Play stimulates your cat mentally, alleviating boredom. Toy Selection Play Guidelines Main Menu

Through play with their siblings, kittens act out the rudiments of the hunt and pick up social skills and self-sufficiency. They refine their stalking and pouncing, as well as the coordination and timing required to make a kill. They learn about their environment through rambling and climbing, finding the best spots to hide and the ideal places to lie in wait for victims. A kitten's development is speedy: At 3 weeks, it will begin to paw at things tentatively; only five weeks later, it is capable of catching and killing a mouse — or doing the equivalent to a toy.

Play stimulates your cat mentally, alleviating boredom, keeping him alert and helping to decrease the likelihood of behavioral problems. If your cat is prone to boisterous nighttime romps or sneak attacks on your hands, or, at the other end of the scale, depression-like lethargy or apprehensiveness, add more play sessions to his schedule. Play also offers an opportunity for adult cats to get needed physical exercise. Indoor cats, in particular, are at risk for obesity, which may lead to more serious problems such as diabetes, liver disease and undue stress on arthritic joints. Play also is a wonderful way for you to enjoy the marvels of feline nature.