How much do you play with your cat?

[ThisFenceIsComfy]

Just that really. I'm having cat (and hamster) guilt at the moment. I'm worried that my cat is bored. She is an outdoor cat but rarely wants to go out for more than a few mins a day.

[ThisFenceIsComfy]

Sorry meant to say thanks for any replies!

[cozietoesie]

I wouldn't want to either in this weather! What is she like when outside is a bit kinder?

[dingit]

Mine always wants to play at bedtime. At the moment it's ping pong, she bats the ball back to me, whilst hiding behind my floor length bedroom curtains. The other night I was cold, so threw the ball into a Primark bag ( this keeps her amused a while longer) then I got in to bed. Next thing I know she's got her head stuck in the handle, and shot out her cat flap, bag and all. So there's dh and I in our Jim jams in the garden, searching for a cat and a Primark bag! She did wander back eventually looking a bit miffed.

[ThisFenceIsComfy]

She does go out more in the summer but only to sit down in the garden. She doesn't leave the garden. I play with her for about ten mins a day. Is that enough? Probably not. God I'm a shit cat mum.

[ThisFenceIsComfy]

at dingit. Did she look really indignant with you? My cat always blames me if she does something stupid.

[TeWiSavesTheDay]

How old is your cat? Our old one's stare at you disdainfully if you try and start a game!

I think we did about 20mins once or twice a day with young cat while we had him.

[ThisFenceIsComfy]

She's 10 this year

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Hardly ever, but they don't seem to mind. I pick them up for cuddles every day and they get plenty of stroking, but they seem happy playing by themselves with random objects the DCs have left on the floor or outdoors. They play football with all sorts of things and love standing on their back legs trying to rip posters off the wall.

[MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday]

My old girl, 15 will chase a peacock feather with evil determination, but that's it.
The kittens are 8 months this week and had suddenly turned into total slobs! They love the flying frenzy and will give it 20 mins frantic chasing..then sleep for 18 hours They have suddenly settled into being adult cats and aren't mad anymore, which is sad in a way, but then a 16 pound kitten does tend to trash he place so I don't mind!

[CMOTDibbler]

Mine don't want me to play with them - alas they go out and catch things for that. In the winter, they mostly sleep though, and all are 8 or older.

The one thing mine like is a big paper bag to jump in and out of, though I always snip the handles.

[rednsparkley]

My 18yr old female cat likes to chase feathers and beads - but she likes to do it on her own and gets mightily narked if you try to join in interfere

My 2yr old male cat LOVES to play and often brings his toys to the children to play with him. He loves a laser pointer which has him and my 4yr old dd entertained for ages. He also CANNOT resist a box or paper bag - my kids say "Cat go Broom Broom" and he leaps into the box and they push him round the house - they say meep meep and vroom vroom and he just sits in the box like royalty - they all seem to enjoy it a lot.

[ThisFenceIsComfy]

See, my cat HATES the toddler. He's very super gentle with her but is really loud. She spends all his waking hours upstairs away from him.

She does a good paper bag. That's a great idea. I will try and get one for her this week. Plus more catnip. That's always a winner.

[RubbishMantra]

I give mine 2 lots of flying frenzy a day, 15 minute sessions each time.

At the moment, MKitten's favouritest thing EVER is a giant paper bag we got given at xmas. He climbs inside it and does a sort of frenzied digging thing.

[RubbishMantra]

• I meant to say 15 minutes are recommended, but it ends up being an hour. If I'm lucky. If MKitten had his way, I'd be playing til my arms fell off.

[gohaze]

My old girl is just 18 and she doesn't play, sleeps a lot though. I do think she's going a bit dotty as she spends a lot of time running from one room to the next, probably searching for my stash of dreamies!