Top 5 Tips to Get Your Cat to Play

1. Act Like Prey. Make the toy flutter and hop like a bird, slither like a snake, buzz around like a bee, hide in a hole like a mouse!
2. Move the Toy Slower.  Slower. Maybe even a little slower.
3. Vary Your Movements. Cats get bored with the same thing, so be sure to change it up—try moving the toy on the ground and in the air, or along a wall. Alternate between fast and slow movements. Move the toy in one direction and then another—and pay attention to what your cat responds to best!
4. When all else fails, use the stick end of the toy, moving it under a towel or rug.
5. Make sure the cat is successful in their hunt and has time to handle and interact with their prey (however they prefer to do so!).

Photo IngusKruklitis/Bigstock

PRO TIP: Playing with your cat can prevent behaviour problems.

Cat Won’t Play?

I hear from a lot of people that their cat isn’t interested in playtime, but many cat owners think that playtime means leaving a bunch of small, “solo” play toys (such as ping pong balls, little fuzzy mice) lying around on the floor. Although these types of toys may capture your cat’s attention briefly, it’s important to recognize that when we talk about playing with our cats, we mean reenacting the hunting experience for them! Those balls and mice quickly become dead prey.

This is where interactive play makes all the difference! By moving a toy—specifically an interactive wand toy with a lure on the end—we can mimic live prey and give our cats the next best thing to hunting! When I’ve worked with clients who said their cats didn’t play and had the opportunity to demonstrate some new toys and different ways to move them, without fail I could get those cats to play!

This article originally appeared in the award-winning Modern Cat magazine. Subscribe today!