Hunting with Your Feline Pal
As most cat lovers know, a cat is not a dog in a cat suit, and therefore their playtime must be altogether different and designed to meet their unique feline needs. Dogs go on walks regularly and our cats need to "hunt" on a regular basis too. Knowing our somewhat domesticated kitties are still hardwired to be hunters gives us clues to what their innate needs are regarding daily playtime. Most outdoor cats hunt 10-12 times a day. Our indoor cats have the same desire but often don't even get to hunt even once a day! Just because your cat sleeps a lot doesn't mean he/she is not interested in hunting activities—sometimes they are just bored. With the right toys, most cats of any age will easily become engaged in a playtime session. Note: Cats much prefer to do their playtime hunting on a non-skid surface, like a large rug or long runner, because they have much more traction. Otherwise, they become frustrated from skidding and slipping when trying to catch the "prey". Kinda like driving on ice—not much fun!
Playtime is a very important part of caring of your cat. Since your cat is a hunter by nature, playtime should be designed to meet his hunting need in a safe and fun way. It should closely simulate the way your cat would behave naturally during their hunting activities. Playing with your cat in this way will help discharge the energy he stores up every day while he sleeps and often prevents redirected or inappropriate aggression and boredom. Be sure to let your kitty investigate your new toy before offering it for play by letting him smell/sniff the new toy to check it out. When playing with an interactive toy, move the toy away from the cat—prey never heads toward the cat! Let the cat catch his "prey" several times during your playtime. And, finally, remember to wind down your playtime gradually—don't just stop the fun in the middle of the game when the cat is in an excited state. End your playtime with a healthy treat or play with him just before dinner so he will be rewarded with the kind of prey YOU choose!
Provide your cat a wide variety of safe toys and puzzles. Rotate them to keep your cat interested. The following are some of my recommended playtime toys and activities: Da-Bird Cat Toy, Cat Catcher, Cat Dancer, Cat Charmer, Ripple Rug, Ping-Pong balls, organic catnip-filled toys, shiny mylar crinkle balls, Laser Light, Rosie Rat, Teddy Mouse (large or small), peacock feathers, cat tunnels, large catnip socks, interactive treat mazes and puzzle games. Cat DVD's, cat apps and cat music CD's are also helpful.
I recommend at least 5-10 minutes of playtime 2-3 times per day. Dusk and dawn are the most ideal times to hunt with your cat – happy hunting!