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Unknown to many owners, adult cats love to play just like kittens.
“It is a common misconception that cats only play when they are kittens, when in fact adult cats also benefit from regular playtimes and playful interaction with their owners,“ said Vet West Animals Hospitals.
“As they get older their play may alter, but the drive to chase, pounce and kill remains throughout the cat's life and games that allow for these behaviors are always popular, “ it added.
The scratching post
Scratching posts are important toys.
They “provide an opportunity for play but they are also very necessary since scratching is an important behavior for cats and one that needs to have an acceptable outlet within the home, “ Vet West Animals Hospitals said.
It said, however, “Probably the most important features of a scratching post are its height, its stability and its surface texture.”
It suggested giving tall scratching posts which allow cats to scratch at full stretch.
“..the surface material needs to offer a good purchase for the claws. Wooden scratching facilities can help to transfer scratching behavior into an outdoor context. If your cat is destined for an indoor life you need to avoid future confusion by ensuring that the material on the scratch post does not resemble any of your household furnishings,” Vet West Animals Hospitals said.
Best way to play with an adult cat
It helps to use toys with remote control.
“Playing with cats using remote style toys has a number of advantages especially for the more independent adult cat. If a toy is being held in the owner's hand the cat will be aware of their presence and this can interfere with the full expression of their predatory behavior, as it does not seem ‘real’,” Vet West Animals Hospitals said.
It added: “The close presence of human hands can also encourage cats to ‘play’ with moving fingers and can encourage predatory responses towards owners' hands and ankles.”
An easy way to encourage play while retaining a distance from a cat is by using a fishing rod kind of toy.
Keep the object at the end of the line moving and let the cat stalk it, chase it, and “kill” it.
“During a natural hunting sequence cats will often spend time observing the movement of potential ‘prey’ without chasing it and while many owners interpret this as a sign that the cat is not interested in the toy the truth is that this cat has just become more efficient at waiting for the right moment to pounce,“ Vet West Animals Hospitals said.
Normal play time
Cats are playful creatures but their play time can be short bursts only as they also sleep in between.
“This means that short intense play sessions are the most beneficial in feline terms and owners often misinterpret the lack of staying power as a sign of boredom. In fact, your cat's play pattern is perfectly normal and you can maximize the benefit of these short playtimes by rotating the toys on a regular basis and ensuring that there is always something new and exciting to keep your cat's interest!” Vet West Animals Hospitals said. DC