A man with 2 cats, A small cat being petted and a ginger cat peeking

Is it important to play with my cat?

Written in collaboration with vets

Many cats love to play with each other and their humans. Carry on reading to find out about the benefits of play and more.

If you're a cat owner, you'll know cats love to play! But why is play so essential for your furry friend? Turns out, there are a lot of reasons. It helps them stay physically and mentally healthy and playing with your cat is just plain fun! So make sure to set aside some time for some good old fashioned playtime today. Your cat will thank you for it!

Carry on reading to discover more about the benefits of playing with your cat, as well as explanations about your cat's odd playtime habits, such as why cats play fight and why cats play bite.

Quick answer: how to play with your cat

Cats play by copying their natural hunting instinct: stalking, chasing, pouncing, then catching their toy.
Use a wand or feather toy and move it away from your cat, like fleeing prey, rather than towards them.
Let your cat catch the toy at the end of each game, then follow up with a small treat or their next meal.
Never play using your hands or feet, as this can teach cats that biting and scratching people is fine.
Keep sessions short. Around 5 to 15 minutes a few times a day suits most cats' natural bursts of energy.

What are the benefits of play for cats?

Playtime isn't simply about fun and games. It's important for cats for a number of reasons, from staying active to preventing boredom. Read more about some of the top benefits of play below.

Playing with your cat helps you bond with them

Most cats love to play with their humans, so playing with your furry friend is great for strengthening the connection you share. It's also a great opportunity for you to get to know their individual personality and preferences. By regularly playing with your cat, they'll associate being with you with fun. You may even win the title of “favourite person”! Keep some treats, such as a packet of DREAMIES™, nearby, so you can reward them for playing nicely.

Playing is good exercise

Playing helps to keep your cat fit and healthy. By encouraging them to be active, it maintains a healthy body weight and keeps muscles toned and strong. This is especially important for indoor cats, who may not get as much opportunity to run around and explore as their outdoor pals. Sudden bursts of energetic play are completely normal, too, and are often affectionately known as the ‘cat zoomies’. This is simply another way for your cat to release energy.

Playing socialises your cat

Cats can't engage in chat in the same way us humans can, so playing is the perfect way for them to interact with those around them. Playing with people and other pets helps our felines to socialise, form relationships and develop important skills such as communication and problem solving. Encouraging them to play from a young age will also build their confidence, so they become more comfortable around people and other pets.

Playing keeps your cat stimulated

Play is amazing for keeping your furry friend happy and their brain alert. You can keep them entertained and stimulated by using a toy for them to stalk, chase and pounce on. This also helps them burn off any excess energy and relieve boredom or stress. Teaching your cat tricks using reward-based clicker training can be another way to keep them mentally stimulated in-between play sessions.

Check out our article on how to choose toys for your cat for ideas about what your cat might love.

How to play with your cat the right way

The best kinds of play with cats are those that mimic a cat’s natural hunting cycle. This includes stalking, chasing, pouncing, and capturing behaviours.

You can engage your cat in these behaviours with a wand toy or ping pong ball. The trick is to move it away from the cat like fleeing prey, rather than towards them, then let your cat catch it.

Make sure to keep hands and feet out of reach, as this can teach a cat that biting and scratching people is acceptable. They won’t know the difference!

Additionally, cardboard boxes and paper bags make cheap and exciting hiding spots that cats will love to play in.

You should try to rotate toys regularly so your cat doesn’t become bored of the same one. When boredom strikes, catnip toys can be a good one to rotate into the mix. Finishing any play session with a small DREAMIES™ treat or meal helps to complete the natural hunt-to-eat cycle and gives your cat a satisfying end game.

How long should you play with your cat? And how often?

Most indoor cats do well with 5 to 15 minutes of active play a few times a day. This can be broken up into a few shorter sessions if needed, as cats are naturally active in short bursts. Every cat is different though. Active cats would be happy to play all day, while sedentary characters often need some encouragement. Our article on games to play with cats can hopefully spark some inspiration about how to play with your furry friend.

Kittens have lots of energy and need to play more often than adult cats, so try and play with your kitty several times a day, for around 15 to 20 minutes at a time. This will give them the exercise they need and help with their social development.

How can I encourage an older cat to play more?

As cats age and reach a senior stage of development, they often prefer shorter, gentler play sessions with low-effort toys they can bat at without jumping.

For these cats, warming up gently and keeping an eye out for stiffness or reluctance is important.

A sudden drop in interest in play can be a sign of joint pain, such as arthritis, and is worth mentioning to your vet.

How cats play with each other

If you have more than one cat, you've probably noticed them playing with each other at some point. Typically, cats play with other cats by stalking and chasing their friend, pouncing and leaping on them, or wrestling and batting around with their paws. Although this behaviour is natural for cats, it's important to always keep an eye on things in case they get carried away and the playing gets too rough. We don't want anyone getting hurt!

Why do cats play fight?

Cats enjoy a rough and tumble approach when they play with other cats, and it can often leave you wondering whether the cats are play fighting or just straight up fighting! Lots of them (especially young ones) love to wrestle, chase and playfully attack other felines, as it's how they express their predatory instincts. By play fighting, cats can also socialise and build relationships with other cats. They may even show this behaviour when playing with their pet parents, by attacking a foot or hand. Ouch!

Why do cats play bite?

Cats play biting is also quite common. Many like to nip during play because they are expressing their natural hunting instinct, but it's not generally meant as a sign of aggression. It's their way of saying “I'm just playing, but let's take this up a notch!”.

If your cat is biting too hard, then this could be a sign of aggression. You can nip this habit in the bud by ending playtime when things start to escalate, and by praising and rewarding them for being gentle during play. You can read more about rewarding your cat in our article on when and why to treat your cat.

How do cats and dogs play with each other?

When you think of the relationship between a cat and dog, the term “fighting like cats and dogs” likely comes to mind. But, when given the opportunity to get to know one another, they can actually be the best of friends (sometimes!).

When cats and dogs play with each other, it can easily be mistaken for aggression, so understanding body language is the key to knowing when to intervene. For example, you'll often see cats and dogs take turns chasing, wrestling, and pinning each other down. Warning signs to look out for include one pet running away to hide, sounds of pain, aggressive growls from the dog (that differ from playful ones), and your cat hissing or growling. Cats like to play quietly, so any sounds are likely to be a red flag. Always make sure that they can get away easily if needed, for example to a high perch where they feel safe. It's also important to make sure your cat can't get cornered, as this could lead them to lash out with their claws if they feel threatened.

What if my cat doesn't want to play?

If your cat doesn't want to play, don't force them. Some cats are naturally more sociable and active than others, and sometimes they're simply not in the mood. We all have those days, so try again another time or offer them an alternative activity such as grooming or petting. This said, sometimes not wanting to play could be a sign that your cat is experiencing discomfort, such as dental issues or arthritis. If you think this could be the case, get advice from your vet.

Playtime is important for cats for many reasons. It helps to keep them fit and healthy, and helps prevent boredom. Check out our irresistible flavours of DREAMIES™ to make playtime even more enjoyable.