Page 228 - The Complete Cat Breed Book (DK)

226 C ARE AND BEHA VIOR

THE IMPORTANCE OF PLAY

No matter how pampered their existence, cats need some
excitement in their lives. A cat deprived of opportunities
to hunt and stalk becomes bored and stressed. This is a real
problem with indoor cats, often locked up alone in a house
all day. Yet, with forethought and commitment on your
Playful kitten part, your cat can have an interesting and fun home life.

Going on instinct BORN FREE
Kept indoors alone all day, a bored cat will constantly A cat that cannot
follow its instincts
pester you for attention when you get home. Outdoor
may become
cats have a riskier but happier and more active lifestyle. troublesome.
With plenty of fresh air, space to run and jump around,
and exposure to new experiences, they can give free rein
to their natural instincts for exploring, chasing, and
hunting. Even when indoors a cat will need to let off
steam regularly. Often, this takes the form of a “mad
moment,” when the cat rushes around the room, leaping
on to furniture and climbing the curtains before bolting
off. This is perfectly natural behavior, but uncontrolled
sessions like this run the risk of damaging your home
and causing injury to your cat.

CONSTRUCTIVE PLAY | CHANNEL THE ENERGY

CHASING AND PLAYING CATCHING AND BITING
To prevent manic bursts of activity, channel your kitten’s predatory Play also helps your kitten learn essential skills for survival in the
instincts into constructive play. Dangling or dragging along a piece of wild, such as catching and biting prey. Most cats, especially if
ribbon will appeal to your kitten’s natural urge to hunt and stalk. neutered, will still retain their sense of playfulness as they get older.