Cat play and toys

These may be suspended from a string attached to a wooden or fishing-style rod designed to simulate lifelike activity in the toy, triggering the cat's predatory instincts – this game is known as catfishing.

[4] Cat play can be enriched with the addition of obstacles behind which the prey can hide and items that make sound when the toy moves through them such as dried leaves, grass, or even a paper bag.

When it comes to non-domestic, wild cats, they may use several objects in the wilderness as their toys including sticks, leaves, rocks, feathers, etc.

Play behaviour includes throwing, chasing, biting, and capturing the toy object, mimicking behaviors used during an interaction with a real source of prey.

Kittens exhibit their preference for physical contact play by rolling and exposing the abdomen and rearing up on the hind legs.

[citation needed] The varying speed and directional movement of a cat's tail can be a useful indicator of its level of playfulness.

Following this stage in their development, kittens begin to show an interest in inanimate objects and prey behaviour.

[citation needed] Hunger has been shown to increase the intensity in the play behaviour of cats, and a decrease in fear elicited by larger-sized toys.

However, play is about predatory behaviour, and a highly excited cat can unintentionally inflict minor injuries to other playmates in the form of light scratches or small puncture wounds from biting too hard.