If so, be sure to have on hand plenty of interactive toys to help distract him from off-limits household items. Catnip (dried catmint plant) rubbed on a plastic toy or secreted within a stuffed toy is of particular importance for blind cats and will appeal to the majority. Play can also help a cat and his owner bond, as shared activities cultivate a feeling of camaraderie. Some kittens may attempt to use their paws to "withdraw" H20 out of their bowls. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It may be necessary on occasions to intervene in social play between cats that has escalated and risks injury to either party. Don’t worry, your cat will let you know if they are interested in playing. However, cats are complex, variable, and temperamental creatures. Don’t forget the oldies too; even elderly cats will enjoy the stimulation and gentle exercise of a game that is adapted to suit their level of mobility. This signals great excitement, to the point of hyperactivity. Though they are housebound, they still retain that killer instinct that serves their wild counterparts so well. Much depends on the age of the kittens, and the mama cat’s experiences with humans. Kittens also learn the importance of retracting claws through play. This may be fine when little but as their claws become larger and the cat gets stronger it can cause damage and certainly pain. If your cat kisses you on the lips, it is expressing significant affection. Plastic Bags. In this article, I will talk about the different ways cats show affection. The owner of such a cat needs to be aware of their responsibility to ensure that the cat’s mental needs, as well as it physical ones, are met. To a kitten, pretty much everything is a toy. In many cases, the natural progression of hunt, kill, eat, groom, sleep will lead your cat into lethargic bliss. All our advice is freely accessible to everyone, wherever you are in the world. Remember that your kitten is a baby, and you have to keep it away from sharp objects and small objects it might choke on. I recently saw she saw biting the kittens at their necks. Some cat toys feature different fabrics which encourage cats to rake their claws or rub their necks. It can also prove frustrating and frightening for a cat who has learnt to play with their owner’s hands as a kitten to suddenly start being punished by the owner when they get bigger and this sort of play hurts. As kittens grow older their play changes and by the time they are 14 weeks old their play is mainly directed towards objects, which they stalk, pounce on, bat, grasp and bite. By playing with their siblings they also improve and refine their social and communication skills. Knowing how to love cats is easy – what's not to love, after all? As soon as the kittens are born, mom licks the kittens to remove the amniotic sacs from around their faces and bodies. The best toys for kittens are usually soft objects they can sink their teeth into but not hurt themselves, such as cotton chew toys. Why Do Cats Kiss You on the Lips? It can be observed however that some games/toys can cause frustration if the pounce/catch parts of the sequence are absent, for example, laser pointers, so it is advisable, until proven otherwise, to follow the sequence and mimic the natural circumstances as closely as possible, for example, play in short bursts of activity before feeding times and end the game on a positive note when the cat catches the toy. Click Yes to help us continue to make these improvements. At this point, the kittens are almost always weaned and able to eat solid food. Hi! All kitten play is training for adulthood. A bored cat will walk away or show no interest in toys. This is absolutely normal behavior. It's important to know how to play with cats in order to ensure that they not only enjoy themselves, but also get enough exercise, satisfy their natural instincts, and remain safe and healthy. And if you still feel unsafe for the kittens, remove them from her. Kitty Break: November 2020 Jigsaw Cat Puzzle, Why Cats are Great Companions for Seniors, 4 Reasons You’ll Be Glad You Adopted a Senior Cat. Playing with your kitty may seem intuitive: bat the string, cat chases the string, everyone goes home happy. Once you have taken these things into account, age will play a large role in dictating how you will ultimately interact with your cats. To combat food aggression and dominance in cats: ... do not break up the play. The running and jumping of locomotor play helps a kitten increase strength, coordination, and flexibility. If you have a kitten it is important to teach basic good manners – cats should be discouraged from scratching, clawing or biting. If your cat appears to become over-excited or over-stimulated by a particular toy, stop that activity and redirect its attention to something else. Putting their tails up in the air, rubbing around our legs, and sitting beside us and grooming us are exactly what cats do to each other. Kittens develop very quickly from about two weeks of age until their seventh week. The kitten will also take its lead from its mother or older felines in the home. 7 to 14 weeks: play, play, play Social and object play increases kitten's physical coordination and social skills. Please consider making a contribution, big or small, to keep our content free, accurate and relevant. Teaser toys are a great bet for your fluffy new friend. If the escalation has not progressed to physical fighting but has reached the stage of direct staring then an opportunity to break the stare, and therefore the view of each other, can be sufficient to diffuse the situation. Areas indoors that are designated for play, therefore, should contain some or all of the following to get the maximum benefits: All objects should be positioned in such a way that each cat can move around it and approach from any angle. Cats are more likely to indulge in social play with each other if the environment is conducive to doing so safely. So are soft, plushy critters, rubbery chew toys and remote controlled rodents. From a very young age, kittens learn to stalk prey, pounce, attack, grab, climb, chew, and practice other behaviors that are vital to survival, especially if they aren't indoor cats and have to catch their own food. Most cats enjoy interacting with their owner and playing is a great way to develop the bond between you and your pet. Though, you may want to keep it a little lower to the ground. Your email address will not be published. For adults, present it to our cat in cupped hands, with a name that makes us smile as we say it. This varies greatly from cat to cat, from situation from situation. Instead, treat Mister Snuggums as something important to our cat, as we want it to become. With a bit of observation, you will quickly come to realize that your cat already knows how to play and is just waiting for you to catch up! Because they don't have to fight for their food, though, domestic cats are more prone to weight gain. If they feel as if they can't eventually win the game, they will likely quit it. It’s a safe way for the dominant cat to assert itself. My cat loves to climb into bags. The ball is light enough not to do any damage around the house and the right size for a small paw to bat. This can lead to a number of health concerns, including weakened joints and diabetes. Play assists young kittens’ physical development and coordination. All toys should, therefore, be rotated randomly and kept in a sealed bag when not in use. If the encounter has escalated beyond this point then physical contact can be interrupted by using a blanket or towel thrown over the cats. This behavior mimics hunting and is important in helping kittens learn to stalk, capture, and kill prey. Kittens cannot see as well as adult cats until about ten weeks after birth. Your email address will not be published. Puzzle balls release the prize when batted around. Well, they might be only trying to scratch an itch. Playing with your kitty may seem intuitive: bat the string, cat chases the string, everyone goes home happy. Also mother cats have been known to kill their kittens that are sickly. Movement is a great stimulus and most toys are designed to be used actively in one way or another. The association your cat has with your hands should only be that they are used for gentle petting and holding. Some clues to ideal ‘playtime’ can be evident in your cat’s behaviour, including: Assessing your cat’s motivation to play enables you to tailor play to suit its needs. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site. However, some cats get an extra boost of stamina post-meal, so be sure to be prepared to spend a little more time working off that energy. She may seek out higher turf, keeping one eye on her growing cats from her … For more information, please see our Privacy Policy. Moderator. If observed, cats enjoy the opportunity to play in environments where there are obstacles and varying levels to give camouflage, hiding opportunities and the chance to access high places for ‘timeout’. For more info, see our Full Affiliate Disclosure. This post contains affiliate links. But cats do actually show love and affection to their humans. Even everyday household rubbish, such as screwed up balls of paper, sweet wrappers, string and corks can be transformed into exciting toys that can be chased or tossed from paw to paw. High-intensity kittens are fearless bundles of non-stop GO. Most learning is by observation, preferably of their mother. Younger adult cats, especially those adopted from pounds and foster homes, may still require some training; however, they will also crave mental stimulation and physical enrichment. It may be possible to identify, particularly if your cat has a high motivation to play, a particularly powerful toy that promotes an instant response every time. The key to a successful introduction is to do it slowly and in stages. The nice thing about using a cardboard box is that you can get rid of it after the kittens are large enough, and they don't need to be watched constantly. Kittens weaned from their mothers too soon are also prone to the behavior. Their sense of hearing is one of the best on the planet. Many people play wrestle with their kitten, or allow their kitten to paw at their finger. Buy lint-free, strong yarn, making sure that your cat's claws do not become stuck. When it comes to interaction with your feline companion, more than anything, be certain to pay close attention. #2 They’re a Bit Itchy . If the problem persists it may be necessary to seek advice from your veterinarian who may refer you to an animal behaviourist or pet behaviour counsellor to assess the situation and recommend action for long-term management. Never use Mister Snuggums as a toy to throw or stimulate stalking behavior. Now that your cat is a little older and more familiar with the rules, introducing him to puzzles might help to engage him both physically and mentally. This sends a message that biting and scratching are appropriate behaviors. If you do not allow the cats to play, aggression becomes more likely. Cats Will Play is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Since cats like to hunt, manipulating their toys in a way that mimics potential prey is a great way to stoke their interest and initiate a rollicking game of chase and attack. Sometimes they even reject them. Expect disaster if you were to come in and plonk the new kitten down right in front of your existing cat. You would need to worry if they didn't do this. This site or its third party tools use cookies: Off the Floor and on the Walls: Cat Wall Shelves Reviews, Conflicting Play Styles: How to Bridge the Gap Between Human and Feline, Kitty Quiz: What Cat Breed Matches Your Personality. Gentle noise (for example, a tinkling bell firmly concealed in a ball) may attract, but some cats will be alarmed by more strident noises. Cats, especially kittens, are born imitators. One moment they move the kittens other times they seem to ignore them. Much will depend on the nature of the cat and the time you wish to devote to your pet. However, as a charity, we need your support to enable us to keep delivering high quality and up to date information for everyone. Place it on the floor and move back and forth, inviting your cat to chase … Cats are naturally neophilic (excited by novelty) so toys left out will soon lose their appeal. Small feathers or toys dangling on the end of a rod and wire or string keep your hands a safe distance from the claws. These are the skills they need for hunting. Why do cats play in the litter box by rolling around? You may still be in the training phase at this point. Paper bags with no handles are acceptable for cats to play with, but plastic bags should be avoided for the same reason we keep them away from our toddlers: Cats can get wound up and trapped in the bag, leading to suffocation. 6. You may not associate playing with eating, but now that your cat has caught his prey, it's only natural that he should want to eat. It is therefore essential to monitor each individual in a multi-cat group and consider factoring in some time in the day to play individually in isolation. Cats which never go outside will need plenty of stimulation and play, particularly when young, to prevent them from becoming bored. By the time her kittens are about 6 to 8 weeks old, a mommy cat, having accomplished the important work of teaching her kittens independence, will most likely begin to seek distance from the crew. So, how to play with cats in their various stages. If she is not drawing blood on them and she is grooming them, they are eatting and she is resting well, I would just continue to monitor. A cat which has access to the great outdoors will find plenty of interest – walls and trees to climb, prey to stalk, leaves to chase and possibly other feline company. Kitty Quiz: What’s Your Cat’s Play Style? Playtime is more complicated in multi-cat households where one cat may be more motivated to play than others or any tension is present within the group. Cats have a relatively short attention span. Read below to understand and manage their very normal behavior and prepare the kittens for their eventual weaning. When cats do this, it's often because they object to the edges of the bowl making direct contact with their whiskers, which possess sensory properties. In felines, mobility issues may make playtime a bit trickier; however, physical activity is still essential, as it lubricates and keeps the joints moving, ensures a healthy weight, and keeps your kitty mentally sharp. Play for a kitten, like any other young animal, is essential for its development to maturity and for the majority of adult cats, it is a pleasurable part of domestic life. Domestic cats, especially young kittens, are known for their love of play. Their coordination and strength improves. This toy should be used randomly to maintain its power. At this stage, they don't know that that enticing wire hanging out of the lamp is something to be avoided. Everyone is different, and how your cat responds should dictate how you interact with him; however, because of their shrunk-down-wild-cat natures, most kitties will often enjoy some similar key things. If your female cat is expecting, you can help her create this area by providing her with a towel-lined box in a quiet, dark room. Play explores all parts of the predatory sequence: search, stalk, chase, pounce, catch and manipulate. Toys can appeal to all the feline senses – sight, sound, scent, touch and taste. Do not let your kitten play with your hands or fingers. Even simple toys, such as a ping pong ball, can provide hours of fun and exercise. Therefore, it is important to teach kittens these skills from as young as possible. If you are looking for a cat who needs lots of interaction and mental stimulation, choose a high-energy, rough-and-tumble kitten… This may also be seen when younger cats chase each other, or when they run around by themselves. Avoid sticking your hand in the kitten's face when you're playing. Interactive play (social with other cats). Sometimes during play, a cat, or more commonly, a kitten, will raise the base of its tail high and stiffen all but the tip into a shape like an upside-down "U". You can spot them quickly; they’ll be the ones running after and jumping on their littermates. Mother cats (often called queens) seek out cozy, quiet spaces to deliver their babies. It is advisable not to physically intervene using arms or legs as, in a heightened state of arousal, the cats will not distinguish between you and each other and injury is inevitable. We use cookies to improve our website to make sure you have a better browsing experience. 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