Cats are naturally curious and many love to play! Playing is a great form of exercise which is important for keeping fit, maintaining good muscle and bone strength, and improving circulation.

Your cat will find ways to entertain itself, like climbing and hunting, but cats enjoy playing with their owners too. Plus playing together is a great way to bond with your feline friend. Not sure how to play with your cat? Don’t worry, we have plenty of ideas to keep both you and your cat entertained.

Games to Play with Your Cat

Cat games for cats don’t have to be complicated - there are many games to play that provide hours of fun without costing you a penny.

Hide and seek is not just for children, cats of all ages enjoy this game as it puts their senses to the test. Hide yourself and call your furry friend to get them to find you. Or you can hide their favourite toy or treat and encourage your cat to seek it out. You may find your cat starts to hide from you and will suddenly pounce out of their hiding place.

Chase the mouse is a great game to play with your cat too. Don’t worry, you don’t have to use a real mouse! Use a toy that looks like a prey animal that they would hunt, attach it to a piece of string and move it around for your cat to chase and pounce on. Chasing the mouse burns off lots of energy, provides mental stimulation and develops their agility.

You might think fetch is just a game for dogs, but cats love it too! Call them over to you and show them a toy, then toss the toy away and your cat will leap after it. Call your cat back and reward them - eventually they may return the toy to you too but don’t worry if they don’t. Simply running backwards and forwards will give them plenty of enjoyment and exercise, and chasing the object ignites their hunting instinct.

A basic ping pong ball can provide lots of fun. Gently toss the ball along the floor or against a wall and watch your cat chase after it. They’ll twist and contort their body to bat the ball in different directions, which is great for developing their agility.

Teaching your cat a trick may not seem like play, but it provides many of the same benefits and most cats love it. Not only does it provide mental stimulation and physical exercise, it’s also a great way to bond. Start with straightforward tricks like ‘sit’ or ‘paw’. Use treats to reward your cat when it gets it right.

It may take some time to train your cat, but with patience and lots of repetition, but your cat will soon get the hang of it. Never force your cat to complete a command – it’s supposed to be fun and not all cats will want to play this game.

Fun Games for Cats to Play on Their Own

If you're looking for games for your cat to play when you’re not around, a puzzle feeder or treat dispenser is a great way to keep your cats entertained. They get the reward of the food but must work out how to get it.

Climbing toys like multi-tiered scratch posts provide hiding spots and viewpoints to watch the world go by. Cats love to climb and if you hide treats on each level, it will encourage their natural instinct to hunt.

Catnip can be added to toys to encourage more exercise as they’ll roll, rub, and flip the toys, and will take longer to lose interest. But only use catnip occasionally to mix up playtime.

If your cat is very playful and you’re finding it difficult to keep up, it may be a good idea to get them a feline friend. A new companion should be suitably matched based on age and breed to ensure they have similar levels of energy and playfulness. They’ll enjoy playing games together like chase and hide and seek.

How Much Play Time Does My Cat Need?

Every cat is different and how much they want to play will be affected by their age, breed and how much time they spend outside. If your cat walks away from the cat game you’re playing, it probably means they’ve had enough. They may also be tired and in need of a nap. You’ll know when your cat is ready to play again as they’ll come to find you.

The more you play with your cat, the more mental stimulation and exercise you’re giving them. Playing with your cat also encourages their natural hunting instincts and will strengthen your bond.

While you might have come across games for cats on YouTube or cat games online for cats, it's essential to ensure that your feline friend gets plenty of real, physical play and natural experiences in their environment. Engaging in physical play not only helps to keep your cat healthy and active but also stimulates their natural instincts, reducing stress and behavioural issues.

There are many games to play with cats, and they don’t have to be complicated. See if you can come up with some new games of your own. If you can't keep up with your cats play needs, make sure they have toys, climbing posts or a furry companion to entertain them.

Everypaw Cat Insurance

Everypaw's Cat Insurance comes with 24/7 unlimited access to vets and vet nurses that can help with your pet's health, care, nutrition and behaviour. So you can rest assured your kitty will be well looked after. 

Get a quote

 

Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Felis - www.vetlexicon.com/felis

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.