Cat Toys and playtime (Image: Coquet Vets)
Playtime isn’t just fun for cats - it’s essential for their physical health, mental stimulation, and emotional well-being. From kittens to adult cats, the right toys can help satisfy natural instincts, prevent boredom, and strengthen your bond.
Play is an important part of your cat’s life, and opportunities to play should be provided regularly. Kittens like to play during most waking hours, while adult cats often enjoy playing three to four times a day. Indoor cats need more play enrichment than outdoor cats.
Cat Toys and playtime (Image: Coquet Vets)
Why playtime is important for cats
Play benefits your cat’s health, development, well-being, and relationship with you:
Toys provide mental stimulation, and playing allows endorphins (feel-good hormones) to be released.
When kittens and cats play with toys, it allows them to learn and perform their normal “stalk, pounce, play, and ‘kill’” behaviours.
Play is also a very good form of physical exercise.
When you and your cat play together, it helps strengthen your bond with your cat.
Cat Toys and playtime (Image: Coquet Vets)
Cat Toys and playtime (Image: Coquet Vets)
How to play with your cat at home
There are many toys and other items you can provide to allow play and mimic natural behaviours, and they don’t need to be expensive:
Cats love to hide; providing a cardboard box with cut-out holes creates a fun hiding place for your cat.
Balled-up paper or foil can provide a fun toy to chase; just make sure it’s too big to swallow.
Playing together with your cat using toys on a string allows for bonding opportunities and enables your cat to carry out hunting behaviours; just be sure to allow your cat to “catch and kill” the toy every so often to prevent frustration.
Cat Toys (Image: Coquet Vets)
Provide enrichment and “brain teasers” for your cat with a treat-dispensing toy. You can also use this to provide your cat’s meal, meaning they will need to think about how to access their food, making mealtimes fun and mentally stimulating.
A scratch post or mat is a very good resource for your cat. Cats have a natural instinct to scratch, so providing a scratch post or mat allows an outlet for this behaviour — a benefit to your cat’s well-being and a way to save your furniture too!
Visit Cats Protection’s website for more advice on homemade toys and how to play with your cat: www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/cat-behaviour/cats-and-play
