| CAT CARE: Play Therapy For Your Cat | |
| Many feline behavior problems, especially in cats kept indoors, are caused by boredom. Boredom can result in a variety of neurotic behaviors such as over-grooming, over-eating, destructive scratching, chewing and in some cases even house soiling and aggression. Playing with your cat is an important part of various behavior modification therapies. 15 to 20 minute play session can significantly help to improve your cat's mental health and physical well being as well as it will help in building a stronger bond between you two. There is no need to spend a fortune on cat toys. With just a little creativity you can ond of. Here are just a few ideas to add a bit of excitement to your cat's every day life. PAPER BAG (without handles) Cats love little places where they think nobody can see them. Get out a paper bag, and watch how much fun your cat will have with such a simple item. They love to play in and out of it. You could even cut out a few holes in the bag and put in one of his favorite cat toys. This is sure to keep him busy! BURIED TREASURE Stuff one of his toys in between the couch cushions, or under a pillow. Your kitty will enjoy this hunting game. Once he has retrieved it, try another hiding place. SWAT GAME If you don't have a cat toy that you could dangle in front of your cat, create one. Simply tie a string to the end of a chopstick and attach an object to the string. You could try a feather or one of his existing toys. Cats love this game of back and forth SWAT! TOILET PAPER ROLL Make sure the toilet paper roll has no toilet paper on it. He will bat it around for quite a while. You could also put an object in it, such as a solid ball that has a bit weight to it, and then tape up the both ends of the roll. This gives it a wobble when he bats it around. TISSUE IN A BOX Your cat will enjoy taking the tissue out one by one. This could make a huge mess, but it's worth it and your cat will have great fun doing this! LIGHT BEAM Take caution when using a laser light. You should never shine it in the eyes!!! A flashlight may be used instead. Your cat will love to chase the little light around the floors and walls; it's a great challenge for him and gives him a bit of a workout. BOUNCY BALLS They are always BIG fun for your cat! SOCKS Your cat will surely enjoy a stuffed sock! Stuff an old sock with different sized cotton balls and a bit of catnip, and watch that crazy cat go! ICE CUBES Slide an ice cube back and forth across your kitchen floor. You now have a game of feline ice hockey that he is guaranteed to win! PING PONG GAME One or two ping-pong balls dropped in your empty bathtub is another great way to satisfy his chasing needs. Try to play with your cat 2 to 3 times a day (15 to 20 mins). If your cat has a habbit to wake you up early, play one of the chasing games with him (like 'ping-pong' or 'light beam') just before the bed time. |
