Effective Ways to Play with Your Cat Every Day
How to Play with a Cat? When to play? Every day, many hosts have trouble finding time to play with a cat. This is a serious mistake that cannot be made by taking responsibility for a live animal. Cats need as much fun as food or sleep. Lack of games can have many negative consequences.
How to play with a cat? Cats are born hunters. As many as a dozen hunts make up their natural daily activities. Domestic quadrupeds don’t have to worry about getting food, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a hunting instinct. Never leaving home also has to meet this, and games with a cat as a substitute for hunting.
Consequences of not playing with a cat
How to play with a cat? Cats hunt for life. That’s why every fluff living at home, regardless of age, needs fun. A cat that has no chance of pursuing a hunting instinct is unhappy. She becomes sluggish and even depressed or, conversely, is hyperactive and aggressive. In the latter case, she usually seeks to meet her needs in a way that is not accepted by the host, such as attacking his feet or damaging furniture.
Inaction not only causes behavioral problems, it usually also has serious health consequences. A cat is at risk of being overweight and suffering from many diseases. Particularly devastating is the lack of regular stimulation in kittens – they develop neither motor nor emotionally properly.
Favorite cat toys
Cat entertainment should mimic hunting. To know what would be most interesting to your pet, it is worth watching him. Cats prefer different hunting techniques.
For some, the most important element is the pursuit of an escaped object, while others are more likely to hide from the victim. Regardless of the hunting style, it consists of several permanent elements that cannot be missed in the game. The first is to observe the victim, the second is to capture, and the third is to eat.
How to play with a cat?
You can play with a cat in a variety of ways, but you should always use an object that mimics the behavior of a potential victim – it moves, sometimes stopping again to change location. This could be, for example, a few colored feathers on a so-called fishing rod, a paper ball on an elastic band, or a remote-controlled mouse.
This item should not move monotonously as the four-legged one will quickly wear off. If your cat likes to hunt in hiding, you can use a cardboard box where your pet will be able to lurk.
The next stage of the game should be the escape of the “victim” when the cat attacks her. A small exercise is fun for the animal and beneficial to its condition. However, the hunt may not last too long. It must also be a successful hunt.
You should allow the cat to catch the prey and then reward it with a meal (so it’s best to have fun before the scheduled meal time) or at least a treat.
The “hunt” should not last longer than a few minutes. However, it is good to repeat it at least 2-3 times a day, remembering that cats like routine. They will be happy to play at a fixed time and under certain circumstances.
What mistakes should I not make when playing with a cat?
You can’t play with your pet for too long – a prolonged “hunt” causes the animal to be tired and frustrated. You should also not miss a single “hunt” phase, in particular you should not deprive your cat of the satisfaction of catching and eating the victim. It is also a serious mistake to allow an animal to grab a caregiver’s arm or leg while playing with its teeth – if it learns, it can harm a person.
At the time when the cat is left alone for a long time (for example, during the work of a guardian), checked toys can be left for the cat – mice, balls. However, when you return, you should hide or maneuver them so that they do not wake the cat and leave the cat alone to surprise her.
Finally, there is no point in buying a cat a lot of toys and leaving her alone to play with. Such entertainment is attractive to her only for a short time.
The pet’s interaction with the caregiver, which gives the “hunt” an element of unpredictability, cannot be changed. Also, only by devoting your time and attention to your cat on a regular basis can you make a deep connection with your cat.
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