Lazy Cat Doesn't Let Brother Out Of Box
HOW TO GET A LAZY CAT TO PLAY
Let me explain how my cat Avery works: he’ll eat a meal, get a boost of energy, then get hyper and want to play.
The issue lies in the fact that while he may want to play (which I understand because he’ll stare at me and give a little “meep” every five minutes to get my attention), when I do try to engage him, he genuinely acts indifferent.
He’ll watch me drag string around (sometimes chasing string has been his favourite game) and do nothing. He’ll watch me move a feather toy around (he loves feathers!), and again – do nothing. I will leave out absolutely every toy I can think of for him to play with by himself, especially those that he’s successfully liked and engaged within the past, but no – on most days he simply will not play on his own. He wants me to play with him. And yet when I try, he does nothing.
I’ve had Avery for years, and still to this day, it takes a long time for me to figure out exactly how to engage him in play time. You hear that cats prefer not having the same toy to play with over and over; that you should be switching toys in and out. This method has never worked for me – ever. See it seems for my cat when he finds a toy he likes, that’s it. That toy is the only one he wants you to play with him with, and the rest could all burn for all he cared.
So here’s my bit of advice to you if you have a lazy cat who wants to play yet simultaneously doesn’t, just like Avery:
Keep trying new toys!
I swear, it may be annoying, it may be really frustrating going through dozens of options and your cat never showing interest in one, but one day something will stick. One day, something will make your cat really love playtime, and once you find that toy, it’s like magic.
Let me explain how my cat Avery works: he’ll eat a meal, get a boost of energy, then get hyper and want to play.
The issue lies in the fact that while he may want to play (which I understand because he’ll stare at me and give a little “meep” every five minutes to get my attention), when I do try to engage him, he genuinely acts indifferent.
He’ll watch me drag string around (sometimes chasing string has been his favourite game) and do nothing. He’ll watch me move a feather toy around (he loves feathers!), and again – do nothing. I will leave out absolutely every toy I can think of for him to play with by himself, especially those that he’s successfully liked and engaged within the past, but no – on most days he simply will not play on his own. He wants me to play with him. And yet when I try, he does nothing.
I’ve had Avery for years, and still to this day, it takes a long time for me to figure out exactly how to engage him in play time. You hear that cats prefer not having the same toy to play with over and over; that you should be switching toys in and out. This method has never worked for me – ever. See it seems for my cat when he finds a toy he likes, that’s it. That toy is the only one he wants you to play with him with, and the rest could all burn for all he cared.
So here’s my bit of advice to you if you have a lazy cat who wants to play yet simultaneously doesn’t, just like Avery:
Keep trying new toys!
I swear, it may be annoying, it may be really frustrating going through dozens of options and your cat never showing interest in one, but one day something will stick. One day, something will make your cat really love playtime, and once you find that toy, it’s like magic.