In our recent posts, we recommended keeping your cat relaxed and entertained to help deal with urination problems. In response, some people said they had trouble playing with their cat, or finding anything to keep it amused. In the next couple of posts, therefore, we’ll cover a few tips on entertaining your furry friend.

Toys are the obvious first choice for entertainment, but not all toys are created equal. The most important thing to remember when playing with a cat is that her natural instincts are to hunt prey; to get her interest you should try to stimulate that instinct. For one thing, consider a toy that looks and moves like prey; toys that scurry around, flutter about or dart from place to place will be almost sure to catch her eye. Toys that disappear will also confuse and interest her and she seeks to hunt them down!

Like dogs, cats can also learn ‘tricks’ that can help keep them stimulated both mentally and physically. Sitting, rolling over and fetching toys are all possible, though you should be warned that most training will involve some kind of food-based reward…

Next time we’ll cover play time. Image from pet-gift.net

When it comes to successfully playing with your cat, an element of routine can help. Remember a large part of playing relies of stimulating the hunting instinct in your cat, so try playing at times when your pet would be out hunting – mornings and evenings are the obvious choices. Since most of us have more free time before and after work, this works out well for pet and owner.

So set aside two regular times a day to play with your cat, for around a total of half an hour. That said, don’t feel you have to keep playing with your cat if she seems to be getting bored earlier. It is also sensible not to use the same toys over and over again and not to leave them laying around afterwards either, otherwise your cat will soon be bored of them. Hide the toys away when you’re not playing together and, when it is play time, vary which toys you use to keep things fun and interesting.

Make sure to inspect your cat’s toys regularly, to spot any broken or loose pieces that could be a health hazard. The last thing you want is your cat choking on a toy you bought to make her healthier! The best toys are those without any loose parts, parts that are glued on or any strings, ribbons and elastic bands. It should go without saying that toys should also not be small enough to swallow or made from toxic materials.