What kind of games can you play with your cat (or other random pet)?

[Kudama]

Yes. Another cat thread. I make no excuses.

I have laid my cheap ass Target fishing pole on the ground (with a little plastic spider tied to the line) and Terr is still trying to attack it while it’s sitting still. This reminds me of Groucho’s comment in the movie forum on the “taking advantage of the audiences’* ignorance” thread where he debunked the line about humans being the only animal that hunts for sport.

Anyway, my cat is twelve, had her ball and socket joint ripped clean out by a car when she was six months old (had surgery) and consequently doesn’t leap and bound so much (it’s degrading with age).

So I was trying to make the little spider hide behind things, in shoes and in high places. Terr would chirp and demand. I thought this was pretty funny. Then I realized that her instinct was superceding her physical ability. She prefers the “bear trap technique”, where she lays on her back and strikes at anything that finds itself within the perimeter. I guess you could call it the “venus flytrap technique” if you are into anime. So I altered the game. Noe the spider flies around the room until she gets interested and, somehow, starts hanging around right near it’s most dire threat. Terr loves it.

Does anyone else have an aging or injured cat that they have found ways to keep entertained?

Or dogs, birds and iguanas even.


*I couldn't clear the apostrophe placement. Is the word "audience" singular or plural? (Just fuckin' around. I know it's singular. ...Or is it?)

[Kittydreamer]

I play this game with my cat, Meesha where I move my feet under the covers and she bites the living shit out of my toes. Then I kick her off the bed and she goes flying. We normally play this game at like 3 in the morning when I'm dead asleep.

[resinrats]

Dodgeball.

[Kudama]

Originally Posted by resinrats

Dodgeball.

Dang! I hope you're talking NERF.

[Quatermass]

Well, I used to play chess with Mittens, but she always opened with the poisoned pawn variation of the Najdorf, so I was able to beat her 2 games out of 3.

[Mrs. Danger]

I have had cats that like to play fetch. Some that like to go cardboard surfing down the hall. Laser pointers are fun, they try to catch the dot. Swing them around in a box.
Peek-a-boo is always good. Some animals like to fingerpaint. (do this either outdoors or in the bathtub)
Another good game is bathtub hockey. Give them a ping pong ball to bat around in the tub. (put the plug in, or the ball will stick in the drain, and spoil their fun.)

[Kudama]

Originally Posted by Quatermass

Well, I used to play chess with Mittens, but she always opened with the poisoned pawn variation of the Najdorf, so I was able to beat her 2 games out of 3.

Well, that's what I'm talking about. My cat's bad at Scrabble ("Meor, mmmmmmorw, mwow,,,etc.") They just don't show up in the dictionary if there's a challenge.

[Quake1028]

My cat's two favorite toys:

1.They sell these little furry mice at PetSmart. They are about $1 each or something like that. He goes crazy for them. Most of the time he plays with it by himself, stalking it and such. My gf and I play a game we call "Max in the Middle". We sit on opposite ends of the floor and throw the mouse back and forth. Max goes crazy, jumping all over the place for it. Be careful though, Max shoves them under everything in the house. I find them mostly under the stove, but we have lost about 20 so far with no explanation.

2.They have these sticks at PetSmart that have feathers at the end. He also plays at times with these by himself, but mostly he drags it to one of us to play with him.

[Andalusia]

My cat's not into games. But she will wake me up almost every morning at around 5:30. Don't know how she does it...

[tasha99]

[Sloth911]

Tie a tube saw around their stomach. The cat will walk for about 12 inches and fall over on their side with a dumb look on their face.

It sounds cruel, don't make it too tight, it is really funny!

[Tracer Bullet]

We have two games with our basset hound: "throw", and "sock".

Throw involves tossing something across the room to him, which he will tear off after then retreat to another room to bask in his successful hunt.

Sock involves one of us sticking a sock under his collar, which he will go crazy trying to get. It's more a game for us, really.

[AudioWizard]

Originally Posted by TracerBullet

We have two games with our basset hound: "throw", and "sock".

Throw involves tossing something across the room to him, which he will tear off after then retreat to another room to bask in his successful hunt.

Sock involves one of us sticking a sock under his collar, which he will go crazy trying to get. It's more a game for us, really.

For parents, i'm sure these games would work for kids too.

[Kittydreamer]

Oh you can do all sorts of fun games with kids like when you want them to quit bugging you for five minutes, tell them to "go find a kitty". That usually keeps them occupied for a while.

[AudioWizard]

Originally Posted by Kittydreamer

Oh you can do all sorts of fun games with kids like when you want them to quit bugging you for five minutes, tell them to "go find a kitty". That usually keeps them occupied for a while.

That also works for guys in college.

[psxfan2]

a Laser pen with my basset hound, she chases the light around then I'll aim it at one of the other dogs and she tries to bite it really pissing them off.

[PrincessT]

Put a drinking straw on the floor, preferrably lineoleum or hardwood or tile. She might go for that.

[Lemdog]

Originally Posted by AudioWizard

That also works for guys in college.

[Canadian Bacon]

[mndtrp]

I've got a basket of dum dum's, and the cat loves to play with those. She'll pull one out and start throwing it around, pouncing on it, whatever. If we throw one at her, she'll go crazy trying to attack it. Once in a while the basket gets low, so we'll lift up the couch and dig out 15 or 20 of them.

I've also been thinking about getting a small remote controlled car, tying a string to the back end, and racing it around the house. That'll keep her busy while I stay lazy.

Putting stickers on her paws is great, she goes nuts with that one.

[Sdallnct]

Originally Posted by Kittydreamer

I play this game with my cat, Meesha where I move my feet under the covers and she bites the living shit out of my toes. Then I kick her off the bed and she goes flying. We normally play this game at like 3 in the morning when I'm dead asleep.

Yea, I've played that too, only with my wife. Was just as fun though!

[Charlie Goose]

Hide the Salami