What is interactive playtime?
When you toss a simple stuffed toy for a cat to bat on its own, you’re giving him “dead prey” to pounce on. No matter how expensive the toy, Kitty is likely to lose interest within a few minutes. After all, there’s not much you can do with an inedible “dead” mouse other than make sure it’s really dead.
However, when you use a fishing-rod type toy to play with your cat, you breathe life into the toy by moving it around. You are in fact creating a good simulation of actual hunting, where the prey moves, hides and darts around. Much more interesting for your cat! To make the most of this precious interaction, here are a few things you need to keep in mind –
1. Create the right setting.
Interactive playtime is basically a form of role-playing. Your cat’s role is that of The Hunter. Your role – via the toy – is that of The Prey. Don’t play on an empty stage though. Make sure there are props around – furniture, pillows, boxes and bags all make good make-believe rocks, tree stumps and grass for prey and predator to hide behind.
2. Imitate the prey’s behavior.
Play your role properly. Decide if the toy at the end of the string is a mouse, a bird or perhaps a small lizard or fish. Get into the role and make the toy move accordingly. If it’s a mouse you’re playing, it should run by walls and objects, hide occasionally, freeze if it sees the cat, then run away from it (never in the direction of the cat). If you’re playing a bird, have the toy “flutter” around, flying into the air occasionally. Don’t forget to be the kind of bird that walks on the ground a lot, perhaps pecking for food. After all, no cat will chase a bird as it flies high up in the sky.
3. Don’t frustrate your cat.
You want the game to be fun and satisfying. Don’t just wave the toy high up where Kitty can never reach it. Allow the “bird” to land often and don’t let the mouse always “outrun” the cat. Every now and again, especially if he’s tried very hard, allow your cat to catch the toy and hold it in his mouth and paws for a little while.
4. Don’t exhaust your cat.
Exercise is definitely one of your goals but it doesn’t mean Kitty needs to get to the point where she’s panting or heaving. It rarely happens during real hunting sessions either, where most of the time is spent stalking prey and planning the attack. Remember, exercise means a mental exercise, not just physical activity.
5. Warm up – play – cool down.
Just like with your own Pilates or running workouts, keep playing time reasonable and safe. Begin with slow movements, gradually work your way up to the wild chases and eventually wrap the session up with slower playing motions again. It’s healthier for your cat’s body.
6. Set up a daily schedule.
Cats are creatures of habit. If they know that playtime is always in the evening, or morning, they’ll be more likely to be awake and active for it. Two play sessions a day is great. If you can only manage one, it’s best to carry it out during the evening, to make sure Kitty is tired and relaxed during night-time. In fact, interactive playtime in the evening is a tool of behavioral therapy. Read more about it in our article about Cats and Night Crazies.
7. More than one cat? Play separately.
Cats are not lionesses and don’t hunt in groups. If you try to operate your “mouse” when there’s more than one cat in the room, you will probably only get one cat actively involved (usually the younger cat or the more dominant one), with the other cats playing the role of spectators. It’s not good for them, as they can become excited by the visual stimuli, yet with no place to release the pent-up tension, they end up being more stressed than before.
If you have more than one cat, you should have a separate play session for each cat, and carry that out in a separate room where you two will be alone.
8. Feed after playing.
A good hunt should end with a meal. Don’t add calories to Kitty’s daily diet but do keep a few spoonfuls worth of his regular diet to be served out after playtime. This is also a good time for dishing out treats to the successful hunter. It increases your cat’s satisfaction and once the meal is consumed, he or she is likely to find a nice spot and get some sleep.
9. Keep your fingers out of the way.
One of the advantages of using a fishing-rod type of toy is that your fingers and hands are safe from claws and teeth. If you choose to mimic a prey’s movements using a small toy on a string, make sure the string is long enough so Kitty doesn’t end up preying on your fingers!
10. Play throughout the cat’s life.
It’s easy to get a kitten to play but older cats may be more sedentary. This doesn’t mean they shouldn’t enjoy interactive playtime sessions. Quite the contrary! These are cats that could benefit most from the physical and mental stimulation the game offers. Find a toy that gets your cat interested, apply the principles above and stick to a schedule. If Kitty appears reluctant to play for long, don’t push it. Start with a minute of playtime and work your way gradually up to 10-15 minute sessions.
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