Now, don’t raise your eyebrows at this one — play therapy for cats.

Why?  You might think:  “My cat’s doing great, playing by itself. Why butt in?”

But wait. Cats can get stressed out. And if you think your cat is acting strange and its energy is low, it might be time to introduce play therapy.

Play therapy is simple. All it needs  is your time commitment and  play-therapy toys, which are easy to find in stores.  Buy toys that draw out the hunting instincts of your cat.  The best time for play therapy is when your cat is at its most active.

A toy, Da Bird, is a good start.   It is fishing pole-like toy with a feathered contraption that resembles a bird tied at its end.  Swinging it back and forth produces  a flapping noise like that of a bird encouraging the cat to chase and hunt it. If toys are not your cat’s thing, play a cat-and-mouse game yourself with the cat. Give your cat at treat once  it successfully catches the “prey.”

Play therapy is good for many reasons. It will help keep your cat healthy and will also curb its destructive habits by using up its excess energy in play. It will also help satisfy a cat’s urge to hunt down its prey and reduce its tendency to harm people or other pets.

Do not hesitate to try play therapy with you cat or kitten if it  shows any signs of stress or overt aggression. Play therapy might be the one thing that will help you cool it down.

Want to know more about play therapy? Visit  www.9livesnation.com/article/9livesnation-staff/treat-your-cat-to-play-therapy.  For more information  on cats, visit  www.9livesnation.com.

Tags: behavior, cats, pets, toys, training

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