Your adorable cat or kitten likes to play with her favorite toys… your hands and fingers. What do you do? You discourage rough play and offer substitute toys instead. Here’s how:
- Have playtime with your cat every day. Instead of using your hands, encourage her to play with toys.
- Offer her a variety of toys. Also experiment with different toys to see which she likes best. Try toys she can chase like those with feathers or danglers. Cats also enjoy toys they can bat at, like fake mice.
- Help your cat avoid boredom and give her new items to investigate as well, like cardboard boxes, paper bags, etc.
- If your cat pounces on your feet or ankles as you walk by, get her to focus on toys instead. Carry toys with you and toss them at her before she pounces on you.
- If your cat doesn’t have a feline playmate, consider adopting another playful cat.
- Develop the indoor play area for your cat. Get her posts for scratching, shelves perching, high areas for climbing and a window ledge for visual stimulation.
If your cat does play rough, give her a time out. Leave the room or put her in another room for some quiet time. You can also interrupt rough play by clapping your hands to startle her or by spraying her with a water bottle.
Once you teach your cat that hands aren’t toys, you’ll have far more enjoyable play sessions. For cat toy suggestions, visit Pet Supermarket.
