Cats are curious creatures, always looking for something that captures their attention. Playing with your cat indulges their interests, such as with puzzle toys or trick training, but you can also put cat screen games on your phone to give them new stimulation.
Here are the best cat screen names to try out with your cat, whether you’re playing together or leaving them to their own devices (pun intended).
What Are Cat Screen Games?
Have you ever seen your cat swat at something on the television or your phone? The same things that attract their attention in real life—fast movements and shiny things—can also appear on a screen. That’s the idea behind cat screen games, which indulge your cat’s desire to stalk, chase, pounce, and swat.
Games come in a variety of options and themes, including classic chase games with virtual mice, fishing games, and other types. You can also get screen games that are free and simple, paid and elaborate, and everything in between.
The 6 Cat Screen Games
1. Friskies CatFishing
| Free: | Yes |
| Theme: | Fishing |
The Friskies CatFishing 2 game was created by Nestle-Purina PetCare and offers a classic fishing game for cats. It offers three levels of fishing with one, two, or three fish at one time, so you can challenge your cat to get as many as they can, as many times as it takes.
2. Friskies Jitterbug
| Free: | Free with ads |
| Theme: | Critter hunting |
The Friskies Jitterbug game is another Nestle game that works similarly. Your cat has an opportunity to chase and catch bugs on the screen by swatting them during 15-second rounds. One of the features of this game is its leaderboard, which lets you share your cat’s score and compete against fellow cat lovers.
3. Cat Alone
| Free: | Free with ads |
| Theme: | Bugs, critter hunting |
The Cat Alone app is a versatile game with multiple options to play with your cat in different ways, including laser pointers, flies, butterflies, cockroaches, and ladybugs, complete with sound effects. You can use your finger to guide play as well.
4. Pocket Pond 2
| Cost: | Free with in-app purchases |
| Theme: | Fishing |
Pocket Pond 2 is the sequel to the popular Pocket Ponds, though it’s only available for iOS. It has a fishing theme, but what sets this game apart is that it has hyper-realistic koi fish swimming across the screen. It’s fun for your cat, but you can have some entertainment, too, with the option to raise, breed, and sell fish, decorate your pond, and more. This app is free, but there are in-app purchases for some features.
5. Cat Playground
| Free: | No, $1.99 |
| Theme: | Critter hunting, training |
One of the more competitive games on the market, Cat Playground is a paid app that you can use to train your cat to catch a mouse, a fish, or a laser pointer. The more your cat catches, the more points they earn.
6. Mouse Simulator
| Free: | Yes |
| Theme: | Mouse hunting |
The Mouse Simulator game is free for Android and gives your cat a chance to chase a mouse. The unpredictable mouse runs across the tablet or smartphone screen to get the cheese, and your cat has to “catch” it with their paws. It’s a simple game, but it can offer hours of entertainment.
Do Cats Like Screen Games?
While the results can vary, some cats are very into cat screen games. Older cats may not be interested, and some cats may get frustrated because they’re virtually “catching” things that they can’t have in real life. It’s important to pay attention to your cat’s reaction to decide if they enjoy screen games or prefer real toys.
At first, it may take some collaborative play to get your cat used to the idea. This is similar to the way you introduce puzzle toys or other interactive toys. You may find that playing a little with your cat shows them how it works, and they’ll be eager to do it on their own.
- Use a tablet instead of a phone. Tablets have bigger screens, so it is easier for the cat to play.
- Make it fun. If your cat seems agitated by the game, don’t force it. Don’t scold your cat if they don’t pick up on the game immediately, either.
- Monitor your cat while playing. You want to do this to ensure that it’s not getting frustrated or causing stress to play the game.
- Give it some time. Your cat may not engage with the app immediately but don’t give up. Try at different times, and make sure to show your cat how to play. Once your cat understands the game, they may be more likely to play it.
Conclusion
Cat screen games are a great way to keep your cat entertained and engaged, even when you’re not around. There are so many games on the market, ranging from different difficulty levels and themes, that you’re sure to find one that works for your feline friend.
Featured Image Credit: Lario, Shutterstock
