Playtime makes for a happy cat

Type cats and exercise into your browser and you’ll be bombarded with a slew of Grumpy Cat memes mocking the very thought of exercise; “I exercised once, it was awful” and “My favourite exercise is a cross between a lunge and a crunch… lunch.”

While many cats are content to sit on a windowsill all day long, taking naps, this doesn’t mean cats don’t need or enjoy playing games.

What many pet parents don’t know is that when it comes to cats, play isn’t just about fun and games. For cats in the wild, the act of play is a serious business that helps kittens learn important survival skills like stalking, chasing and trapping prey.

This basic instinct to hunt can remain strong, which is why it’s important to give cats the opportunity to express this natural behaviour.

Kittens and adult cats are both stimulated by the same sort of games.

The important point to remember with all these toys is that you need to alternate them to prevent boredom.

A fantastic type of toy for you and your cat to play with is the kind that has a ball, mouse or feather at the end of a string. Sometimes the string is also attached to a wand.

These toys simulate moving prey.

Scratch posts and cat trees will entice your cats to climb, which uses their muscles and naturally wears down their claws.

Cats love to see the world from above and cat trees and scratch posts give them a relaxing spot to nap on or peruse their kingdom like The Lion King’s Simba.

Put a few kibbles of your cat’s favourite cat food in different places each day (including on top of tall furniture) and bring out the hunter in your cat!