If your schedule is anything like mine, I’m sure it’s filled to the brim with appointments, to-do items, and chores. It can be tough to make time for all the things we need to do, but playing with your cat is a crucial part of her health and happiness. So it’s important to make time to play with her.
I make it part of my daily routine by keeping wand toys in my closet. Every morning, I pull one out while I’m getting ready and play with my cats for five minutes. I do the same in the evening when I’m getting ready for bed. This serves two purposes for me. First, the toys are hidden from the cats, so they don’t get dragged all over the house and destroyed too quickly. And second, it reminds me to set aside a few minutes twice a day to play with my pets.
Setting up a routine benefits both me and my cats. By making it part of my schedule every day, I can’t forget to make time for my four-legged fur-iends. But it also makes it an easy no-brainer that doesn’t require me to rework my day. Playtime has become part of my day, just like brushing my teeth or eating dinner.
My cats also benefit, though, because they know what to expect. Cats thrive on routine, and they truly appreciate being able to schedule their days as much as we do. They know when I go to my closet to get ready, they’re going to get a few minutes to hunt, play and pounce. They don’t pester me at all hours. They simply know when playtime is.
Of course, having a routine doesn’t mean playtime has to be boring. Spice it up. Rotate the toys. I always ask myself, “What can I do today to make the day different for my cats?” It doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be as simple as grabbing a different wand toy attachment. Dezi & Roo now has a different one for each day of the week!
So what’s your plan for adding kitty playtime to your to-do list? A sticky note on the bathroom mirror? An appointment on your e-calendar? Whatever you choose, be sure to make time to play every day. Start with just a minute or two and work up to five. I promise your cats will thrive.
Somehow one of my cats got the idea that we play on the bed. That isn’t bad, and it’s great fun to get him to run down the hall and make a grand leap onto the bed, but now he thinks every time I go to the bedroom, or even turn in that direction, it’s time to play! The habit hasn’t caused any other problems, like we sleep OK without unreasonable disturbances from him. I just try to give him a little play most of the times that he jumps onto the bed. I’ve got a few wand toys waiting in there and will give him a few minutes several times a day. He tends to stop playing pretty quickly, but will sit and look at the toy.
Thank you for this excellent idea complete with photos of examples — and what a GORGEOUS house panfur!
Thank you for this, so much! Something that should be so looked forward to and so easy is often overlooked. Your method sounds like a successful one!
Leave a comment