Cat puzzles

These are toys designed to permit your cat hours of playtime by itself. Make sure that the there is nothing in the toy that could cause your cat harm if it were to try and eat it. Some examples of these cat "puzzles" are a ball inside a container or balls filled with a yummy treat.

Home made toys : Many cats' favorite toys are simple, cheap and can be made in your house. A ball of waded up paper or a bag filled with air can keep your cat happily entertained for hours. Any toy that you give your cat to play with should be large enough to ensure that your cat cannot swallow it no matter how hard it might try. Cats love to play with knitting wool and string but you should never leave them unsupervised with these things just in case it tries to eat them. Make sure never to let your cat play with anything potentially dangerous, for example electric cables.

Playmates: Better than any toy is another cat. Cats love to play together and although they may be a bit apprehensive of each other at first, with time and experience can become great playmates. At first the cats may appear that they are "hunting" each other stalking chasing and finally pouncing on their "prey" or they may play fight. Don't worry these are normal playtime activities for cats and your cat is just having the time of its life.

Although playing with another cat is fun and exciting this shouldn't be the only type of playtime your cat has. It is very important especially for young cats to learn how to play with and have fun with its human owners. This of course means that you as the owner have the responsibility to spend time playing with your cat from time to time.

Hunting: Cats in the wild are by nature hunters and kittens must learn from an early age how to hunt and catch its prey. An adult cat that cannot successfully hunt would soon starve to death. Although domesticated cats don't need to hunt in order to eat they still need to practice this inbuilt hunting instinct if nothing else but to learn that humans are not prey.