One of the best things I’ve done for my cats—and my peace of mind—is maintain a super simple daily play routine. It’s nothing fancy or time-consuming, but it keeps my cats mentally and physically stimulated, which makes them happier, enriched, and way less likely to start knocking things off shelves just for the heck of it (IYKYK).
If you have five minutes to scroll through Instagram, surely you have five minutes to add more enrichment to your indoor cat’s life, right? Right! Here’s what a typical day of play looks like in our house:
Morning Play Session
I keep all my cat's wand toys in my bedroom closet, so after I wake up and get out of bed, I'm in my closet changing for the day. And since those wand toys are staring at me (if you're familiar with Atomic Habits by James Clear, you might recognize this as the first principle: Make it Obvious), I pick one up to take out into the room. At this point my cats already know the drill, so they are waiting outside the door for me. We play on the bed and off the bed so they get their morning exercise. Right after this, it's time for their breakfast and mimics the natural hunting cycle: eat, groom, sleep.
Even a few minutes of focused play can make a big difference. I treat it like a “mini hunt”—a few good pounces, a solid catch, and they’re ready to curl up for a nap.
Afternoon Recharge
Later in the day when I get back from work, usually the late afternoon, we have another short play session. I'm back in my closet changing into house clothes and there are those wand toys. We do the same thing again with playing on the floor, jumping on the bed and back down again. Remember, this doesn't have to be long, 5 minutes is great. In the wild, if it takes a cat longer than 10 minutes to catch their prey, they're likely moving on to find something easier to catch.
After Dinner
Often times I'll settle down with my laptop in my bed to tie up loose ends of the day or prep for the next day. While I'm sitting in bed, I bring out the wand toy again. It’s not a high-energy session—more like a lazy hunt. I drag the toy around the blankets or flick it across the couch while my cats stalk from the nightstand next to me.
This is one of my favorite sessions because it’s low-effort for me and super satisfying for them. Plus, it’s a nice way to bond without needing to put everything else on pause.
Bedtime Treat Walk
Right before I go to bed, we do our last "session" of the day: the treat walk. I stroll through the house dropping a few treats here and there, encouraging them to follow and hunt them down. It’s a calm, positive way to wind down the night.
Sometimes they go full detective mode, sniffing every corner. Other times they trail behind me like a little treat parade. Either way, it gives them a last little burst of activity before we all settle in for the night.
Sometimes we like to overcomplicate playtime, but with cats, it really doesn't need to be. The simpler, the better. Again, most of our sessions are 5–10 minutes tops. What matters most is consistency and making sure your cat gets to tap into their natural instincts in a safe, enriching way.
If you’ve been trying to build more play into your cat’s routine, I hope this gives you a simple and easy place to start. Your cat doesn’t need an hour-long obstacle course—just a few minutes of focused, interactive time with you can make all the difference in their happiness, health, and how long the sleep through the night.
They say great minds think alike. I store our wand toys in several different closets. I need to do as you suggest! Thank you for this excellent suggestion.
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