We live in a world where we’re all either rushing around trying to multi-task our way through a million things that need doing, or else we’re slumped on a couch binge-watching entire seasons of TV shows in a day. Against this setup, it’s natural that the idea of playing with your cat can sometimes seem more like a chore than something you actively enjoy doing.
(Picture Credit: Getty Images)But even if you’re exhausted or rushed off your feet — and even if you secretly know that you kinda hate the act of playing with your cat — it’s imperative that you engage your feline in some sport. Something that is mentally and physically challenging – something that you do together as a family, pride or clowder.
I get it: Dangling a feather or fake animal in front of your cat in an attempt to get her to chase and pounce after it can lose its charm very quickly. It can get boring to us humans but it’s EVERYTHING to your cat.
This is especially so when you realize that, for cats who’ve graduated from their kitten phase, most of the fun comes from the slow and steady stalking of toy prey. Which often means you’re left standing there for five minutes doing nothing except trying to make a Cat Dancer move a minuscule amount to entice the cat in.
Feline playtime turning into a chore is also exacerbated by our feline friends’ finicky nature when it comes to toys. After a while, you might start thinking that a new toy you’ve seen might look fun but, honestly, your cat isn’t going to show any interest in it if you’re not interested in it, so why waste money on it?
Humans can make up so many lame excuses to cover up our guilt for not always enjoying play sessions and quality bonding and interaction time with our cats. Doing so means we overlook the importance of play in our cats’ daily lives. Sure, even if at times they seem to prefer to nap and lounge around, it’s vital to perk up their routine with regular play sessions.
So quit being lazy and break out that Cat Dancer for a few minutes.
