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Now more than ever, rest and play are important for our mental and physical well-being. Cats have known this all along, they didn’t need a pandemic to remind us!
Most of us know that we need to make sure we get enough rest and sleep during stressful times, but we tend to not think of play as a stress reliever. And yet, play has been shown to release endorphins, improve brain function and memory, and stimulate creativity. It stands to reason that play is an important part our our “pandemic coping toolbox.” And most importantly, it’s fun.
The importance of play for cats has been well documented. Play is vitally important to a cat’s mental and physical health, and it’s especially important for indoor cats. Even though cats may sleep up to 16 hours a day, when they’re awake, they need stimulation, and the best way to accomplish this is with play. In the wild, when lions, tigers and other wild cats aren’t sleeping, they’re either hunting, or teaching their young to hunt. And play is nothing more than channelling your domestic tiger’s hunting instinct into play.
We’re all spending so much time at home now, there’s no excuse to not make time for more playtime for your cats. Set everything else aside and spend 15 to 20 minutes, at least once or twice a day, playing with your cats. You’ll both benefit: your cats will be happy, and for at least a little while, you’ll be able to shut off any thoughts of all the distressing and scary world out there.
Beyond playing with your cats, try to channel the need to play in other ways. Even in this physically distanced world we live in, there are plenty of opportunities for play. How about a virtual game night with friends? How about a jigsaw puzzle? Better yet, a cat jigsaw puzzle? How about a cat coloring book?
Are you making time for play to help you manage your stress?
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I play with my 2 boys (who are around 2 and 7) around the same time every night and my youngest girl will sometimes join in too. She’s around 11. My other 3 older girls aren’t interested in group play but my 2 torties, who will be 17 this August, will bat at the mouse or whatever toy we’re playing with, from a lying position. My 14 year old calico is not a mixer and has absolutely no interest in playing though I have tried many times. I think she feels superior to the others.
Forgot to mention my 2 year old Ren often does flips in the air when we’re playing with a pole toy. He gets so excited. Ren and Charley also love to sit by the back slider in the morning when it’s cooler and watch the squirrels and birds in my yard as I feed them. My boys are a bonded pair from our County shelter.
I always read your articles, but this is the first time I’m leaving a comment.
I always enjoy your articles and usually find out a fact about cats that I didn’t know before.
Keep those articles coming
I do belong to a small cat group.
Thanks
I’m so glad you’re enjoying my articles, Theresa – thanks for being a member of our Conscious Cat community!
Playtime is important and the kitties are so happy to have that time with their peeps. Play on kitties!
Playing with my cats helps take my mind off everything else. I love seeing them play. it makes me happy. My husband and I have been doing a lot of jigsaw puzzles too. It is another way to get other things off our minds.