Cats need play time and not just the kind where they seem to be chasing
some unidentifiable object or another member of the feline family at
warp speed through the house. Cats also need interactive play. This is
where your participation is needed.
There are several reasons that interactive play is important. You will
be forming a bond each time you play with your cat. She will be able to
become comfortable with you, other members of the family and the
environment in which she lives. If there are other animals in the house
it can help reduce the tension that is often experienced at first when
a new kitten is brought home. Interactive play will teach your cat what
is acceptable behavior and what is not. She will learn that biting and
scratching is not looked upon favorably. She will also find out that
damaging items in the home is frowned upon. This is where interactive
play comes in and where cat toys are helpful.
One thing to remember from the very beginning is that your fingers do
not make the best cat toys. While it may be tempting to use your
fingers to play with your brand new kitten, this can lead to biting as
the kitty grows up. This will hurt and you are sending the message that
it is perfectly O.K. to bite skin.
There are all kinds of cat toys on the market and the first thing to
consider when buying them is safety. Take a look at the toys and
carefully examine them. Some toys are not well-made and will not be
safe for your cat.
Look for toys that encourage the hunt. This is something that all cats
enjoy. Cats like to stalk their prey and they use patience, precision
and planning to execute every move. You do not want to simply dangle a
toy in front of your cat. Move away from your cat with the toy and
allow her to find it.
If you have more than one cat, each cat should have their own toys.
They do not enjoy fighting over toys and this can lead to frustration
on the part of everyone. You can give each cat individual play time or
hold a fishing-type cat toy in each hand and try to simulate the
stalking play experience as best you can without allowing the cats to
get too close to each other.
A good place to get started in your pursuit of interactive cat toys is
to look online. You will have many choices of toys and you can find
descriptions of the toys.
Cats love to play and it is a healthy part of a daily routine.
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