Playing with your cat is important
Playing with your cat is essential and a fundamental pillar of your cat's emotional and physical well-being.
While domestic cats may enjoy an indoor life, they still have the instincts of "ambush hunters" that need a regular outlet. Playing with them interactively allows them to safely express natural behaviors—stalking, pouncing, and "capturing" prey—which is important for preventing frustration and boredom that can lead to destructive actions like scratching furniture or redirected aggression.
Besides behavioral benefits, regular play provides a wide range of health advantages:
Physical Fitness: It serves as a "kitty workout," helping maintain a healthy weight and prevent obesity, a major health risk for sedentary indoor cats.
Mental Sharpness: The strategic aspect of play keeps their minds active and may even help prevent cognitive decline as they age.
Emotional Resilience: Play serves as a natural way to reduce stress, helping anxious or shy cats build confidence through successful "hunts".
Human Animal Bond: These shared moments of focus and fun foster deep trust between you and your feline friend, turning your relationship from simple coexistence into a real partnership.
Spending just 10–15 minutes a day on focused play with your cat is important. Here are some do’s and don’ts while playing with your furball:
Tips on how to play with your cat:
Have regular, engaging play sessions using wand or pole toys that imitate the unpredictable movement of prey.
Change the attachments on the wanted pole frequently to prevent boredom. www.coolcybercats.com and www.dabird.com have the best toys, in my opinion.
Use attachments suitable for the cat or kitten's size and age.
Always cue or signal the start and end of the play session with the same phrase so the cat understands what’s happening.
Play only with remote toys that are at least 3 feet away from your body to prevent the cat from getting near your hands or feet.
Make sure the cat regularly catches and bites the toy without losing interest.
Play slowly; not all play needs to be fast. Remember, cats are ambush hunters!
Gradually end each play session to prevent the cat from becoming overexcited when you're done.
Finish each play session by giving the cat a final “kill bite” and then rewarding with a small treat.
Put away the string toys after you’re finished playing. The string can turn into a safety hazard for your cat or kittens.
What to avoid when playing with your cat
Touch your cat gently and only where he is comfortable when playing with him. Cats don’t like to be touched during play or hunting mode. It will almost always cause the cat to turn around and bite you.
NEVER use your hands, feet, or any body part as a toy.
Play roughly or wrestle with the cat.
Tease the cat with a toy and never let him catch or bite it. This is why laser toys can cause frustration and aggressive behavior in a cat.
Lift the cat off the ground if it is biting or grabbing a toy.
Swing or toss a toy directly at the cat’s head or body.
Hit a cat with a toy, no matter how gentle it is.
Abruptly end a play session without a wind-down period
How to deal with biting, nibbling, and scratching when playing with your cat:
Always reinforce polite requests for play or attention, such as a gentle paw, meow, or look, with play or other positive interactions. Reinforcing good behavior is more effective than correcting inappropriate behavior. Always withdraw attention when the behavior is inappropriate.
Play regularly with your cat, follow the training plan.
Regular, interactive play sessions with fishing pole or string toys that mimic prey (remember to put them away when you’re finished playing).
Never use your hands or any part of your body as a toy. Avoid rough play with the cat.
Two to three play sessions daily, lasting at least 5 minutes each.
Try to stick to the play schedule (cats appreciate routine).
Schedule the play sessions before your quiet times and activities that do not involve the cat.
Plan at least one play session in the morning.
Gradually end each play session so the cat isn't overly energized when you're done.
Play only with remote-controlled toys so the cat cannot get close to your hands.
End each play session with a little treat.
Avoid situations that elicit aggressive behavior.
Always withdraw your attention when the cat’s behavior is inappropriate.
Observe his body language and distract him with a thrown toy or treat BEFORE the bite incident, whenever possible.
Gently redirect the cat when it starts playing inappropriately and stop the behavior immediately. Use the minimal amount of redirection needed to interrupt the aggression as early as possible in the sequence. DO NOT USE aggressive behaviors, startle, or yell at the cat.
Interrupt inappropriate behavior on a lap by standing up.
What movements trigger a cat’s prey drive?
Across the cat’s line of sight
Away from the cat.
Sudden movements or bursts.
Movement accompanied by noises. (Was that a mouse?)
If the cat takes any part of your body in its mouth or sinks its claws into you.
Freeze
If needed, softly push against the cat; he will let go of you.
As the cat is releasing, put the behavior on a cue: “No biting.” Always use the same cue and always use it as the cat releases. No need to yell.
When the cat releases, praise him softly.
Immediately leave the room and/or withdraw your attention. If the cat persists in aggressive attempts to get attention, put the cat in another room for 2 minutes. Then let him out and give him calm attention.
If you want to learn more about how to play with your cat, I highly recommend Dr. Mikel Delgado’s book – How to Play with Your Cat.
References:
Barrett, P., & Bateson, P. (n.d.). The Development of Play in Cats.
Delgado, M. M. (2024). Play with Your Cat! The Essential Guide to Interactive Play for a Happier, Healthier Feline (1st ed). Penguin Publishing Group.
Gajdoš Kmecová, N., Pet’ková, B., Kottferová, J., Skurková, L., & Mills, D. S. (2021). Are These Cats Playing? A Closer Look at Social Play in Cats and Proposal for a Psychobiological Approach and Standard Terminology. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8, 712310. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.712310
Gajdoš-Kmecová, N., Peťková, B., Kottferová, J., Halls, V., Haddon, C., De Assis, L. S., & Mills, D. S. (2023). An ethological analysis of close-contact inter-cat interactions determining if cats are playing, fighting, or something in between. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 92. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-26121-1
Henning, J., Fernandez, E., Nielsen, T., & Hazel, S. (2022). Play and welfare in domestic cats: Current knowledge and future directions. Animal Welfare, 31(4), 407–421. https://doi.org/10.7120/09627286.31.4.005
Henning, J., Nielsen, T., Fernandez, E., & Hazel, S. (2023). Cats just want to have fun: Associations between play and welfare in domestic cats. Animal Welfare, 32, e9. https://doi.org/10.1017/awf.2023.2
West, M. (1974). Social Play in the Domestic Cat. American Zoologist, 14(1), 427–436. https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/14.1.427