Sometimes cats need a nudge from you to get their exercise
Do you have a pile of cat toys your feline simply ignores? Perhaps, your company is the missing ingredient.
Even in a multi-feline household where animals have each other to play with, your interaction is still expected in their playtime.
I often tell my felines to play together, but they sometimes ignore my advise and start bringing me the toys. Playtime is just so much more fun with a human audience and certain toys, like the wand type, really don't lend themselves to only feline play.
If you have toys your felines doesn't play with, sometimes how you store them can peak their curiosity and renew interest.
Try keeping toys in a small cat condo with only one opening. If one feline goes in to take a toy out, another feline will follow to see what is so interesting. My felines like to look to see what toys haven't been scattered around the house and if mom has added new ones.
The task of taking toys out of a container-like object really seems to be amusing for them. If you do not have a small condo and aren't thrilled with the idea of purchasing one, try putting the toys in an overly large shoebox. The concept is the same. Your felines be amused by getting the toys out for themselves.
I recently learned what my felines favorite shoebox is by accident. Most running shoes come in boxes that are vented on the sides and bottom. This translates to two holes, one on each side, that felines can push their paws through to try to get at the toys. This conduct can be entertaining for us too, especially if two felines approach the box at the same time and the end up playing box tug-of-war.
Removing hair from the toys and renewing the catnip scent with organic catnip spray can also create new interest in toys. Every so often, go through toy inventory and pitch old broken toys to prevent injury.
Exercise is important to the continued good health of our felines. If they won't play without us, as responsible pet owners, we have to make time to encourage play. Sometimes we have to acknowledge that they can be like stubborn toddlers and refuse to play without our interaction and audience.
Featured felines
Tess is a black, 1- to 2-year-old, spayed female, who is easy going, likes other felines and readily enjoys the company of dogs. Tess loves to play and can be quite active. Please give Tess a home this week or she will have to wait until November for another opportunity to be adopted. During the month of October, The Buddy Foundation has a ban on black feline adoptions.
Elmo is a black and white, neutered male that is about 4 years old. Elmo, who is playful and affectionate, likes dogs and baby-sitting small kittens. This guy would be a great family pet.
Cassidy and Sammy are 4-month-old Maine Coons. They are sweet and mellow with humans and are social and playful with all felines.
Adoption events: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, PetCo, Dundee and Rand roads, Palatine, and at PetCo in the Mount Prospect Plaza.
Pledge drive today: Stop by anytime between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at 65 W. Seegers in Arlington Heights to preview the progress of Buddy's shelter. Bring the entire family and your four-legged friends for a tour of our new facility. Enjoy the music, food and live band and learn how you can help make sure our animals have a home.