Cats are social animals, active and curious, for that reason, the game should never be missing in their daily routine. It is also a question of very beneficial activity for him, because it helps to promote the bond with the owner, lowers the levels of anxiety and stress and can even help fight depression.
However, not all people know how much time you have to play with a cat a day, which means that you often forget this positive activity. Discover below in how long should I play with my cat, Maybe you’re surprised!
Why is playing with a cat so important?
The cats are social animals and, although it may seem so at first, they do not enjoy playing alone. Probably you have ever given him a toy that has kept him entertained for hours, but with the passage of time has been forgotten somewhere. That’s because they need to receive stimulation to enhance their game behavior, that is why our presence is so important.
The game is a primordial activity to favor the typical behaviors in cats, as it is the hunting instinct, for this reason they are especially attracted to “fishing rod” toys or those that emit different sounds.
It is important to note that the behavior of a cat of 3 months before the game will not be the same as that of an adult or elderly cat, so we must adapt the sessions to their physical and mental abilities.
But How do cats play with humans? There are many types of games that we can practice with our feline, but that the cat is able to carry them out properly is a clear indicator of happiness and well-being.
How long should I play with my cat?
There is no defined and exact time to play with a cat, since each animal has its own needs, however, it would be ideal for our cat to play daily with us, for at least half an hour.
Some cats with a high energy level may require longer play sessions, while others may get bored or frustrated with excessively long sessions. The best way to know how much time you should play with your cat is to take your time to get to know him and analyze his specific needs.
Games to play with your cat
In the market we will find an endless number of toys designed exclusively for our cats and it is not always easy to know which one to choose: there are toys for puppy cats, intelligence toys, food dispensers and we can even make toys for cats ourselves.
As we mentioned earlier, the games that usually motivate them more easily are those that include toys that emit sounds or the classic “fishing rod”, however, we can play hide with the cat or hide prizes to find them. There are many possibilities and knowing our cat well will be essential to know which is the most suitable for him. If you want to know more activities, do not hesitate to visit our article on 10 games to entertain a cat.
A good game session It should not be especially long, it should include short breaks and it is important that it be relatively calm, so as not to favor the uncontrolled feline, which can sometimes end up with a strong scratch or bite. These details are especially important to keep in mind when knowing how to play with a small kitten, who is still learning to play properly.
How old are the cats?
Most cats still maintain a active or moderate play behavior even in his adult stage, others even in his old age, but it will depend on each case to know how old a cat is going to play.
It is important to note that the appearance of a pathology can cause a cat to resist playing, because it can cause pain. The atritis in elderly cats is a very clear example.
If two cats play together is enough?
It is likely that the company of another cat help our feline to cover your social needs if you spend a lot of time alone, however you will still need our company. Do not forget! Likewise, it is important to point out that before adopting a second feline we inform ourselves about how to know if two cats get along.
If our cat has never socialized with other cats and also separated him from his mother and siblings before three weeks of life. You will probably have a lot of difficulties to relate well with other cats, since your stage of socialization will have been very poor.
It is usual in these cases that the owners ask “how to know if my cat is playing or fighting” and that is a cat that has not socialized correctly he does not know the game patterns or does not control the bites and scratches as it should. If your cat has not socialized, it is best that you bet to enrich the home adequately to provide extra entertainment when you are not.
On the contrary, if the cat was adopted around three months of age and has socialized with other cats throughout its life, adopting a cat can be an excellent option.
If you want to read more articles similar to How long should I play with my cat?, we recommend you to enter our section of Games and Fun.