How to Play with Your Cat...Safely!

How to Play with Your Cat...Safely!

So you've aquired your first kitten, and you want to have some fun. The first rule of cat play is Do not use your hands as playthings!

Wrestling with a six week old kitten with you hand is cute. Those tiny teeth and little pearly claws barely rake up dead skin so what's the harm? Well, your kitten will grow very quickly. Those tiny teeth are baby teeth which will be replaced by sharp strong teeth that are capable of severing the spinal column of a mouse, rat, rabbit, or squirrel. Cat bites can cause tendon and nerve damage to your fingers. Not to mention puncture wounds. And those tiny claws will grow into sharp talons which will make you bleed. Never play with a kitten in a way that you wouldn't want to play with it as an adult.

If your kitten (or your cat) starts to play with your hand, let it go limp. The more you fight, the more the cat bites. Discipline you cat with a firm (but not too hard) tap on the nose with your finger. Smacking the nose is a direct signal that the cat has overstepped its boundaries.

So what do you use to play with your cat?
Toys!
Most cat toys are very reasonably priced at under ten dollars. Zari is playing with a cat fishing pole in this picture. A cat fishing pole is a plastic flexable pole with a sturdy cord that has a toy attached. Some poles have interchangable toys. Notice that the toy at the end of the pole is a stuffed toy. Cats like soft things which can be bitten and hugged. Bells can be a plus too because they simulate squeaks. However you may not like the sound of bells, so you can remove them. kitten playing

One of the favorite attachments to the fishing pole is the flying feather toy. It has two stiff feathers lying flat against each other. When it flies through the air it looks just like a bird! Which is why this attachment is a favorite.

Another feather toy is the feather teaser. It's just a plastic wand with soft feathers attached. You can get you cat to sit up and bat at it. A little warning, cats have a plucking instinct so an unsupervised feather teaser can be ripped to shreds in no time.

Another toy to consider is the fake mouse. These toys look like small mice and they are covered with real fur. They are light and can be carried and tossed for fetching games.

If your cat reacts to catnip, there are toys that have catnip in them. They are often small pillows that can be hugged and kicked.

kitten playing Cat play is serious business to cats and kittens. Cats have the natural instinct to hunt and catch small prey. When a cat is living indoors, prey is in short supply and the cat doesn't have a way to vent its hunting instincts. This could cause serious behavior problems. The frustrated cat may hunt you instead. Remember what I said about bites and scratches?
Cats hunt in three different ways. They pounce on mice and sitting birds. They sway flying birds and bugs out of the air. And they scoop fish out of the water. Keep you aquariums covered!
So three types of toys are in order to replicate hunting.
Stuffed toys or fake mice to be pounced on. A fishing pole to be swatted at. And something with a ball or toy in it, so your cat can "go fishing". The cheapest "fishing toy" is the plastic ring with a ball in it. Your cat cannot extract it and the ball rolls away causing more frantic fishing. Another fishing toy is the baffle box. It's a box with holes and a toy suspended inside.

Whatever toys you buy, make sure that they are safe. Use the same rules as you would for toddlers. If it comes apart easily, then it won't hold up under your cat's abuse. Make sure that no small parts can come off the toy and be swallowed. No sharp edges, and don't let your cat run with scissors. (Just kidding!).

Remember to play with your cat often, and have fun!

If you liked this java, I found it at The Omega Factor

playful people have seen this page.