BEHAVIOR 7
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Providing the Perfect Playtime
Keeping our cats indoors does help preserve their health and well-being but it's our job to provide opportunities for them to use their natural instincts.
ne of the most delightful
aspects of our domestic
cats is their lifelong love of
play. Inside every cat - no matter
how pampered, sedentary (or even
downright lazy) - beats the heart
of a mighty hunter. Many cat owners assume that their adult cats
don't want (or need) regular playtime, because they typically show
so little interest in the toys that
are available to them, or because
they spend so much time just lazing around or sleeping. Actually,
nothing could be further from the
truth!
For cats who enjoy an exclusively indoor lifestyle, daily interactive play is particularly vital.
"We've taken away our indoor cats'
ability to engage in a natural (but
dangerous) life outside, and their
ability to engage in species-typical
behaviors," says Nicholas Dodman, BVMS,Director of the Animal
Behavior Clinic at Tufts Cummings
School of Veterinary Medicine and
author of The Cat Who Cried for
Help. "Therefore, we need to offer
effective substitutes. Part of our
job as caring owners is to provide
opportunities
for indoor cats to
behave like cats - rather than just
sitting around, waiting for their
next meal."
O
Why play is so important
In fact, active play is really a vital
part of every eat's regular health
care. Daily, vigorous "mock-hunting" play - both solo and interactive - keeps cats physically toned,
mentally sharp and psychologically healthy. Every cat needs to
We all know that it's safer for our cats to live indoors. But we can try to recreate
through play some of the fun and adventure that they'd find outside.
stalk, leap, pounce, swat and chase.
For a cat of any age, play is serious
business. Without a stimulating
environment and plenty of opportunity to exercise their bodies,
minds and imaginations, cats can
get bored, depressed, overweight
- and even ill.
That's where you can step in.
No matter how many toys he has
lying around the house, or how
fancy or high-tech they are, your
eat's favorite play partner is you.
While you might see your cat
chase, bat and pounce on his toys,
you haven't really seen what your
small hunter is capable of until
you pick up an interactive toy and
bring it to life.
It's easy enough to manage
vigorous play sessions with a single cat. But what about multi-cat
families? Whether you have two,
five or a dozen cats, you can - and
should - treat each and every
one of them to at least one session
each day of active, mock-hunting
play. It's essential for your cats and it's great fun for you, too, as
well as terrific mental and physical
exercise.
Toys that cats love
First, put together a selection of
interactive toys. Dr. Dodman suggests wands with string and feathers attached, or anything that
moves. A small, hand-held laser
pointer, with its maddeningly
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elusive red dot, is an interactive
playtime standby. Never shine the
light in or towards your cats' (or
your own) eyes, though.
Some of the best interactive
toys we've found are the Feline
Fisher (www.felinefisher.corn) and
Da Bird (www.go-cat.com.com).
The Feline Fisher (formerly known
and loved by millions of cats as the
"Galkie Kitty Tease") is particularly
versatile.
Amazingly sturdy and deceptively simple, the Fisher can - in
the hands of a skilled operator simulate almost any kind of prey,
from a skittering insect to a scurrying mouse, a jumping frog to a
fluttering bird. The lure is simply
a scrap of denim - but to cats, it's
pure magic.
"Da Bird," also a longtime feline
favorite, consists of a pair of feathers that dangle on a swivel at the
end of a string. When whirled
around in the air, this toy looks
and sounds uncannily like a live
bird. You won't believe the flying
leaps your cats are capable of until
you see them go after Da Bird.
Next, select your play space.
Ideally, you have an area that relatively large and open, and free of
hazards and obstacles. Make sure
that there are no heavy objects
that could fall on a leaping or scurrying cat. A tall, sturdy cat tree
adjacent to your play space will
increase your playtime options.
Choose a consistent play-time
Decide when you'll conduct daily
play sessions. "Cats are crepuscular," notes Dr. Dodman. "That is,
they're most active at dawn and
dusk. So it makes sense to capitalize on these times of naturally
heightened activity." Other good
times are just before mealtimes,
so your cat can feel like he's caught
his own supper. Whatever you
choose, be consistent. That way,
your cats will come to anticipate
and look forward to their play
sessions.
AIe they couch potatoes or mighty hunters? Don't assume your older cats won't
enjoy and benefit from a daily regimen of interactive play!
You can choose a special keyword phrase to announce to your
feline crowd that it's playtime. Use
the same phrase; in the same tone
of voice, to introduce each session.
Hint: It's best to keep your interactive toys out of reach to your cats
between play sessions to keep the
novelty factor alive.
Start the session with whatever
cat or cats show up first. Especially
if your cats aren't accustomed to
regular play, some of them may
hang back and just watch until
they figure out what's going on.
Don't worry, though. It won't be
long until all your cats are enthusiastically participating. You can
manipulate
the toys right from
your favorite comfy chair, but especially with a crowd - you'll
be a better ringmaster, and be better able to manage the action, if
you stand and walk around freely.
(You'll get more exercise that way,
too.)
Because each cat is different
- in age, personality,
physical
condition,
assertiveness
and
many other factors - each cat
will approach playtime in his own
unique way. Your job is to make
sure that each cat gets a good, satisfying workout - as much as he
wants and needs. Cats who live
together in a family group and are
(more or less) compatible are usually quite adept at time-sharing
during playtime.
One cat might move in for the
kill immediately,
enjoy a brief,
intense bout ofleaping and pouncing, and then fall back for a rest
as another cat takes over. As you
wave and manipulate
the toys,
keep track of who's getting action
and attention. Balance it out, so no
cat feels left out of the fun.
Different play styles
As you play, you'll notice that each
cat responds most intensely to
particular kinds of toy movement.
One cat loves to leap daringly into
the air when you turn the lure into
a flying bird; another prefers to
scamper after
the lure as you
drag it across
the floor imitating
a skittering insect or
scurrying mouse; still
another prefers to scoop
the lure with a paw and toss
it into the air - the classic
"fish-scoop" move. Take advantage of these individual prey
preferences to make each eat's
play more satisfying - and to get
to know each of your cats better.
Make sure that each cat gets
a few good, solid "kills" - when
they actually capture the "prey"
in their teeth or claws and hold
onto it briefly. This can be hard on
the toys, especially Da Bird; you'll
want to keep some extra feather
lures in reserve (you can purchase
extra feathers separately).
For
variety, t()SSthe lure up and over anearby sturdy cat tree, and watch
as your hunters bound up to capture their prey.
Cats differ in their level of predatory drive. Some cats don't need
any encouragement
at playtime;
others need to be coaxed a bit,
especially at first. If one of your
cats seems hesitant to go after the
prey, take her aside temporarily,
so she can have your full attention
for a few moments.
Helping the old or timid
Smaller and elderly cats sometimes worry about getting bowled
over or trampled
by larger,
younger or more aggressive family
members. Especially at first, work
individually with shy or reluctant
cats, and make sure they feel safe
and confident mixing it up in the
group setting. Be observant, and
be sensitive to the cats' interactions and body language. And
remember,
wise owners never
insist. Make sure each cat gets
plenty of chances to participate,
but only to the extent that
she wants to.
In many groups, you'll
have a "prey hog" - a cat who
wants to keep all the action for
himself. Prey hogs often capture
the lure, grab it in their teeth and
try to run off. Getting them to
release the prey requires finesse.
Instead of getting into a tugging contest, let the string go
loose, be patient and watch
and temporarily separate the feuding parties. Conflicts that persist
over several sessions, or are particularly fierce, may call for help from
a knowledgeable cat behaviorist.
Can you overdo it? "I think it
would be virtually impossible to
over-entertain,
over-tire or overanimate a cat," explains Dr. Dodman. "When they've had enough,
they'll let you know by walking
away." Even the most dedicated
feline hunter has a relatively short
attention span.
"Part of our job
as caring owners
is to provide
opportunities for
indoor cats to behave
like cats - rather
than just sitting
around, waiting for
their next meal."
When to wrap it up
-Nicholas Dodman, DVM
for your prey hog to briefly relax
his grip - then snatch the prey
back and let another cat have at it.
Another strategy for overly-predatory cats is to use two toys - one
in each hand. Occupy your prey
hog with one toy, while letting the
other cats go after the one in your
other hand.
Don't worry if all this vigorous, predatory action seems to
bring out more assertiveness, or
even aggressiveness, than you're
used to seeing in your cats - it's
perfectly normal and healthy. "It's
best to leave them to their own
desires and devices," says Dr. Dodman. "Let cats be cats."
However, .if you consistently
see conflict that (in your judgment) gets too hostile, you may
need to terminate the play session
Ten to fifteen minutes per session
is usually plenty, depending on
the number and energy level
of your cats. Quit and put away
., the toys as soon as most of the
cats show clear signs of losing
interest. Unless it's mealtime, wrap
up the session by passing out some
healthy treats. Offer lavish praise
all
around for your
cats! huntin-g prowess.
Just a few
play sessions
should
be
enough to convince you that this
is what your cats
have been missing!
For cats of any age,
mock-hunting play
is terrific fun, but
also serious business. It's vital to
physical, psychological and emotional
health. It tones muscles
and hearts, keep minds
lively, provides an essential, healthy aerobic workout, dissipates
excess
energy, helps sharpen
senses and offers cats a
deep satisfaction they can obtain in
no other way. And it gives you a
priceless chance, every day, to glory
in your little hunters'
speed,
strength, grace and power. 0:*'
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