The Wrong Way To Play with Your Cat, by Jackson Galaxy on YouTube. 12 min 1 s.
- Video length
- 12 min 1 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Choose a wand toy with a long string and a soft lure, plus a kicker toy for bunny kicks. Put both where your cat can see them.
Drag the lure along the floor, behind furniture and up onto a chair. Pause often so your cat can stalk, chase and pounce.
Let your cat catch the toy sometimes. A quick tug then release keeps the game fair and stops frustration.
Keep your hands away from the lure and never wiggle your fingers like prey. If your cat grabs your hand, freeze and offer the toy instead.
Use a kicker toy when your cat wants to wrestle. Hold it near the belly so your cat can bite and kick the toy, not you.
Stop before your cat gets overstimulated. Watch for a twitching tail, flattened ears or dilated pupils, then end with a calm treat.
Play for 5 to 10 minutes, two or three times a day. Short sessions suit most cats better than one long session.
Put string toys away after each session. Strings can be swallowed and cause serious injury.
Tips and common mistakes
Never use your hands or feet as toys, even when your cat is a kitten.
End play with a small treat or meal so the hunt has a natural finish.
Supervise string and wand toys, and store them out of reach.
If play turns into hissing, yowling or fur flying, separate the cats and check for injuries.
Questions
Why does my cat attack my hands during play?
Cats learn to chase hands if they are wiggled like prey. Stop the game when claws touch skin and move the action to a wand toy.
How can I tell if two cats are playing or fighting?
Play is usually quiet, with taking turns and claws kept in. A real fight brings loud yowling, flattened ears, fur flying and one cat trying to escape.
Is a laser pointer a good cat toy?
It can start the chase, but always finish with a real toy your cat can catch. Without a catch, some cats become frustrated.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
