10 Reasons Your Cat Doesn’t Like Toys
You have finally picked out the perfect cat, you got your cat so many cat toys you have no idea where to put them all. You know your cat will just love their toys, then you get home and you find out your cat doesn’t like toys.
You may now find yourself wondering why your cat doesn’t like toys. You thought all cats enjoyed playtime and you’re not convinced there is something wrong with your cat. The truth is there are a few reasons why your cat doesn’t like toys and we will discuss them here.
They are stressed
When you first adopt your cat they are entering a new environment. This alone is extremely stressful for your cat. Not only is it a new home with new smells, but it’s also new humans to get used to.
If you happen to have another pet, that also adds to your cat’s stress. Stress is the main reason your cat doesn’t play with toys. You need to give your cat a bit of time to get used to its new home usually a few days, then see if your cat is ready to play.
If you have had your cat for a while, they may be stressed for another reason. Maybe you introduced another pet or person into the home. If you have moved to a new home, they may still be getting used to the new smell of this home. There are many reasons your cat may all of the sudden get stressed.
You can tell if your cat is stressed by looking for the following signs.
- Eliminating Outside of the Litter Box.
- Over-Grooming, your cat may even have bald patches
- Diarrhea.
- Vomiting.
- Sudden Inappropriate Scratching.
- Hiding.
- Aggression Toward Other Pets or Humans in the House.
There is a health issue
Your cat may not be feeling well. If you have had your cat for a while and they use to play with you, a health issue could be the cause. If your notice behavior changes in your cat you may be dealing with a sick kitty.
Here are a few signs your cat may be sick
- They sleep a lot
- They have a change in weight
- They eat less or eat more than normal
- They are always at their water dish
- Skin irritation or hair loss
- They are more vocal than normal
- They are hiding more often
- They have bad breath
If you notice any of these signs from your cat it may be time to schedule a trip to your vet. If you’re unsure if it’s serious give your vet or any vet if you don’t currently have one a call. You can find a local vet here.
They don’t like the type of toys you bought
Cats are very particular when it comes to their toys. Some enjoy toys with feathers, while others like squishy balls and mice. Your cat may not like any of these toys and may prefer to climb instead of play.
That is why I recommend you don’t invest a lot in toys to start with. Have a good selection by buying a set of toys that has different toys in them. This will help you see what toys your cat actually likes, then you can continue to buy these toys for them.
If your cat doesn’t seem to like toys but wants to climb everything in sight you may want to spend your money on a good cat tree. If you have a large cat, make sure that tree will hold them. That may mean spending a bit more money on a well-made tree.
If you really do want your cat to play with their toys. Try using catnip. You can get catnip in spray or dry form and when you put it on toys it can help to encourage play. This will not work for every cat, however, it does help with most cats.
They want you to play with them
If you bought a bunch of toys to keep your cat occupied while you watch your favorite show, or while doing something at home then your cat may really want you to play.
Playing with your cat creates a bond. If you have just gotten your cat then you want to create that friendship. Make sure you play with your cat at least once a day. At first, you want to set aside an hour to play, I know you’re thinking an “hour!” The good news is that it probably won’t take an hour to wear your cat out. But you just never know and it’s best to be prepared.
Your play timing is wrong
Just like humans cats have sleep cycles. You may be trying to get your cat to play when all they want to do is sleep. Think about how you feel when you’re tired and forced to do something. That is exactly how your cat feels too.
Take some time to figure out what times during the day your cat is most active, these are the times you want to put out the toys and try to play with your cat.
You didn’t invest enough time in play time
As I stated above, you want to set aside an hour a day to play with your cat. Many times we stop trying to play with our cats too early. They may just start getting stimulated when we decide to give up.
If you notice your cat not showing an interest in playing wait about 5 minutes and try again. Leave the toy out and see if that helps also. The reason I say to set aside an hour is so you have the time to do this. Your cat may take to the toy right away, however they may not and it makes take a few tries.
During the break, time pet your cat, if they will let you if not, do a small task that you can finish in 5 minutes or so. Then pick up playtime again. After a few tries, you should have some luck with piquing your cat’s interest in playing.
You don’t let them catch the toy
Many people are competitive and sometimes that moves into playing with your cat. If you never let your cat catch the toy they will become bored quickly and stop trying. It’s fun to play keep away, however, your cat will not find it as fun as you do.
When playing with your cat for the first time, let them catch the toy a lot. They need to know they can and as they get used to playing with you make it a bit harder for them to catch the toy.
There are too many toys
Let’s face it, you were excited to get your cat and if it’s your first cat, you may have gone a bit crazy and bought too many toys. If your cat walks over them and ignores them try taking a few away and see what they do. Cats don’t need the selection we think they do. However, they do need toys they enjoy.
Most cats are hunters so starting out with a few mice, a couple of feather toys, and getting a toy you can use to play with them is probably all you need to start your cat off. If you have already bought all of these toys, put them away for now, then take them out as the others get destroyed, because they will.
I hope this will help you get your cat playing and enjoying their homes a bit more. If your cat still does not want to play, it just may not be a very playful cat. This does happen, all cats are different and have their own personalities. You may have a cat whose breed is considered to be very active, however, your cat may just prefer to lay in the sun and bask in the glory of napping.
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