Monthly Archives: June 2014

How to Deal with a Cat not Playing at CatHealthBehavior.com

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cat in a a toy box

This article started with questions submitted on the website where a visitor asked if a cat not playing was a bad thing. The e-mail went on to explain that this particular feline has never engaged in any kind of playful activities. At times she seems interested but has never made the jump from watching to actually interacting with other members of the family.

I did a little research on the subject as I have never experienced this myself. All of our family cats even the crazy ones would engage in some kind of playtime activities so for me I thought a cat not playing was unusual.

Although this may not be common it is not completely unheard of as I later found out. After doing some research and reading a lot of articles on the subject I sat down with my veterinarian during a scheduled yearly exam for Thomas and discussed the situation before writing this article.

He is a strong believer that pets not only want to but need to play to be healthy. Teaching your cat to play effectively can improve their social skills and their fitness level. From the physical point of view playtime can help support heart health and keep joints limber and muscles strong. For indoor cats that never go outside this essential activity and prevent obesity and all of the other health conditions that come along with that condition.

The Power of a Cats Playtime

Hunting is a strong natural instinct and playtime can exercise these skills along with survival skills like play fighting. When humans get involved with playtime it can actually strengthen the bond that you have with your feline friend. Kittens learn how to be adult cats through copious amounts of playtime with their Moms.

The playing can be broken down into two main groups social and object oriented. Social play involves other cats or family members. Object play involves moving toys or items to mimic prey. It hones the cat’s paw to eye coordination and manual dexterity. This is practiced in the wild to keep hunting skills sharp.

This is why most cats are born with a strong instinctual urge to perform in this valuable activity. Often when you have a cat not playing at all it can be due to trauma that was suffered early in life that disrupted the normal progression of maturity. It will take a little encouragement to get their natural instinct stimulated where they will feel comfortable participating in this activity.

da bird cat toy whip

Persistence is probably the most important factor in motivating a cat to play. Having the right tools can make this easier. And by tools I mean fun to play with Toys and a toy collection should at least include the old favorites of catnip mice some bouncy balls, and the ever popular wand and string with an irresistible cat toy at the end of the string.

Using the wand to drag the toy across the floor should attract the attention of even the most stubborn cat and stimulate one of their most inherent instincts which are the pouncing behavior. To stay alive and the Wildcats need to eat they have become experts at sensing movement that could be small prey. When prey is spotted the instinct is triggered for them to leap on top of it so that it can be controlled.

This skill set has been used for thousands of years by the feline. Even the most spoiled feline will like to comment, stalk, and chase objects that are mobile just make sure you initiate at the right time.

For example you wouldn’t want to start this procedure at the beginning of nap time. Until you get a stubborn cat that will not play can begin to engage in the activity on a regular basis you will have to work around their schedule even if it’s not convenient for you.

I think the take away is that you need to be persistent and encouraging it may take some time for your cat to turn into a playful one. Be sure to praise your feline friend and make a big deal out of playtime with lots of pleasant noises so that your cat knows that this is a special time the two of you will enjoy together.

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The is My Cat Happy Video from Cat-Health-Behavior.com

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Happy Tabby Cat

People ask, is my cat happy? I have the video below that I think will answer the question. Although cats have not yet mastered the English language because there is no profit in it, they are still capable of clearly communicating their mood.

Our cat Riley is featured in the one minute video below. She is a big girl weighing in at about 26 pounds. She is about 12 years old. Riley was not always a happy cat. She had a rough start in life and was part of a feral stray litter. We read a lot of [embedded content] and applied the principles, but she remained antisocial for years. It took a long time to gain her trust.

As the years went by she realized she was surrounded by people and other animals that respected her and cared for her. When she wanted to be alone and have some privacy we accommodated her. When she wanted the best seat in the house I sat somewhere else.

As time passed she realized it was more fun to hang out with the family then it was hide under the bed. Of course positive reinforcement in the form of her favorite cat treats and petting her until you could tell she had enough by swishing her tail all helped.

Telltale Signs of a Happy Cat

Is my cat happy and how do I know that she is? When it comes to feline behavior the strongest form of communication is the [embedded content]. In the video below Riley is in her happy cat position which is on her back with her paws up in the air and the feet portion folded at the wrist joint.

This lets the air flow across her belly which she enjoys. To a cat exposing the belly area is a very vulnerable position to be in. Although it’s enjoyable it can only be performed when all is safe and secure. This means the cat needs to be surrounded by people that can be trusted. And when it comes to a feline giving trust it is earned not given. It took many years before we ever seen Riley’s stomach.

Is My Cat Happy Video

I hope the video leaves no doubt in your mind that Riley is a happy cat. When a cat is lying on their back with the landing gear in the upright position chances are the cat is happy. We would love this video to go viral. It’s off to a good start with nearly 6 thousand views. Please give it a favorite “gold star” or share it with friends.

[embedded content]

By the way what a wonderful stomach she has. White and gray fur with dark leopard spots only across the middle is very special. But who doesn’t think their pet is special? Another way I can tell if my cat is happy is when she stretches. This is another very enjoyable activity for felines.

You can see in the happy cat video above, when I first approached her she stayed in her relaxed position. When I spoke to her she first stretched out her front legs and chest.

When I spoke to her again she began to stretch her rear legs and hind quarter area. Then just to make sure there was no doubt that she was a happy cat she gave me sweet eyes. Hopefully you know what sweet eyes are because it’s a little hard to explain. It’s when the cat looks directly at you but the eyes are not completely opened. This is accompanied by a slow closing and then half way reopening of the eyes in an unmistakable gesture of goodwill and love. We hope you will visit our [embedded content] section where body language is discussed in more detail.

Home › Cat Behavior Main page › How to tell if my cat is happy.

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