The Best Way To Bond With Your Cat - That ALSO Provides Many Other Benefits
Having a regular interactive playtime with your cat has many, many benefits. (More on what an interactive playtime means in just a moment...) A well-planned and executed interactive playtime can:
The truth is, you can't play with a cat the same way you play with a dog. You should never wrestle or play tug-of-war with a cat. This either result in a cat who isn't the slightest bit interested in playtime, or it will cause unwanted aggression problems. When it comes to toys, cat's don't actually “play” with them – they hunt them. The problem is, a large majority of cat owners don't see their cat's toys as prey, and wind up playing with their cats by simply dangling things in front of them. It may seem like your cat is having fun at first, batting the toy around in the air. Sooner or later, your cat gets sick of it though. Having “prey” dangle right in front of your cat's face isn't natural. What kind of prey would dangle in the air right in front of it's predator, waiting to be eaten? In order to get all the great benefits playtime can bring, you need to effectively stimulate your cat both physically and mentally, by activating your cat's 'prey drive' during playtime. You do this by “bringing the prey alive” – and pretending like it is terrified of your cat, the mighty predator! But before we get into that, let's talk about which type of toy you should use for this. The best toy to use if you want to form the ultimate bonding experience with your cat, and have the most effective and beneficial playtime -- is an interactive “fishing pole” toy. An interactive fishing pole type toy is just like it sounds. It has a handle, a long, thick string and some type of toy at the end. While a small ball with a jingle bell in it may seem like a fun toy for your cat, it's not as good as an interactive toy because your cat ends up doing all the work. You cat must first move the ball and then chase it and catch it – playing both roles - the prey and the predator. This isn't natural and it certainly isn't as fun! Another reason to use interactive toys is because they are the easiest to use when it comes to creating the real movements of live prey. On top of that, interactive toys are also more safe – because your hands and fingers are always kept at a safe distance, so your cat never accidentally bites your fingers during play. As a result, your cat never associates your hands or fingers with prey – and learns that hands and fingers aren't for playing with or biting (therefore reducing or preventing future aggression). Note: Of all the interactive toys on the market – there is one that remains to be extremely popular with cats. In fact, cats everywhere are going completely nuts over it – even cats who “don't like to play.” When first looking at it, it doesn't seem too exciting, but this toy is actually aerodynamically designed to mimic the motion of a real bird in flight! So your cat gets to 'hunt' without actually harming any real wildlife. (or bringing you home any nasty presents, or catching any diseases) Okay, should I tell you what the name of the toy is or tease you some more? The name of the toy is Da Bird, and you can click here to get it online. Okay, back to “bringing the prey alive.” Obviously, no mentally stable prey is going to sit right in front of it's predator, right? So from now on, rather than moving the prey (your cat's toys) towards the predator (your cat), move it away from the predator. But don't stop there. You should also have the prey hide from it's predator by dashing behind boxes and around corners – possibly peeking out from behind the corner and then suddenly and quickly darting back behind the box! Have it slide across the floor slowly, minding it's own business – and then suddenly spot the giant predator and frantically scurry behind the couch! The more you can make your cat's toy mimic real prey - the more fun, stimulating, and beneficial it will be for both of you. Slow movements followed by short, quick jerky movements are extremely exciting for your cat. (And can be loads of fun for you too, as you watch your cat speed across the floor like a maniac!) Try a variety of different toys and games to find which one your cat likes most. For instance: Some cats prefer to catch prey that flies (like birds), while others prefer things that scurry along the ground and hide in small spaces. (like rodents) My youngest cat gets the most thrill when her prey tries to hide from her, while my oldest cat gets the most excitement from prey that speeds through the air and passes right over his head. Let your cat win to build up confidence - don't make it too easy, but let your cat catch the prey and bask in the glory of victory! Make your little predator feel even more like a winner with verbal praise after the big catch. Don't try petting your cat while in “prey-drive” because right now everything is considered prey – and your cat may accidentally bite your hands in the excitement of it all. After playtime, put the interactive toys away where your cat can't see or reach them - otherwise your cat may become bored with them, and they also won't seem as real. (The mouse lays on the floor dead all day, and is magically brought back to life every once in a while? Your cat is too smart to fall for that...) Also, interactive toys can be very dangerous if your cat is left unsupervised with them – because your cat can get tangled up in or chew on the rope. Overall, having a regular interactive playtime with Recommended Product: Da Bird cat toy
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