Games Cats Like to Play:
Teaching Your Kitten to Play Gently
Kittens are naturally very active and playful. Normal cat play includes chasing,
climbing, exploring and pouncing. Kittens especially enjoy chasing anything that moves
(including feet!) and climbing or jumping onto just about anything in your home that
provides a challenge! Because kittens have nails that can scratch and sharp teeth that can
bite, your new kitten must learn how to play gently with you and your family members and to
direct his play behaviors toward appropriate toys, rather than your hands or furniture. Here
are a few tips for teaching your kitten how to play gently:
- Provide daily play periods for your kitten. Kittens have a lot of energy,
but also need time to rest and sleep during the day. Establish a routine with your kitten
that includes two or three play sessions a day. This will teach your kitten to expect her
play at certain times and will help to prevent boredom-induced behavior problems.
- Select a variety of stimulating toys for your kitten. Cats enjoy small toys
that they can pounce upon and bat around, as well as interactive toys that you can
manipulate during play periods. Some cats also enjoy soft plush toys that are large enough
to “wrestle” with. (If your cat likes this type of play, you will see her grab the toy with
her front feet, roll onto her back, and kick at the toy with her back feet).
- Cats are stimulated by novelty. Offer a variety of types of toys to your cat
and rotate them weekly to maintain her interest. Keep a few “special toys” put away, and
present them to your cat only during interactive play sessions. This will help to keep her
play with you interesting and fun!
When playing with your cat, always use toys to entice her to chase, pounce, and
jump. Throwing a toy for your cat is a great way for her to chase and exercise, and some
cats learn to bring the toy back to be thrown again! Other toys that can be used during play
include bendable poles with toys or feathers on the end and toys on strings that can be
dragged along the floor or dangled from the air.
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