Feline behaviourist Sarah Whitehead looks at how we can stimulate play with our cats

WHEN WAS THE last time that you played with your cat? Just like us, cats build relationships through play — and they thoroughly enjoy it too! Play can teach your cat a new skill, such as retrieving, or can simply give a healthy outlet for all that hunting instinct (which can sometimes be redirected inappropriately if not permitted to be expressed).

Most enjoyable games are based on the simulation of chasing and capturing prey. However, it is essential you are not regarded as a prey animal by your cat! Using toys allows us to keep the cat focused on the object, rather then on moving hands or feet. There is now a vast range of cat toys on the market. These range from small catnip mice to room-height activity centres (ideal for indoor cats).

TYPES OF TOY

INTERACTIVE TOYS

These are either in the form of puzzle-feeders, which intermittently reward the cat with food when playing with the toy, or are designed to stimulate the cat's interest in moving objects. Some of the best of these have a small ball trapped inside a circular track, which moves alluringly as the cat tries to catch it.

WANDS AND RODS

Wand toys are ideal for play, and are especially good for children to use. These are usually constructed of a length of rod with a long piece of string attached to the end. Feathers or other toys can be tied to the end of the string and these can then be wafted around, while the kitten chases the `quarry' at the end. Such toys are excellent for teaching cats to chase and pounce on toys, while keeping hands and feet well out of the equation.

CLOCKWORK AND BATTERY-OPERATED TOYS

Clockwork mice, spiders and even frogs are now available for your cat's entertainment. These can offer real fun and activity, as long as they are well supervised. Kittens may be tempted to pounce on such toys and chew them, so it is essential to check that any plastic or fabric attachments to the toy are securely held in place. New versions of these old favourites, such as a battery-driven ball which rolls and twists randomly when switched on are also lots of fun for large confident cats, especially when placed inside a paper bag, however, beware of frightening a more nervous cat on the first few occasions.

HOMEMADE TOYS

Some of the most effective and best-loved toys for cats are cheap and cheerful! Many cats love paper bags, and a bag blown up with a puff of air can keep a cat amused for hours! Place a small light-weight ball in the bag to ring the changes, or put the bag into a safe cardboard box so that the cat has to climb in and out to play with it. Lengths of string and large rolled up balls of foil also attract most kittens and even the most shy cat will come out of its shell to pounce on one of these. However, safety should always be a priority, so never allow your cat to play unsupervised with such objects, and make sure they are large enough to prevent swallowing.

TEACHING YOUR CAT TO RETRIEVE

How easy it is to teach your cat to retrieve will depend on his or her motivation to play and to learn, his confidence and, to some extent, even his or her breed. Orientals and Burmese cats often seem to retrieve naturally, while others may take a little longer. However, carrying prey is a natural behaviour, and many cats can become adept at chasing, picking up and carrying toys, and then bringing them back to their owner to be thrown again. This provides an ideal opportunity for stimulation and exercise, particularly for indoor cats, as hunting games need to be simulated frequently if they are to remain content and happy.

FOOD SCATTERING

If you are feeding a dried complete food, there is no reason why your cat should not do a little `hunting' for it. Rather than feeding the food in a dish, why not throw the food into the garden, or even around the lounge, and allow your kitten to search for the scattered pieces. This uses the cat's natural abilities to hunt and his sense of smell to full advantage, as well as making mealtimes more interesting.

INAPPROPRIATE GAMES

Sooty was a typical playful kitten. Obtained through the local paper as a nine-week-old, he came into a busy household of adults and children. His playtime tended to consist of chasing games and rough and tumble, especially with the man in the house, who used to enjoy allowing Sooty to run and `catch' his hands in play. Unfortunately, as Sooty grew larger and became more agile, he began to use his teeth and claws to catch his owner's hands in play — and it began to hurt! Realising that this was not appropriate behaviour, the family asked various friends and relatives for advice, and followed a somewhat sporadic regime where they attempted to tap Sooty on the nose when he tried to bite. Unsurprisingly, this only seemed to make matters worse, and so they resorted to using a rolled-up newspaper, with the almost immediate result that Sooty could no longer be trusted around papers of any kind, as he would launch himself at the nearest person, teeth and claws at the ready. At the point of giving Sooty up to a rehoming centre, the family finally sought professional advice and more appropriate games were instigated in the household. Sooty's behaviour was finally brought under control — but only after the family themselves had been re-trained!