How Often Should You Play With Your Cat? With Real Experience!

Cats are incredibly playful creatures, even more so than dogs as they can play all by themselves until they run out of gas.

It all depends on their character, of course, but every cat requires attention and playtime regularly. This helps aid their development, improve their wellbeing, and best of all, bond with you in a way no other pet will!

Let’s explore in what way and how often you should play with your cat.

Understanding Why Cats Play

When your cat gets the chance to roam the outside world, they often enjoy hunting or just playing around with bugs, leaves or grass. Hunting activities like stalking, pouncing, playing, and catching something small can make them feel really good as it releases happy hormones called endorphins.

Because of these reasons, it’s very important to give your cat plenty of playtime as it will keep them sharp and entertained throughout the day.

Moreover, playtime is especially important for kittens, because it helps them learn important skills and understand their surroundings better. It is also a great way for them to burn off some of their excess energy, stay healthy, and keep their brains active.

So, make sure your furry friend gets plenty of playtime to keep them happy and healthy!

🐾 Playtime for cats is what coffee is for humans – it releases the happy hormone called endorphin, thus making them satisfied and happy.

Benefits of Regular Play

Now that we’ve understood the reasons why cats like to play, let’s take a look at those benefits in depth.

Prevents boredom

Cats are incredibly smart and they easily get bored which may lead to problems like not using the litter box, scratching on things they shouldn’t, or being overly aggressive with other pets.

When you play with your cat daily, all of these issues are not going to show up. Regular playtime breaks up their boredom and allows them to burn off some energy.

Making time each day for playful sessions with your furry friend will surely give your cat a break from their routine!

Develops their instincts

Outdoor cats hunt about 20 times every single day, whereas indoor cats use playtime to fulfill these natural hunting instincts.

If you’re like us and your cat lives inside your apartment, then you need to stimulate various activities that would fully enhance your cat’s instincts.

Playtime is kind of like a training session for them as they practice their natural survival skills and instincts, even if it is indoors and with a human.

Stays active

Indoor living often makes cats pretty sedentary and may lead them to eat too much and gain weight, which may affect their overall health. To avoid this, make sure your cat stays active throughout the day.

Regular playtime will allow your cat to keep moving, maintain their healthy weight, and also keep their muscles strong.

Besides, playing and running around isn’t just good for their teeny tiny furry bodies, it is also good for their minds. Various games, toys, and activities keep their minds mentally sharp, especially as they grow older.

Strengthens connection

In addition to keeping your cat happy, playing together is an ideal way to strengthen your bond. Cats are often seen as independent, so it’s easy to forget that they absolutely love spending time with us too.

Therefore, engaging in playtime can bring you closer and is a fantastic way to learn more about your cat’s personality!

To give an example, we’ve learned that our Kiki likes to play much rougher with me as opposed to when she plays with my wife. So take their behavior into account the next time you want to grab a toy and have some fun with your cat.

🐾 Regular playtime is extremely beneficial for your cat as it prevents them from ever feeling bored, while also developing their natural instincts, and strengthening the connection between you and your cat.

Signs Your Cat Wants to Play

Understanding your cat’s body language is key to knowing when they are in the mood to play. While some purr-ents might miss the subtle cues, we’re here to help you become a pro at spotting them.

Let’s explore the five most common signs that indicate your cat is eager to play with you!

1. Meows

While this may be a sign your cat wants food or to be let outside, oftentimes it can mean playtime!

Take note of this, if your cat meows but doesn’t go to the door or the food bowl, it means they want attention. In this scenario, grab a toy, start playing, and see your cat’s reaction.

2. Stares

If your cat stares at you, it wants attention 100%. We’ve noticed this in our Kiki too, as every time we want to watch Netflix, she jumps in front of the TV and just stares at us.

In this case, we pull out her toys and distract her so she can start playing while also allowing us to enjoy our leisure time.

3. Distracted behavior

This means that your cat gives you ‘not-so-subtle’ signs that it wants attention. Signs like scratching the sofa, trying to eat cables, or pushing things off counters are all ways for your cat to gain your attention.

When this happens, it’s best to start playing with your cat as opposed to using the ignoring method. Ignoring is the worst thing you can do, regardless of how tired you are or if you are not in the mood to play. Your little one can’t know that, so be mindful and play for just a bit at a time.

4. Follows you around

This is by far my favorite sign and one that Kiki does all day long! With this sign your cat wants you to know that it wants to accompany you on your daily journeys, even if they are only from one room to another.

This is a cat’s way of getting attention and getting some much-needed playtime. Besides, what else screams affection than seeing your little kitty pop up everywhere you turn?

5. Brings you a toy

While this may be a rare case, it can definitely happen and when this happens, there’s only one answer – playtime!

Cats usually bring stuff to their purr-ents when they want to impress them, but if your cat is an indoor cat, this most likely means they want to play.

Additionally, they may not necessarily bring the toys for you to play with them, but they’ll bring them closer to you and they’ll play with them while being around you. This is a massive sign of affection and one you should closely pay attention to!

Adjust Playtime to Your Cat’s Lifestyle

Cats might appear to be low-key or laid back at times, but rest assured, they are always on the lookout for something interesting or fun to do. It’s worth noting that cats aren’t naturally lazy, so whenever they’re awake, they crave stimuli.

When this happens, it’s time for you to give them attention and adjust playtime to their daily routines. That said, let’s address a few of the most common questions people have.

How many times a day should you play with your cat?

The number of times you play with your cat per day may vary depending on the cat’s character. It also depends if you have just one cat or a bunch of little furry friends.

That said, the short answer is, 3 to 4 times a day – this would be enough if just one cat lives with you.

However, it’s important to note that some cats are very playful and want to be active all the time. This doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll need to play with them all the time, especially since they can play by themselves.

How often should you play with your cat in the morning?

Cats mirror our behaviors, patterns, and habits, so it’s quite normal for cats to wake up alongside us and start their day as we do.

In this scenario, they’ll want playtime immediately, so it’s best to always find a toy for your cat to play with, while you’re busy focusing on your morning routine.

Additionally, spend just enough time while the cat plays in the morning so it will acknowledge your presence and ensure the bond remains intact.

How long should you play with your cat before bed?

It is imperative to play with your cat before going to bed to avoid those midnight zoomies waking you up. More importantly, though, it will tire up your cat and make them want to go to bed with you, ensuring cuddling sessions in the process.

This stimulates activity, spends the cat’s energy, and bonds with you during playtime and over the night. Not to mention you both keep each other warm.

🐾 It is important to play with your cat at least 3 to 4 times per day for as many minutes as you wish or can do so. We advise you to dedicate at least 15 to 20 minutes per playtime activity.

Playtime Ideas & Activities

There are countless ways and ideas to instigate playtime with your cat. You don’t even need to get a whole host of toys, although that helps, but your presence alone is enough for your cat to feel satisfied.

Here’s a list of ideas and activities you can do with your cat without needing many toys:

• Running around and chasing
• Play fighting
• Fetching games with balls
• Wand toys
• Laser pointers
• Plastic or paper bags for your cat to jump in
• Cardboard boxes

🐾 Be careful when chasing your cat and always avoid catching them as cats wouldn’t take it all too well mentally. Also, when play-fighting, be wary of your cat’s nails as they can leave some quite nasty scratches.

Summary

Playing with your cat regularly will benefit your feline friend’s overall well-being, it will heighten their instincts, and improve them mentally and physically.

By taking note of the signs your cat shows you, you can easily adjust your free time to your cat’s lifestyle and have routine daily playtime through various activities.

This will also increase the bond you and your cat have over time, strengthening the connection in the process, and ensuring you two have a wonderful life together.

To sum up, 3 to 4 times per day would be just enough on how often you should play with your cat!