Catnip - How To Use

Playing with your Kitten or Cat

One of the pleasures of sharing your household with kittens and cats is being able to play and interact with them. This is not only great fun, even if you do pick up a few scratches, but essential to the health and well being of your cat.

To keep your cat entertained you will need to provide a stimulating and evolving environment. Don't panic it's not as difficult as it sounds!

Basically you need to provide a few cat toys and cycle them so that your cat doesn’t get bored. The good news is that you don’t need to spend a fortune – pretty much anything that moves, rolls, can be chased, chewed or carried can entertain your cat. This includes string, balls, rolled up newspaper, furry mouse toys, even an empty cardboard box with some holes in it for the cat to put its paws through.

Be sure that whatever toys you give your cat are safe. Whilst they are not as destructive as dogs, cats can pull things apart and will eat small pieces of the toys. Make sure that they are non toxic and have no sharp edges that can cut your cat.

For kittens, playing is a way of learning. You can watch them carefully stalk a toy, pause, then tense and pounce on that unsuspecting ball which then scoots off, closely followed by kitty. Even better is having 2 kittens together so that they can play with each other, the toys and pretty much anything that moves – including toes!!

With the modern age comes more modern toys, such as remote controlled mice and laser pointers. Most kittens and cats are put off by the noise of the motor so remote control toys are not a big favorite. The laser pointer will drive your cat to distraction, chasing that elusive red dot all over the house wondering why it can’t get its claws into it! However I’d advise using this sparingly as it can affect the cat’s behavior over time.

Just coming onto the market are cat videos. These are designed to be played on the TV and the cat sits and watches. By all accounts they are very successful but I’m not sure I want my cats to become TV addicts!

The trick to keeping your cats happy is to challenge them mentally and physically, don’t forget that they like to jump and climb too. Some of the most successful toys are designed to be played with in 3 dimensions and you’ll be impressed by the acrobatics that your cat can perform.

Put 2 toys together to make a new toy, get creative and play with your cat on a regular basis. This will strengthen the bond between you and your cat, keep her fit and mentally stimulated. It will also reward you with hours of fun and pleasure.