INTERPRET YOUR CAT’S SCORE:

My cat scored mostly A’s and B’s

One wiggle of a piece of string is probably enough to send your cat into full-on attack mode. For very playful and predatory cats, the key is to provide them with lots of outlets for exploration, cognitive stimulation, and also quality play time.You can do this by creating an enriching indoor and outdoor environment containing lots of different levels, smells, and textures, and providing a variety of toys and food puzzles.

In relation to curbing their outdoor hunting habits, a recent study found that when owners used toys to play with their cats for 5 — 10 minutes each day, they reported a 25 per cent reduction in the amount of prey their cats were bringing home. The study also found that feeding cats a high protein, grain-free diet was also associated with a reported 37 per cent reduction in hunting. In contrast, fitting cats with a ‘Birdbesafe’ anti-hunting collar reduced hunting of birds by 42 per cent but had no impact on the hunting of mammals. While putting a bell on the cat’s collar appeared to have no impact.

While limiting your cat’s access to the outdoors will likely reduce hunting, many cats unused to having limited garden access might not cope well with these sudden restrictions to their freedom. Any changes to their routine should therefore be introduced gradually, at the same time focusing on keeping them occupied during any periods of indoor confinement.As regularly playing with your cat may be one of the most effective, catfriendly strategies to help reduce their hunting, the advice in the following sections may be very useful.

My cat scored mostly C’s

When it comes to play, it’s unlikely that it’s right at the top of your cat’s daily to-do list, although they probably do enjoy a good session every now and then. In relation to coaxing out their playful side, the following strategies may be useful.These may require a bit of trial and error as well as patience on your part until you find what works best for your cat. Studies suggest that some cats might prefer certain species of prey or specialise in a particular hunting strategy, so experimenting may really help you to hone in on what ‘does it’ for your cat!

● Try using toys that have the same appearance and texture as real prey items.You can also experiment with toys that look and feel like different types of prey (for example, insects, mice, birds, even reptiles or fish).

● Wand toys that can be moved in rapid, short bursts to mimic prey-like movements can work well. Some cats might also really like to ‘hunt’ moving objects that are concealed somehow. For example, a toy moved under a rug or from behind a curtain, so experiment with this too.

● When playing with your cat, allow them to both ‘catch’ and ‘kill’ the toys as this will allow them to unleash as much of their predatory arsenal as possible. It will also ensure your cat doesn’t become frustrated by not being able to complete the final parts of their hunting sequence. For this reason, using laser pointers to play with cats is not always ideal, unless you chuck a few treats or a small furry toy for them to ‘catch’ every so often.

● Provide your cat with opportunities for both ‘self-play’ (toys that your cat plays with alone) as well as ‘interactive play’ (toys that you operate). Some cats may enjoy both types of play, while others may prefer one over the other.

● Try using toys loaded with catnip or valerian to stimulate your cat’s senses a little more, particularly for toys intended for ‘self-play.’

● Keep things interesting by changing toys regularly and introduce new objects. Studies suggest that changing the shape and appearance of toys can increase the amount of time a cat will engage during a play session. If something isn’t doing it for your cat, it’s better to stop quickly and change to something else than to risk annoying them by constantly dangling something in front of their face that they just aren’t interested in.

● Try playing with your cat when they’re in the garden as their senses may become more heightened.This may also help to keep them focused on you and away from live prey.

My cat scored mostly D’s and E’s

Your cat is probably not the most playful or predatory of felines

— quite the opposite, in fact.This may be due to their specific personality, or perhaps they have slowed down with age, becoming less energetic. Perhaps your cat also has a range of other hobbies that keep them active? For example, some cats might be much more interested in gate crashing your game of scrabble or knocking things off the coffee table. It might also be that your cat really does have a playful side, but just needs a little more encouragement from you. Perhaps they have more specialist play requirements than the average cat and will only play with a specific kind of toy, operated in a specific way? In order to find out, experiment and follow the advice laid out in the previous section.

THERE MAY BE A FEW OTHER EXPLANATIONS AS TO WHY YOUR CAT ISN’T INTERESTED IN PLAY:

● Your cat may be feeling unhappy or anxious. If your cat is uncomfortable in their environment, they are likely to prioritise their safety and security over the non-essentials such as play.

● Your cat could be ill or in pain.

If your cat is usually up for a play session but you see a sudden decline in their interest, a trip to the vet’s may be needed to rule out underlying conditions causing them discomfort.

● Flat-faced cats with short noses (a condition known as brachycephalism) may struggle to breathe normally.This could mean that they get out of breath and aren’t able to play as much as they would like. For such cats, play times may need to be adapted to suit their specific needs — perhaps they prefer to lay on their side and bat at a ‘flying’ toy, rather than chase after it.