The Daily Cat: Behavior Basics
Your Cat's Inner Kitten Released
By Kim Boatman for The Daily Cat
At 14, Mary Margaret the cat still shows flashes of playful
kitten, chasing after any airborne toy. “If I were to let her
outside, I know she would nail every bird, because she loves to
leap up in the air,” says owner Pam Johnson-Bennett.
Like us, cats such as Mary Margaret enjoy tapping into their
youthful nature from time to time. But it’s up to us to encourage
them to cut loose. Too often, we forget to play with our cats as
they age, says Johnson-Bennett, a Nashville, Tenn., cat behavior
expert who has written a number of related books. “Just because
your cat has stopped playing doesn’t mean it doesn’t want to play
anymore,” she says. “We get lazy because when cats are kittens
they’ll play with anything, even a speck of dust.”
It doesn’t take a great deal of effort to help your cat channel
its inner kitten, even if your kitty has become something of a
couch feline, say our experts. All you’ll need is a bit of
ingenuity, some understanding of your cat’s nature and a
willingness to spend some time playing each day. Follow these four
play primers to inspire kitten-like antics in your favorite
cat:
- Customize play Since cat play mimics hunting,
you should know what sort of hunter your cat is. Of course, you’re
not allowing your cat outside to hunt little beasties, but your cat
has basic instincts when it comes to pursuing prey, says
Johnson-Bennett. For instance, while Johnson-Bennett’s cat loves to
chase things through the air, Mary Margaret doesn’t have much
interest in objects that move along the floor. Don’t assume that
your cat doesn’t want to play because it doesn’t chase after one
type of toy. Experiment with several different types. If your cat
is elderly, overweight or has health issues, its ability or
inclination to play might be extremely limited. Check with your
veterinarian about appropriate activities, and customize play for
your cat, says Redwood City, Calif. cat behaviorist Marilyn
Krieger. “It’s like any athlete. Get your doctor’s approval first,”
she says. “You want to make sure you’re very in touch with your
cat.”
- Present a challenge Whether you’re twitching a
string from behind a doorway or tempting your darling by slowly
rolling a ball from behind the sofa to another spot, your cat
should enjoy the success of capturing the toy as well as feeling
challenged by it. “You don’t want it to be such a challenge that
the cat gets overtired and doesn’t catch the toy,” she adds.
Varying toys, hiding places and routines is a great way to bring
out the kitten in your cat: Hide a ping-pong ball in a paper bag
turned on its side, suggests Johnson-Bennett; leave some dry food
inside an empty tissue box; stuff a bit of catnip in an old sock
then tie off the end; and play hide-and-seek. Those catnip-filled
fuzzy mice are real snoozers if left sitting in the cat toy basket.
Toys become much more intriguing if they’re partially hidden near
scratching posts or left peeking out from under furniture.
- Keep playtime short and sweet Your cat might
want to play for five minutes a couple of times a day, says
Johnson-Bennett. You don’t want to exhaust your older kitty with
marathon play sessions. Understand your cat’s schedule, too. Just
as we are getting ready to plop down on the sofa after a long day
of work, cats -- nocturnal by nature -- are revving up for
playtime.
- Provide a reward After your cat enjoys the
satisfaction of catching the toy it’s pursuing, say our experts,
you can offer a treat or link feeding times to the end of play
sessions. Your feline would be enjoying the bounty from a
successful hunt in the wild, explains Krieger. Upon completion of
the “hunt,” your cat will be ready to eat, groom itself and then
grab a nap. Both Johnson-Bennett and Krieger suggest using
food-fillable plastic balls, available for a nominal cost at pet
stores. The balls can be filled with dry food or hard treats and
will occasionally dispense a tidbit or two as they roll, or are
batted across, the floor.
Above all else, a play session should be fun for both you and
your pet. “You want to be careful that you don’t overdo it, but you
do want to play,” says Krieger. After all, don’t we all crave the
carefree freedom and exuberance of childhood at times? Your cat is
no different, and it will likely enjoy a few kitten-like moments
each day. According to the experts, you’ll also be providing the
sort of physical and mental stimulation your kitty needs to live a
long, youthful life.
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