FASCINATING FELINES

We Love Our Cats! We appreciate their companionship. enjoy their “cattitude” and laugh at their typical cat antics. They help reduce our stress levels and create a sense of contentment. Cats spend anywhere from 16 to 18 hours of their day sleeping, grooming, and napping. It is easy to assume that they are content also. They, however, may be bored. Having fun with our cats is a great way to develop a deeper bond and helps relieve their boredom and stress.

Cats love boxes! Save a few boxes from home deliveries and place toys in them. The curious cat will work hard to find out what’s in there. Also, an empty box is an invitation to try it on for size. The “if it fits, I sits” approach.

They also love the sound of crumbled paper! Throw a couple of paper balls and they’ll enjoy trying to catch them. Works great if you have paperwork to do and they want to play.

Reading! Just a simple act of reading to your cats can be a bonding experience; mine seem to enjoy snuggling with me at bedtime. Occasionally when I read out loud to them I’ll insert a few meows. Their “listening” goes up a few notches with an occasional meow in return.

Don’t forget the reliable toys. Cats love catnip bubbles. Blow bubbles near a fan and most cats will try to get them or at least enjoy watching them. Wind up or battery-operated mice are great for shared fun. Use unpredictable, zigzag movements that are similar to the movements of mice. This helps sharpen their stalking and pouncing skills.

Ping Pong Bath! I’ve never tried this but I think my cats will like it. Put ping pong balls in an empty bathtub and let your cats play bath pong. I wonder if I play ping pong with them if they’ll return the ball.

Laser Lights are still a favorite for so many cats. However, they can damage a cat’s eyes so be very careful not to point the light into their eyes. Any type of light is fascinating to a cat. Chasing something that can’t be caught quickly turns fun into frustration. One idea is to point the light to a toy or snack so that playtime ends with a successful catch.

How about a game of Hide & Seek? Indoor cats still retain their hunting instincts and playing hide and seek helps them use those skills. You can hide somewhere with a stuffed animal and have it peek out so your cats notice it. Wiggling it a few times also gets a cat’s attention as they get into stalk and prey modes. Periodically change the size of the prey as a challenge. Another variation is to set up a treasure hunt by hiding treats in different spots. Start out slowly with only a few treats and add more as your hunter becomes more skilled in finding his prey. For most cats regular play sessions about 10 to 15 minutes twice a day will keep your cat happy and stimulated. Playtimes with our cats are important for us as well as them.