My Bestfriend

If you are a devout cat lover like me and my friend Shaun Olmstead, playing with your cats is probably one of the most awaited activities of the day. However, there are some do’s and dont’s to be aware of that will help make playtime more fun for your cat, safer for you, and will help strengthen the bond you share.

• Do engage in interactive playtime with your cat at least twice a day. This can be a wonderful help when dealing with a bored or lonely cat.
• Don’t frustrate your cat by never allowing him to successfully capture the toy periodically throughout the game.
• Do use a fishing pole-type toy during interactive play such as Da Bird or the Cat Dancer, so you can move the toy like prey to get your cat interested. It also keeps a safe distance between your fingers and your cat’s teeth.
• Don’t use your fingers to entice your cat to play. It sends a mixed signal saying that it’s ok to bite skin.
• Do play sessions before meals to simulate a more true-to-life schedule for your cat. In the wild, a cat would have to engage in a hunt before eating.
• Don’t tax your cat’s physical/medical condition. Customize the game to his level of ability.
• Do alternate the toy’s movements between fast and slow to allow kitty to capture it. Hide the toy behind a box or piece of furniture and have it peek out. It’s during this time of non-movement that the cat will be able to inch up to it the way she would do during an actual hunt.
• Don’t leave fishing pole toys out in-between play sessions because the cat may chew on the strings.
• Do leave safe toys hidden around the house for your cat to discover for solo play, such as fuzzy mice and Mylar balls.
• Don’t tease the cat by poking the toy at him or on him. A cat’s play response is triggered by movements going away from or across his field of vision.
• Do double-check all toys to make sure they’re safe. Some toys have poorly glued-on parts that could easily be ingested by a cat.
• Playtime is beneficial to cats in so many ways - mental, physical, and emotional. What’s your cat’s favorite way to play?

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