing and "catching" their food.
-- Catnip's not only fun, it can be a great stress reliever and can encourage cats who aren't in the mood to eat (sprinkle a tiny bit on the cat's food). A "catnip party" will bring a warm glow to the coldest winter day. Just put a little mound of "nip" on the base of your cat's scratching post, a throw rug or in a box or paper shopping bag. Putting some tissue paper in the box or bag will add fun sound effects!
-- Always keep your cat's safety in mind, and remove all eyes, bells and other decorations from toys. Your cat could care less if his new catnip mouse has eyes and a bell, and both could be choking hazards. Also never leave your cat unsupervised with wand toys or others with cord or strings.
Perfect Playthings For The Frugal Feline
-- Shoelaces. Buy the longest ones you can find and drag them across the floor or dangle them in midair.
-- Bottle caps. Cats love to chase them across an uncarpeted floor. Some cats also like little plastic drinking cups.
-- Ping-pong balls. Put them in the bathtub for a few rounds of kitty racket ball.
-- Pipe cleaners. Your cats will chase them, catch them and carry them off to a secret hiding place.
-- An old sock. Stuff the toe with catnip, and let the good times roll. A tiny mound of catnip on a throw rug is even better!
-- Tissue paper and large paper bags. Cats love to crunch around in both.
Perfect Playthings For The Frugal Feline
