Cat play and toys
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Cat play and toys incorporates predatory games of "play aggression". These activities allow kittens and younger cats to grow and acquire cognitive and motor skills, and to socialize with other cats. Cat play behavior can be either solitary (with toys or other objects) or social (with animals and people).[1]
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[edit] Nature of play
[edit] Predation
Since cats are meat-eating predators, nearly all cat games are predatory games.[2]
Prey is fearful of predators. Predators often encounter prey that attempt to escape predation. Prey that moves towards the cat with confidence may be exhibiting an aggressive defensive posture. Cat may play more with toys that behave more like prey that acts in fear and tries to escape than toys that mimic a more confrontational prey.
Most cat games mimic a specific type of hunting; [3]for example, balls, fingers, sticks, and Laser pointers emulate bugs, while rope or string may emulate a snake. One exception is catnip; catnip is a mood altering substance that provides a euphoric high and is not considered a toy.
[edit] Success rate
Success rate is important in play. A cat that catches its prey every time soon gets bored, and a cat that never gets it just loses interest. The ideal hunting success rate is around 1 in 3 to 1 in 6. Capturing prey at this rate generally maximises a cat's interest in the game. [4]
[edit] Precautions
Play is about predation, and a highly excited cat can cause minor injuries in the excitement of the moment. With most cats, it is wise to keep playthings at least 8" away from fingers.
[edit] Food
Catching and eating are two closely related but separate activities. Domestic cats often store caught food for eating later. Eating happens when the game is over, so incorporating food into hunting games tends to end the interest in play.
[edit] Notes
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This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2008) |
- ^ ASPCA. Animal Behavior Center. "Play aggression".
- ^ Hall & Bradshaw 1998
- ^ Play Therapy - The Cure For Playful Aggression. Cats International. 2007.
- ^ Bessant, Claire (1999). The Complete Guide to the Cat. Barnes & Noble Publishing. ISBN 0760717184.
[edit] References
- Hall, Sarah L. & Bradshaw, John W. S. (June 1998), “The influence of hunger on object play by adult domestic cats”, Applied Animal Behaviour Science 58 (1-2): 143-150, <http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0168159197001366>.
- Johnson, Pam, How to play with your Cat, SF/SPCA, <http://www.sfspca.org/behavior/cat_library/cat_play.pdf>. Retrieved on 12 January 2008.
- Animal Behavior Center: Cat Behavior: Play aggression, ASPCA, <http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pets_playaggression>. Retrieved on 12 January 2008.
- Animal Behavior Center: Cat Behavior: Cat's play, ASPCA, <http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pets_catsplay>. Retrieved on 12 January 2008.
