Cat care crisis: Why neglecting playtime harms your feline
In winter, cat carers jokingly say that dog owners have to get up every morning and freeze while walking their pets. However, many forget that a cat needs not only food and petting for its health. If we overlook this one important aspect, we can truly harm it.
4 December 2024 16:09
Comments about fat cats have gained enormous popularity in the public sphere. However, we should strive to ensure that these overweight cats are neither in politics nor in the home environment. When it comes to pets, the responsibility falls on their carers.
Although dog owners have to take their pets for walks every day, cat owners cannot rest on their laurels. Every day they should dedicate some time to ensuring their purring friends get some exercise through play. Otherwise, the consequences can be serious.
If you don't do this, your cat will be unhappy
Playing with the carer is an immense pleasure for the cat, allowing it to enjoy the undivided attention of its human and providing entertainment. This keeps the animal physically active, stimulates its brain, reduces frustration, and strengthens the bond with the carer.
For a cat, play is much more than that. Beneath the warm fur is a predator with a need to fulfill its hunting instinct. If a person doesn't provide an opportunity for this through play on a daily basis, the cat can develop behavioural and health problems.
How often should you play with your cat? We know the answer
A cat that lacks play tries to find an outlet for its frustration. The surroundings usually suffer - the animal destroys furniture, can become aggressive, or even attack the carer. There is also a risk of physical illnesses - due to the lack of movement, muscles and joints suffer, and the cat may become overweight. Carers should not underestimate this.
To fully satisfy a cat's needs, you should play with it every day, for at least a few minutes, and these games should be varied. Expensive toys are not necessary here; a little creativity is enough. It's also important that the animal hunting the toy can catch it at some point. Therefore, popular lasers are not the best solution. At the end of play, you can reward the cat with a treat, which would be akin to completing a hunt in nature, where the feline hunter catches its meal.
