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Cats need to play and move around daily to stay healthy. They can play with you, with other pets in your home, or with other family members. The important thing is that they find a way to play and get their feline bodies moving! Not only can it be a great way to keep your cat fit, but it is also important to their overall physical and mental well-being. It’s also a really good way for you and your cat to bond. It is recommended to play between 30 to 60 minutes per day diving it into 10-15 minutes different play sessions along the day.
How Much Should You Play With Your Cat Daily?
While your cat might portray themself as an independent creature, the truth is that they do enjoy interacting with you and the toys around them. With that in mind, it’s best if you spend between 30 and 60 minutes daily playing with your cat a day. A reasonable guide is four 10-minute play sessions daily.
We know that you’re likely to miss some days of extended play, and that’s okay, as long as you’re making it a priority to play with your cat most days and keep them mentally stimulated in your absence, you’re in pretty good shape.
The 4 Benefits of Playing With Your Cat
Every cat requires physical and mental stimulation, especially if they are indoor cats. Playing with your cat brings numerous important benefits. From bonding with you to reducing their stress and anxiety levels, many of the reasons are the same ones you get by exercising and playing!
1. Staying Physically Fit
Exercise helps your cat stave off obesity and related diseases such as diabetes mellitus and arthritis. Just like you need to exercise to stay healthy, the same is true for your cat.
While some cats have no trouble getting in their daily dose of exercise via the zoomies, others require a bit more encouragement to get active. The innovative Hepper Hi-Lo Cat Scratcher offers a 3-position design that provides cats with a variety of levels to play on, each engaging their full body and muscles. The durable cardboard scratching pad is an enticing cat-friendly place to climb, stretch, and claw, fulfilling their instinctual need to scratch.
If you are looking to improve your cat's health and increase their energy, check out the Hepper Hi-Lo Cat Scratcher. At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest, so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
2. Bonding
Bonding with your cat is a great way for the two of you to get a bit closer to each other, and what better way to do that than by playing? Playing is something you and your cat can enjoy, making it a real win-win for everyone! Whether you do this by waving a wand around while they chase it or by throwing a ball and having them chase it, the time you spend together will make the two of you even closer than you already are.
3. Relieves Stress
When you’re having a rough day, you should have a few different ways to relax and destress. The same is true for your cat, and while they shouldn’t have too many rough days, playing is still a great way to reduce their stress levels. Enriching your cat’s life through frequent play will help to reduce their boredom and stress, therefore reducing destructive or stress related behaviors.
A stress-free cat is happier and healthier, so don’t overlook this critical benefit.
4. Boredom Reduction
Let’s face it: an indoor-only cat doesn’t have much going on in their life. The time you take to play with them is likely the highlight of their day, and after you play with them, they’ll likely need a nap. That means a single brief play session can lead to hours of boredom reduction, thus eliminating problem behaviors.
The 5 Ways to Play With Your Cat
Sometimes, finding the best way to play with your cat is all about finding the best toys to use that get them interested. You don’t need to spend a ton of money on all sorts of different toys; simply getting a few that you know they’ll enjoy the most is more than enough.
1. Pet-Safe Laser Pointers
Laser pointers seem to drive just about every cat completely crazy. They’re constantly chasing after the light trying to catch it, and when they do get to it, they can’t figure out what it is. Just ensure to get a pet-safe laser pointer that isn’t too strong, and never point it at their face or eyes, as this can harm them.
2. Feather Wands
Feather wands are another classic cat toy that most cats adore. You’ll likely need to invest in quite a few feathers, as cats tend to rip them off, but it’s an excellent active bonding activity. Slowly flick them around and let your cat catch them a few times so they don’t get too frustrated.
3. Cardboard Boxes
Who says you need to invest in expensive cat toys? Most cats are more than happy to play with a cardboard box. They love climbing inside them, getting on top of them, and clawing at them. If you have multiple cardboard boxes, you can build different things for them to play with, too. Who wouldn’t want a cardboard castle to rule over?
4. Cat Trees
Cat trees are the perfect space for your cat to lounge, but they also entice your cat to climb and play. Different cat trees have different features, and many of them encourage your cat to keep moving in different ways. Plus, cats enjoy high-up places that allow them to look over their territory, so you should really have one of these in your home anyway.
5. Swap Out Toys Regularly
A quick Google search shows hundreds of cat toys you can get. You certainly don’t need to get them all, but buying a new one every once in a while is a great way to entertain your cat and get them moving. If one has been around for a while and your cat has lost interest, pull out a new toy. After they get bored of the new one, bringing back their old one could pique their interest again.
Our Favorite Cat Toys Right Now Here are a some of our favorite toys, each catering to a variety of senses and play preferences. Which one will your feline fancy? At Catster, we've admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
Hepper Plush Mouse Kicker Toy
Hepper Furball Toy Set
Multisensory
Encourages self play
Large
Durable
Lightweight
Set of 2
Final Thoughts
Don’t let your cat’s personality fool you, as they likely enjoy playing with you, and the more time you can spend with them, the happier and healthier they’ll be. Find ways to get them moving and find games they enjoy, and then set aside some time each day to play with them. It might take a bit of work, but it’s well worth it and is an important part of being a responsible pet owner.
See Also:
- 5 Ways Cats Bring Families Closer Together: Benefits & Tips
- How to Enrich My Cats Life: 14 Vet-Reviewed Ways to Make a Difference
Featured Image Credit: Kmpzzz, Shutterstock
