Cat Won't Play? You're Doing it Wrong!

[@smarie3874]

I was definitely a cat guardian that thought, “my cat won’t play.” One helpful thing Jackson said was, “all play is good play.” So, I committed to 10 min twice a day, whether I was feeling like I was playing alone or not. Obviously, if my cat way enjoying herself I’d go longer. Everyday I think, “this isn’t working” and I tell myself I’ll stick with it for at least 10 min, regardless. She’s never been able to ignore the toy for more than 7 min. Turns out is just take her awhile to get warmed up.

[@unumverumbonum2156]

Maybe your cat is not that much impressed by motion. Try "hide & seek" by providing unfamilar sounds, that make him/her curious. Cats love to locate things (prey) they don't see. It appeals to their heightened senses. Make sure to provide a "Jackpot" reward, once they managed to own "it". ^^

[@xladyfayre]

@@unumverumbonum2156 Mine loves 'tag'! I have a solid banister, hide behind it, peek out and there she is jumping up at me! It's adorable every time! Sometimes she won't play or I literally have to throw 15 toys before she runs after one of them. She's completely uninterested in the laser pointer anymore. I wonder if I should get the toy that Jackson showed us.

[@drt-abrat1256]

Pretty cool!

[@Ichabod_Jericho]

Some cats prefer just mice getting tossed around, or mouse on a string, or a 3 way tunnel to attack things through. also keep in mind if your cat didn’t get many chances for playing as a kitten; they literally never learned how to play or wrestle or pounce and so you could be reaching your cat basic cat things without even knowing.

[@lorigarnes3919]

My 13 yr old tabby likes to be inside something like a box, paper bag, even a pillow. His favorite game is “pants.” It goes like this. I take off my pants to switch into comfy clothes and Kirby watches until I shake out the pants and hold the waistband open with the pants legs extended on the floor. He leaps into the waistband and runs through one of the legs so he can bat at my fingers when I run them on the floor next to the pants. The rule is that I can’t oh him but he can try to touch me. It is his fav and we get to play it at least twice a day; once when I get dressed and once when I get undressed.

[@janetwilliams7705]

I was confined to a wheelchair for nine months due to an injury. My favorite way to keep myself and the cats as fit as possible was to tie ribbons to the handles of the chair and roll around the house as fast as I could as the cats wildly chased me. So much fun for all of us!

[@genaviebui6223]

That’s very creative!

[@erin_the_extra2329]

That’s so cute omg 😭😭😭

[@the_italianwannabe]

Oh that's adorable 🥹

[@dimonds101mine]

Thats super cute! Thank you for sharing :D

[@suevining8926]

How ingenious, that's a fab idea!! ❤😻

[@Xsksnssjccxghb]

Sometimes my cat stares into my eyes mid play almost as if he’s saying: can u try harder to be the mice/bird these moves are too predictable.

[@rhythmandblues_alibi]

My beloved girl is 18, partially blind and has kidney disease. She very rarely plays anymore, but when she occasionally tries to kill our feet or fingers under the covers, my partner and I get very excited. It is wonderful to see an old cat play 🥰

[@mariebarker4499]

, please watch Watchman on the Wall 88 on KZbin

[@WickedT312]

I've got two seniors who might play a couple days a week but when I see it I can't help but watch. Definitely the cutest thing ever❤

[@saralichty5198]

❤❤❤

[@MySqueezingArm]

Before our cat passed, it was very similar. He had heart and lung disease since birth. Was expected to live to 6 or 7, but made it to 14. In those last few years anytime he'd get all rowdy and wild it was an absolute treat.

[@saralichty5198]

@@MySqueezingArm 😻💜💙❤️ they are literally angels

[@sissyozzy1450]

Precious was 21. Loved play time. I never scheduled it. When she was ready I just played until she was ready to fall asleep in my arms. Sissy is 16. More problems. On medication. Arthritis. We always stayed busy. She helped in my garden by keeping neighbor dogs out of yard. Booping butterflies and birds. Bless her. She loved fetching things for me to throw. Now when I try to play, she looks at me like, “you go get it. Or WHY? I let her move at her own pace. We are both old. I’m 70. We spend a lot of time just cuddling and watching tv. She likes cartoons and Doctor Who.

[@catrinahartz944]

You were blessed with many years with your fur baby. I pray my cats and dogs last that many years ❤

[@vickiatabi4235]

​@@catrinahartz944they never live long enough 🐱♾️🌚🏜️☑️

[@Loveofmisery]

“She likes cartoons and Doctor Who.” Your kitty has great taste! My older cat watches videos on my ipad with me. Her favorite was watching a Dnaganronpa playthrough (video game) or Bailey Sarian’s Murder Mystery and Makeup Mondays. 🥹 My guardian angel kitty used to play hide-and-seek with me. We’d chase each other back and forth through the house.

[@SisterPatGoad]

I had a Cat named Sissy P. She passed at age 19 years. She was Hyperthyroidism.She began losing weight,the meds made her sick, and force getting her ti take the med made hgfer distance me..i couldn't stand that!!! So i stopped giving the med. We were reunited and showed constangt affection. When she passed away a year or two later, we were so close buyt, she never died feeling, i was mean to her by forcing her to take the meds that made her feel horrible !!!!

[@ladyorange9915]

I swear Jackson has our place bugged. Every time we run into a head scratcher, he makes a video about the very thing we talked about! Super excited for this video!

[@jenniferbalesteri2810]

LOL….you took the words right out of my mouth! We love JG😻

[@ladyorange9915]

@@jenniferbalesteri2810 he's great!!

[@elizabethdumas4147]

Ditto. I have a cat that dominates play time. Now I'll be a mean person and put him in a room for awhile so I can focus on my wallflower. Jackson always addresses my cat problems. He's the cat's meow.😻

[@amcx777]

Same, my cat just isn't playing like he used to. Needed this video.

[@lynnebunning7273]

I have the same problem shes not interested in anything 🇦🇺🐨👍

[@FireBlitz]

During my first time at a cat cafe, most of the cats would literally barely play. They weren't interested in someone just moving the cat wand or toy around. I found out later that moving whatever object in fast jitters with pauses was a really good technique to kept their attention! They want something resembling fast, unpredictive prey, and I feel like many fail to realize just how much patience and attention should go into their common style of playing. After getting a kitten a few months ago, I also came to learn that sometimes dragging the cat toy on the ground gets better reactions than waving it in air. Likely because it resembles a mouse closer that way

[@bunnyb1599]

My kitten will take the toy from me and walk off with it lol. Then he carries it around the house so proud of his catch. XD

[@Whitecroc]

It should be noted that cat café cats might be feeling overstimulated because they're getting constant attention. So if they won't play, that's probably fine. The staff should be keeping tabs on that kind of thing anyway.

[@heatherbryant4197]

Good advice. This is the #1 mistake I see people make when using the right kind of toy but the cat still isn't interested. They move it way too slowly, or just predictably wave it back & forth. Real prey animals don't move like that. You really gotta put yourself in the mindset of an animal.

[@barbarapaine8054]

Mine loves an imitation of a wounded or slow bird on the ground, flapping around.

[@SilvioBritto]

I always try to mimic some different prey. A theater thing, maybe, but works great. Sometimes a snake, sometimes a bird etc. Also have different sticks and toys in it.

[@edna8170]

My boy-friend and me are going to adopt a cat. We went to a shelter with such a "fishing pole" toy and we ended up with the attention of every cat it that shelter room. Even an impaired cat came down from her hiding space to watch. I think everybody, who is visiting a shelter, should bring such a toy to engage especially with shy cats. 😃 It is such a nice way to interact without leaving an insecure cats' comfort zone. It's a positive first interaction and it's fun!

[@donnavorce8856]

What a sweet idea Edna.

[@danb9447]

Better yet, apply to volunteer as a cat socializer. I'm a cleaner at my adoption center but some people are scheduled just to play and help the cats get adjusted

[@ally3896]

such a great idea that all shelters should implement!

[@Cocopancake528]

So lovely ❤❤❤

[@thewannabegamer9]

Playing with a cat is one of the most satisfying things. Especially if you’re interacting with a cat you’re not familiar with, it’s like a little puzzle to see what movements interests the cat. If you’re able to get them interested, it’s like you’re rewarding yourself. And if they’re super active, it can be really fun to see them run around for the toy. I absolutely love cats. ❤

[@not_roadkill]

mr jackson, my cat likes to fall asleep to your videos, which is just another among the list of things i appreciate you for

[@mariag.8242]

Jackson, I became disabled a few years ago and everything in the lives of my 2 cats and me has changed - small home on one level, no daddy, and mom mostly has to sit. Please make a video on how disabled people can play with their cats. Any advice would be appreciated

[@oceanstoforests]

I was bedridden for about a month last year and something that really helped me and my kitten(wasn’t even a year old yet) was having obstacles for him to stalk between. He adores pop up tents, so having one within my reach that I could wiggle the toy around and through helped keep him active! Even sitting on the floor with them can be social playtime with you, it’s mostly a matter of what your body can handle and what your cats like to do

[@alixv8256]

Hi Maria! I don't know if this is "Jackson Galaxy Approved" but one form of play that requires little movement is using kibble : for my cat's evening meal, I take a few grams of kibble in my hand and I make her run after it. I sit in one corner of the living room and I begin by tossing one piece, then when she's got it, I toss another in a different direction. I can make her run several times across the living room like this while moving very little myself. I find it a very fun game, and the cat seems to love it as well. It still requires some movement in the shoulders and arms, so you'll be best to tell if that work for your body, but it has been one of my low-energy-days games.

[@mariag.8242]

@@alixv8256 Thank you so much for replying - good idea! Will have to separate my 2 or the bigger sister will eat everything, but can start doing it for just a few minutes each

[@mariag.8242]

@@oceanstoforests A little pop-up tent that’s the right size for Camping Cat? Sounds like fun - thank you!

[@ottopatchen6577]

I have tons of boxes from having to order stuff online. I just shoved some of 'em together to make cat tunnels and huts. I spread 'em kind of in a half circle around my chair so i can just swivel back and forth on that w/o having to do much movement. My back is a mess, so I can't do the whole standing thing for very long, and there's plenty of routes for my kitties to take when chasing after their birdy or wormy! I usually sit on the couch and have them hop up on that then back down to the huts. Kinda keep stuff to jump on closer together so you can have them go up and down instead of run around i guess? I hope this helps and I hope playing with your cats is fun!

[@judylee3589]

My kitty, Lobo, will be turning 15 years old this April. Besides playing with his pillows stuffed with catnip, he LOVES to play hide-and-seek with me daily.

[@CynthiaSchoenbauer]

I am so glad you play with your cat in different ways. You are very interactive and you build a wonderful bond with him!

[@kims364]

Oh we love playing hide and seek with our rescue babies as well!! Our five year old Odin could play hide and seek all day lol it can be exhausting 😂😂

[@sarahjames8287]

We do this too! My Bertie’s favourite game is to jump out at me from around corners ❤️

[@GingerTheSpoiledCat]

Hide and seek is really good for exercise. My cat Ginger gets a real work out running after me and me running after her when we found each other 😁

[@Ccc35712]

@@sarahjames8287 my Cali my Maine Coon does that to me all the time, ever since she discovered she could startle me making me squeel then laugh! LoL 😂 Now she's almost 5 years old and it's still her favorite agenda with me, at least once a day!! Also, she loves to stare at me from below and close to my bed at bedtime. I lean over to see if she's still down there and she jumps up at me and startles me EVERYTIME!! LoL 😅😸🐾🐾

[@Surferess]

Well, inspired by this video, I tried a new toy with my lazy cat, Daisy, a Peacock feather! She was very amused by that for almost 4 minutes! That's pretty much a record, Jackson. Thanks for encouraging me to try something different.

[@IbelongtoJesus.]

Don't stop trying,,,, there are so many more things to try,,,

[@magicmoonart]

My wife is called Daisy haha

[@bambinaforever1402]

My older cat was amused with that too for the whole month. No longer. I have bought all toys - plays for a while and that’s it

[@theknightswhosay]

4 minutes is about my older cat’s limit

[@pebabmey]

Peacock feathers work for my kitty too - 11 years old and she loves going after them!

[@alexzmarkward1007]

Thanks so much for this video! We just got our first fur baby 2 days ago. She was immediately cuddly and curious, showing us signs she was comfortable and confident (based on your other videos!) But she would NOT interact playfully, only wanting to snuggle. Today, I popped on a KZbin video of mice to see if it would get her Motor going and she immediately turned into a hint baby. After she got excited enough, I turned off the video and hid her toy under a dresser, popping it out like a curious mouse and she lost her mind! It was amazing to see her come alive so fast! I was so worried she was sad from moving in and I can’t believe how fast she’s made it home

[@naomimeyers84]

I never thought about them as having different hunt, catch, kill, personalities. I only have one rescue adult male just over a year old, but he is a wallflower for sure. It takes him a while to get interested, and I try different movements and pauses, but sometimes he still isn't interacting, he'll just watch while lying down somewhere. What I found that really gets his interest is using a wand toy against objects to make sounds in other rooms, and he'll come bounding in and pouncing, and then he lays down and looks bored. lol... so I just keep trying to find new ways of peaking his interest. Thanks Jackson !! Your videos are killing the mysteries I've had about how to appease and take care of cats in my care.

[@kimbarbeaureads]

They just need the right toy. Just like people they have different interests. My cats both love wand toys, but Eli catches it and lets it go. Tiggie catches it and holds on for dear life. Same game but Different game

[@dkleath8697]

My cat will chase/play with live prey & things that move like snakes! He Has watched a few minutes at a time the "CatTV" videos, but a cell phone is really too small to appear "realistic", LOL!

[@Leries0]

For a minute I thought I was the one who wrote this comment. Because I too have a cat named Tiggie and Eli. Tiggie spelled the same. And the other spelled Ellie. What a world lol

[@bambinaforever1402]

Then they get bored with them all the same

[@dianaharris3777]

I'm glad you addressed the play with your cat. I think many humans think dogs you play with cats you don't. 👍😺

[@chrisparker5278]

Thank you so much! Last month we adopted two rescue cats. They only want to hide, run away from us, and haven’t wanted to play with us, ever. Today I played the way you showed and they were even jumping! They still want to go and hide now and then during play, but this is the most active I’ve seen them! It’s wonderful seeing our boys playing. Afterwards they go a small bowl of cat food that they are super fast! I cannot thank you enough

[@vickychambers3241]

I was playing with a bird toy and it sprang lose from the wood and hit my cat right in her face! Now she’s scared of every toy I have. It has been a month and she brings her SNAKE on a stick to me BUT THE MINUTE I MOVE IT SHE IS GONE. What should I do? I have her brother who loves to play!!

[@patch2532]

Me 2 months ago: "My cat won't play!!!" Me now, after playing every day: Woo! Finally getting some height and jumps with the wand, seeing hunting actions (wiggle butt and pouncing), kicking around random ball toys here and there. 🙌 Success!! Thank you for this video.

[@bkreed27]

I've learned so much from Jackson. This one worked a charm. My cat, 9 year old Tortie, was obsessed with the laser pointer even though I instinctively knew it wasn't great because there's never a payoff, i.e. she can't actually catch it. I switched to a feather toy and it did take her a few sessions to get into it but now she'll play for a good 7-10 minutes and really gets excited. Sometimes she'll spend a few minutes looking around the living room for the "birdie" even after we stop. I try to do this before I feed her so she gets to make a "catch" before she eats. Thanks Jackson!

[@Breeski1]

I point the laser pointer at toys my cat can pounce on so he still at least catches something!

[@vickiatabi4235]

I used to have a cat who would bring me "her" Mousie to play fetch with/she would chase it and bring it back to me many times. When she was tired, she would lay down on it 🐱😺😸until the next day/time that she wanted to Play😸🌚🏜️☑️♾️☑️♾️☑️

[@lindas.1751]

Like lots of cat owners, I LOVE it when one of the cats grabs the toy, and starts to run away with it to his or her "safe place" when we play. So cute!

[@sage2993]

Wow, I resonate with Bramble during social playtime on a deep metaphysical level haha.

[@aleksandra9555]

Ahahah same 🤣

[@pattywatson6961]

My sweet Ringo was racing all over when he heard the sound of the wand extending. He knows that sound and comes running every time. Loves his playtime.

[@shelleybell8729]

Wow I've just tried your suggestions and my cat had the best time ever! We played for 20 min. Thank you so much. This was extremely helpful. Now that I know what to do, can get playing daily!

[@donnavorce8856]

Cat is smiling and happy now! Awesome.

[@victoriaward3630]

After only a few days of this with my cats they can’t get enough. First, I watched the boredom in cats video and realized they were bored. Then, I watched this video and decided to give it a go. The separation and 10 minutes of solo play has already made a hug difference in my wallflower. Today when we were done they refused to eat the treats because they didn’t want to stop playing and went for another 10 minutes! Thank you for the information. It’s super helpful! 😊

[@korp_skog]

I was watching this while playing with my cat, Disa, who is turning 13 in May. She loves a feathered wand toy since she is most definitely an air prey cat, and she loves it when I do the "wounded bird". Definitely a bit of a sadist :P And when she starts to wind down, I give her her treat ball, so she can figuratively eat her kill.

[@scottfw7169]

That bit about getting fulfillment from the pursuit is why we play treat toss after doing laser spot chase.

[@daviddiego9831]

Hello 👋 korp Asklund How are you doing?

[@judimccarty6111]

I was too lol

[@catherinerose1607]

My 2 year old cat is a ball of energy. I’m 62 and exhausted. We play a lot! It’s okay, she keeps me young🤩

[@Ccc35712]

And it's not only great physical exercise and bonding time with your cat, it's also great physical exercise for we humans!! 😅👏👏👏🎉😸🐾🐾

[@GingerTheSpoiledCat]

Ya you can say that again lol

[@Ccc35712]

@@GingerTheSpoiledCat LoL 😂 sometimes more than we can handle! 🤦😩😸🐾🐾

[@stronglift1873]

If playing with the cat is seen as great physical exercise, i can see why there is an obesity pandemic in the US.

[@vickieclark5931]

LOL. My youngest I will sometimes chase and then she will chase me through the house. Yep, I definitely get my exercise because of her.

[@anam.s.1259]

lol for our arms not to get fat

[@elainerose7817]

Thank you so much for this video! My family recently lost 2 cats, the oldest passing away and another running away about a month or 2 after, leaving our wall flower behind. We've been giving him so much love, but with him not having his buddies to play with anymore, he's just been lying around all day. He would seem interested in his toys for only a second and would then leave them wherever. After watching this video and taking tips, even though it took about 5 minutes to get him started, we did end up having a 15 minuet play session with him pouncing, jumping, and climbing! We're gonna make it part of his daily routine, but these tips helped so much! Thanks again! 🫶

[@flyfly2850]

This video made me a little proud of what I am doing with my cat...😊its my first cat ever, hence, I have zero experience! Yet I do all of the above everyday. I am happy I am providing my cat a healthy lifestyle.

[@maryvanzante-peiser5065]

Hey Jackson! Mary from Seattle here. Just wanted to thank you for helping my "dog-loving" wife learn about my cats. Now, she is in love with our new kitten, Ed. They play many times a day and my 12 year old fella Drake is playing more too! You rock. .you rock... you rock! 😽

[@lyndahammond8883]

My cats LOVE this play! I had a stroke so for quite a while my play with them was a bit weak but as I grow stronger, they get better play! I get to help them get their mojo going while THEY have made me get MY MOJO back! We thank you, Jackson!

[@carolyncdonahue]

You sell the best play toys ever! My kitty, Juuls loves all of them. We just got the snuggle kitty with heartbeat,you sell, and she loves it! She wraps her little paw around it and "snuggles!" You really know cats! We love you!

[@tinacameron5526]

Hmm I might look at those, though my 2 have a house load of toys including tunnels, boxes, interactive toys, cuddly toys, wind up toys, scratching posts and ball toys lol. They're spoilt

[@carolyncdonahue]

@@tinacameron5526 my girl is too! Oh well, it s worth it!

[@nouranibrahim10]

That what i'm instinctively do when i play with my cat even before watching this video ❤️ playing with them is MY therapy not just theirs 🥰

[@Bookhart2]

I laugh so much when my at and I play.

[@PlatypusVomit]

Thank you for the reminder that all kitties need the play. I have 2 cats, 2 and 3 years old, and the older one is the mother of the younger one. They both have complete confidence as far as roaming the house, sleeping in the open on a cat tree, etc, but the older one will go full 'wallflower mode' if I get a toy out, while the younger one goes full 'kitten mode'. I rarely separate them and play with the older one on her own, and I really should do it more often.

[@kiute.c]

My boys LOVE the GoCat brand (mouse, bird, purr peller) and they go so crazy that I actually have to go to "simmer" before reaching "boil" because one of them has a heart murmur and the vet told me to avoid bringing his heart rate up so much that he pants. They get daily play time though and they take turns going after the prey. It is so adorable!

[@tinacameron5526]

Awe poor kitty, so glad you still play with him though :)

[@kiute.c]

@@tinacameron5526 thank you! I've definitely found ways that keep his interest up that don't involve so much cardio, but I do let him have about 30-45 seconds of chasing the toys at top speed almost daily so that I don't feel like I'm depriving him (his brother gets more since he has no heart murmur). Watching my boys be happy brings so much joy so it is disappointing that he loves to play so much and I cannot let him do so to his heart's desire :(

[@jenniferbalesteri2810]

Jackson, this video changed my cats lives & mine for that matter, for the better! I didn’t know it was OKAY to put my Napoleon away to let Poof Poof play alone. He was my wallflower until one day he STARTED to play and I learned he loves it too. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your endless help with our Fe-lions😻

[@craftcrumbs]

Less than a week ago I began fostering a sweet 4 yo calico, very small in stature and definitely a wall flower. She'd hide under my bed or the dining room table and watch me entice her with toys, but not play. Ten minutes after watching this video I tried your techniques for getting her in the middle of the room and tapped into her hunt/chase/catch instinct and WOW she came right out of her shell. I let her chase me with the toy for 10 minutes. Only problem is, she didn't want to stop playing, which isn't a problem at all! Thank you!

[@JoTheAnomaly]

I totally agree with what you said about role-play. I tell people to pretend it’s a bird or a bug and think about how that animal moves. That’s usually lost on a lot of people, lol

[@highflowerfairy2554]

My kitten loves play, and I had her deep in it when I pulled my phone out. I was barely on it when I realized she was winning the game, and my mouse was losing. That pulled me right back to her. I was trying to figure out how to make my kitten jump. Thank you for including that. 🐈‍⬛

[@breculve82]

Expanding upon and extending play has helped me move away from free feeding. She knows it's time for her morning and evening meals after those play sessions. Also has done wonders with stimulation aggression.

[@JasonUmphress]

Just the video I needed. I have two cats. One will play but Natasha always hides and watches. She will play if Darcy is in another room but as soon as she walks in she takes over. I just always felt bad about separating them but I guess that’s what I need to Thanks Jackson!

[@PinkMartiniAZ]

I adore your videos Jackson. You are smart, straight up common sense, down to earth and funny. One thing we do in our home is keep a lot of toys in a large bin in a closed cabinet. We don’t let them play with everything all the time but we do rotate the self playing toys. Once you get to know your cats favorites, it’s nice to bring one out once in awhile. It’s like a treat! It’s like “ooooo I forgot about THIS one!” After some good play time with it, we put it away. It prevents them from getting bored with their favs and keeps it special.

[@kkitty1000]

Exceptional! I have a four-year-old, a 10-year-old, and a 13-year-old. All three of my kitties jump like crazy with wand toys. I’ve always played with them just like you’re showing here and it works amazing and only a few minutes are required because they get exhausted

[@MMiel-mv2pt]

Great vid! Tips I would add: 1) cats are sensitive to the sounds Prey make, so I try to make different sounds with the toy (tapping, scraping, ruffling), and 2) pulling the toy through or under tunnels (e. g., under a rug or door).

[@reneebiberstein8741]

After 40+ yrs of breeding dogs, coming back from 7 yrs in Kenya, I found myself back in America & 3 sister kittens. I COULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT WITHOUT U BRO, THANK YOU. THEY ARE DA BOMB !!!🙏🏽💚💛❤💪🏾

[@lela2280]

Jackson! I'd really love you, as someone who does advocate for adopting seniors, to do a segment on how to "teach" your cat how to play again in case they "unlearned". Case in point: one of my adopted cats is a senior (12 yo, adopted when she was 10 1/2, has most likely been heavily neglected in the past), and while she does have her moments and I can get her to play sometimes, for like 30 sec., I can't get her to play, even senior style, for more than that. And she isn't a wallflower or a napoleon. And I can see that she has the energy to play, because she does get the zoomies frequently. I already tried rewarding her frequently for hunting/catching.

[@dissonantdreams]

I have the same problem with my 14 year old - nothing will hold her attention for more than a minute tops before she loses interest and walks away! She was super playful as a younger cat, but she’s definitely slowing down now and seems much less interested in playing - she’d rather be asleep on someone’s lap 😆

[@lela2280]

@@dissonantdreams Hanging out on human bodies is my senior's favourite pastime too :D I, sadly, don't know whether she used to be more playful in younger years as little is known about her life up until she was about 10 yo (when she came to the shelter). Most likely, she has been treated not so well, hence why I think she might have "unlearned" playing from not being played with for a long time. And she is super fussy about food and can only manage to keep a healthy weight by having special high calorie food at her disposal all of the time, so going the mealtime pathway won't work (I tried, thoroughly, believe me). I mean, she does, overall, seem to be happy the way it is and the fact that she got a mate half a year ago does help. But I think it would be great for her long term physical and emotional health to have more playtime on the regular.

[@charcoalanderson8010]

THIS!!! I recently adopted my first cat and I purposefully chose an older shelter cat with a more difficult background because I know they are often overlooked for the kittens. The issue is, when cats have been ignored, mistreated, or never had a human take the time to play with them how can we re-teach them how to play and be a cat again? I learned from the video but would really like something on this.

[@kkeelty64]

One thing that I have found really helps to remember is SIZE MATTERS. Some cats have a love for small bird / feathered toys, some for furry mouse-sized toys, and some like little bugs. Our cats really like small toys on wands, the smaller the better. Current favorite is a foam ear plug on a wand/string combo. They are non-toxic, but make sure the cats don't pull it off the wand and run away with it - the ear plug could be a choking hazard.

[@Poisoy]

Really need to try that one!! My cat refuses to play with anything that is on a wand and play just sometimes with a small ball (she likes to kick it back to you) but it rarely happens...

[@brittanyt729]

Thank You Jackson! I wish I had seen this years and years ago. I’m convinced that the difference between “cat” people and “dog” people has a lot to do with understanding the behavior of each animal and not getting them mixed up. I watched a self described dog person fall in love with my aging cuddle bug of a cat. He decided he was also a cat person. Unfortunately when he got a kitten he didn’t realize that it wouldn’t play like a dog so he just thought the cat didn’t like him. After growing up with dogs he had trouble altering his perception of play from thinking the cat should play tug of war to the play described here. I ended up with the cat, but I wish I had been able to express how to play with him better. I have limited experience with wallflower cats but I’m excited to learn how to help them come out of their shell.

[@colleenanne4032]

Absolutely gold! Thank you. Could you please do a series on this topic, and others, for cat families who use wheelchairs to move around and those who have elderly families who want to fulfill their cat's play and care needs but have different mobility and energy levels?✨❣️

[@vickiatabi4235]

Excellent suggestion❗❕❗❕❗🌚🏜️🐈‍⬛♾️☑️

[@Anthroid9]

Air, prey, wand is the best wand toy I’ve tried so far. The retractable string is an awesome touch that adds extra sound and movement to playtime vs other wands with hanging string

[@lindamiranda2877]

I loved this video… my 3 yr old orange tabby is a very active cat n he taps me all day to get me to play with an interactive toy with him. I play fetch with him every morning with a crinkle toy or slinky toy… I had problems with the fishing toy but Jackson just demonstrated how to play with the fishing toy. Thanks Jackson 😍😍😍

[@carolbottura]

Thanks for another great video. Jackson, video suggestion, maybe with a vet as a guest: chronic kidney disease. My cat has just been diagnosed with it at age 7 and his kidneys are in bad shape already, which probably means he has had it for a long time and I just now found out by chance. It would be great to hear from you and a vet you trust. Thank you so much for all you do to help these wonderful animals. Love and cat mojo

[@JacksonGalaxy]

Good idea - I sure know plenty of great vets so consider it added to the video runway

[@SummerDragoness]

@@JacksonGalaxy I actually just posted a similar question in regards to older ckd + diabetics and hope you'll be able to take a look at it and also put the concerns I have in the video as well? To C&P: "Hey, Jackson, what suggestions do you have for older (in my case, an almost 18 year old) arthritic, diabetic/ckd cats with increasing signs of blindness/losing sight, who quite literally do not show any interest. My old boy wants to sleep, eat, find the sunbeams, and snuggle. That's it. I have tried his old faithful toys from the past that could be played with up closer so he can see it. I have tried jerking movements within his ability of sight depth perception, just enough that it should get him interested but not too fast that he loses it. I've tried stronger catnip. Laser pointer. Feather toys. Crinkles. moving toys around under various types of paper and bags. I'm at a loss, is it possible for him to be happy without play?"

[@susanwilson9241]

Everyone who owns a cat should watch this. Thank you, Jackson!

[@silllykitten329]

My kitten is so lazy. Thank you for this! I just rescued a stray 8-12 week old (not sure on age) and I got all these toys.

[@darak4187]

This is the best cat toy ever!! My cats go absolutely crazy about this. We are a multi cat house. They all take turns playing with it or they play at the same time. They do get excited when they hear me pull the wand open. Even my lazy cats. It’s great!!

[@FluffyDragonDrawing]

I have been following these tips and my cats are still reluctant to play. Occasionally they will, but most of the time they just walk off and ignore it. I'm not expecting them to always be dashing for it, I get that a significant part of it is the stalking... But they don't do that. I have tried running circles around the house, darting the interactive toy all over the place, pausing, and then starting again; like these tips have suggested and they still will rarely play. The only play one of them will engage in actively without a doubt, is a lazer pointer which is awesome, but I recall Jackson making a point that it shouldn't exclusive be the lazer pointer, they should have something they can actually catch at some point. But every time I try to switch over (usually playing with the lazer pointer, and then eventually aiming it onto the toy while continuing the movements with the toy) it's instantaneous, he refuses. Ussually looking back at me untill I resume the lazer pointer, if I don't he'll eventually just walk off. Our other cat, however, doesn't even do _that._ I have at times managed to get her to play for a bit, but often within a few short minutes she grows bored and walks off, and I'm following the tips like looking like a complete idiot. I have dashed into the next room, wiggling the toy and having it dart around and yet..... nada. I'm not sure entirely what I'm doing wrong here. Hoping the full video clears some things up

[@jeandixon586]

Just to say, I have the same experience with my cats. Nothing holds their attention for more than a minute or two. Maybe it's because they prefer the garden full of interesting sounds and things to stalk and investigate. They enjoy their interactive toys, but one - two minutes is their limit, then they just ignore the toy and my existence 😂

[@attheranch4876]

My cat prefers the laser pointer too. She seems fine with not being able to catch it. I have another toy she likes to chase around some, but as soon as she catches it she drops it and waits for it to move again. It seems like she’s more into the chase than the catch, so I just go with it 😀👍🏼

[@OtterlySpacey]

My 2 yo kitty has been reduced to a wallflower thanks to the new kitten we got. So play has not been the same, but fortunately I’ve come to know him and his likes well enough before the kitten arrived… so he plays with a wand, but the stick part 😅 He loves it when I hide it under something (usually a mat or tunnel toy) or just around the corner of a scratcher (horizontal or pole)… I let the tip stick out and pull it back, repeat until the bum wiggle and pounce! Really brings out the kitten in him… he loves the laser pointer too, but I’ve not mastered the transition to a proper toy with that yet.

[@TheseAreMyFavorites]

Quick tip for laser pointer play: It doesn't have to end with another toy if that doesn't work for your cat! Try having the laser pointer end on a treat for your cat to find and enjoy. What's most important is that they get their physical activity in and having something real at the end for them to catch can help a lot with finishing that play cycle. Don't shy away from treats!

[@rachelb.anders3344]

Great tip with the individual vs the social play! Ever since I got my new kitten a month ago my older cat just watches him play.. I will be adding som extra time to play with her alone. Thanks so much for this and for teaching that "two cats are better than one"!

[@rikakemp6274]

Ahhh so precious how you educate and assist humans to understand the dynamics of cats! Absolutely, we learn so much from you. Thank's a million!❤

[@Acubens.]

My cat is a 1 yr old British Blue named Dixie. Its been 1 week now I've spent 5 minutes a day brushing her & 5 minutes playing. Now she sleeps with me, follows me everywhere and sits on my lap. Thank you Mr Galaxy ❤

[@rilly1347]

Sounds like this video is for me since I currently feel like my cat rarely plays lol hopefully this upcoming video will change my mind to get her to play. I don't text on my phone like that LOL but I get bored as soon as she gets bored and does her lazy play which is just lay down and bat at the toy without running around and chasing it.

[@CynthiaSchoenbauer]

Yes, Jackson! What TOOK YOU SO LONG? Bringing your cat alive is everything. (Even the wallflowers who are full of potential). Thank you!

[@Monococonut]

One of my cats really likes when there is sound involved, like Rustling bags or rubbing a stick across a textured surface. I also find that often sometimes the simplest toys work best. I made a raffia tassle and tied it to a string and they LOVED it! Texture can be a factor too. Phantom likes papery textures and Oliver likes feathers.

[@kimmyettewood7720]

I just got my first kitten and I freaked out on the first few days that he'd be a little wallflower living under the living room cabinet. Took a lot of your advice and started by closing off the unders. Then I tried to coax him with treats but perhaps his anxiety didn't allow him to care much about food. PLAY was the key for little Teddy. I think once he pounced on his little mouse he grew confident and felt a sense of ownership. Play got his tail up, got him roaming confidently, play is our icebreaker and ultimately allowed us to create a bond. ☺🥳

[@Marie.Helms3]

I definitely have a wallflower cat. I have two wild boys also that take up all the play time. I never thought about separating them during play. I’m looking forward to see how my little girl will interact with me. She’s a chunky girl that needs to play. Thanks so much.

[@3t-innovations-tomorrowste740]

Jackson, you rock! I have read both your books and watched your KZbin videos. I was only introduced to your expertise a month ago. Night and day difference in my approach. Your commitment is very respected! Thank you!

[@melaniepebley9622]

This was the greatest thing ever! I got my wallflower cat, Lucy, off the wall. I haven't seen her like this since she was a baby. Of course needed to take my dominant male cat, Tilikum, out of the room, but it worked wonders and switching it up to have them eat after play... I'm seeing the benefits for them as well as me especially at bed time. Thank you! You're extremely helpful

[@jenniferbalesteri2810]

So excited! After 8 days in a new home (three full days of basecamp prior) my cats are ready to play! (But only when my Mom isn’t around). Thank you JG for the MOVING WITH YOUR CAT vids as well as the HOLY GRAIL… BaseCamp vids. My cats are happy and healthy because of you!

[@jeandixon586]

Actually, because of YOU, Jennifer! You're the one putting Jackson's "tutorials" into practice. Kudos to you, girl 💕👍🏽💕

[@briannab5296]

What is "basecamp"??

[@tracyeaster1901]

You are a national treasure sir. Thank you for taking the time to explain!

[@malloryc7498]

Thank you

[@catcolb11]

My cats love just about every type of play. They particularly like when we end play sessions by tossing freeze dried (single ingredient) treats across the floor so they can catch and eat their prey.

[@PinkBlue_Spood]

There are times I second-guess how well I can play with my cat, Cosmo, who I didn’t expect to have. I’m disabled and am bedridden 90% of the time. Often, we play while I’m sitting or even laying down. Though, the times I can be mobile, I’ll play with him in a more active way. When I can’t play with him, I make it a training session, which he seems to enjoy a lot. This video is really helpful to me, because it’s showing that I am doing enough for him. It’s good to see that you don’t have to be very mobile to play, because I can sit or lay down and do similar movements to yours while you stand. It makes me happy that I am doing things right.

[@drt-abrat1256]

Jackson knows it all! Great guy to follow! Knowledgable and entertaining as heck!!! Glad you discovered him!

[@AshtailFoxclaw]

Hey Jackson! Thank you for a great video and I'll definitely step up my play game with this. However, I could use a tip that is opposite of this video: My cat wants to play too much! This wasn't as much of an issue if she wasn't currently very ill (potentially gingivitis and immunal-something) and I fear her near constant kitten-ness is making her worse. I cannot for the life of me tire her out if I get her going and if I give up first and stop playing, she gets mad at me and starts vandalizing and causing trouble for attention. She's definitely a race-car cat of 9months but she's lost a tooth and she's really rough and destructive while she plays. I think this is part due to the pain she's in (waiting on vet answers and a specialist + bloodworks). The boil and simmer doesn't seem to work for her as she will just keep going and going and going and going. She will play for hours or till I give up first. Her record is 2 hours if the boil-and-simmer, and after a good cat-nap she's ready again. I know her kibble is sugar-free/grain free - I specifically purchased it for this reason - but I will check some of her other snacks too for sugar as I never actually thought to do so. What can I do to help burn off her endless energy? I need her to calm down and rest for her health, at least just till I figure out what to do for the long run.

[@AngelChris-e7h]

love your cats...I have a black cat too ADORABLE

[@edwardhanson318]

That's great advice, I have one cat that had something bad must have happened to her, she just didn't want to play. It just took lots of love and patience. And by not giving up, she finally came through, and what a joy to see her find a mouse toy and batting that around. 💖🐈

[@charannhare4369]

I think I’m pretty good with cats, but probably because I get the best knowledge from Jackson! It’s been several years and I’m still learning. 😺

[@vickiatabi4235]

Me too!!! Always something to Learn!!! 🙀🌚🏜️🐈‍⬛☑️

[@katydid5088]

Tip: Some cats don't like noisy toys even if they like flying things. Mine loves sticks and feathers but absolutely nothing that crinkles. He also plays fetch with things that bounce or falls down the stairs. We have the fur puff ball things that we throw and move up and down the stairs on a string. He likes walking on things but as he's gotten older he doesn't want or like jumping around as much. He still likes a good pounce here or there but prefers to jump down to carpets rather than a harder floor these days. Hide and seek toys are also great, under blankets and in tunnels. The best thing that he likes is one of his favorite foam cooling cushion mats (we used to use them as kitchen floor mats but he scratched the crap out of them.) and a wheat grass infused cat food break at the end. When he's cold or feeling a bit sore (as is often the case as a senior cat of 8, and a big cat breed.) A cooling based cushioned bed with insulated sides or vice versa (we have a warm bottom part for his paws and a cooling side panel bed.) is also a great rest/nest spot after playtime. Mine prefers to be enclosed after he plays so he can have a good nap where he feels safe. We tried all the fancy beds and found he just likes a well closed box with some dirty clothes from his favorite people and a hole in one side.

[@snowfoxxie]

Oh my goodness Jackson what have you done to my cat??!! 😂 When I adopted him a few weeks ago he was chill as beans. Super Mojito cat-right out of the box- first day home and calmly walking around tail in the air- sleeping on the couch. So we played… and played..played.. Now he walks past the Christmas tree and suddenly dives under it attacking the blanket like a hallucinating ninja. I think we bought out the raw cat- oh my.. can we put it back? now it’s activated 24/7😅 of course I’m so happy we bought out this side of him and know it’s best for his happiness and well being. We also love playing with him and it’s adorable! But the paws.. they don’t stop now haha 😂

[@mrhax4464]

Thanks for this video, my old ex-strays get up and go, got up and left, plus he doesn’t really get what toys are about. It has taken a lot of (fun) work to get him playing, your video shows me I’m on the right track, and have more to learn. You never reach a conclusion when learning about cats, which is a massive part of their charm.

[@shlby69m]

I've had cats all my life ( I luv playing prey) & I still learn from you. THX

[@christine-kht]

My older cat is such a wallflower really. Even if I play alone with her she is like "really? Shall I? Should I not?!" it takes a few minutes to convince her but IF she is in the mood, damn, she is in THE MOOD with them cute little whiskers pointing forward :o Thank you for the tip - I really need to separate more as the tiny one goes batshit playing with someone and the other one doesn't get that the same amount of time.

[@ludmilamudrikova]

Love this video...so happy for kitties and their new families...i'd like to thank you Jackson for your sleeping advices, i can finally sleep until 0505am😁😁😁it's one hour more than 2 weeks ago, my goal is to push him until 0630am...a dream...😁...oh and the feathers are the best...hunt catch kill works magic for us😉

[@JacksonGalaxy]

Keep it up,you’ll get to the promised land of 6:30! ❤️

[@lilawakeman1577]

Thanks so much, Jackson. I've had to start separating my cats for play time recently, so this is reassuring. I have a 7 month old tortie, Wilma, an 8 year old grey and white, Stanley, and a 12 year old void cat, Fritz. Stanley and Fritz both love to play, but they cannot compete with young Wilma - even when I get her breathing HARD, lying on her side, she'll still go after the toy EVERY time I try to move it to Stan and Fritz. I've nicknamed her "Killer Queen". The funny thing is, when I put her in a separate room, she cries and paws under the door because she wants to keep playing SOOOO badly and she knows what we're up to! And when we're done playing, she'll still try to get the boys to wrestle with her. They indulge her, cause now they get more playtime with me, since she's forced me to play every day. ^_^ P.S. Toy recommendation: my cats LOVE their fishing pole toy that uses real fishing line as a string and has a fluffy "worm" on the end. It moves very realistically, like a little snake, and they can't easily see the fishing line, so its movements are less predictable!

[@laurawindsor2843]

Thank you. Pleased to meet you Brucie, Joanie, and Bramble.

[@namelessnavnls8060]

My girl is a modest 11 years. She's still very healthy and strong but never been much of a player. So I'm glad to have this video to help me try and figure out what might make her a bit more interested in my attempts to get her some exercise and enrichment. Lol.

[@zuriko4032]

I love playing with my cat

[@EPalsson]

My cat is like that. I think that a human moving around breaks the "spell" of the hunt and reminds the cat that it's a human pulling the strings. You have to remain invisible in the play when your cat is this smart.

[@kaileyj2034]

I HIGHLY recommend the Go Cat mouse catcher! This is my cats favorite toy and he can just play for hours on end with me and the mouse catcher wand! He doesn't like other toys too much but this one has been a life saver for me and my cat!

[@StragenTheDragon]

Haha, I've definitely tried the lazy version of playing when I wasn't in the mood for it myself but my cat won't be fooled by it, just as you say. She demands me to participate. Another way of play that she likes is when the prey is 'hiding' beneath a blanket or rug. Of course you'd need a blanket/rug that is okay to maybe get damaged by the claws. My cat just loves when the prey JUST disappeared below the rug and she'll try to grab it and jumps at it when it comes out the other side. Works when she's not in the mood for air play.

[@hethyrverhoef1954]

So glad i found this one! We recently rescued another kitty and she basically hogs the play. My boy just gives up and it s been making me feel very guilty. Thank you for this!

[@fortyfat4803]

I get my cat next Saturday. 13 week old kitten. Th ank you your videos help 100% thank you.

[@christiaantinga]

Thank you for this one. My 10 year old lady likes to "surprise-grab" a prey. But only if it's within her reaching zone. She won't run after it. "Okay, human. You want me to play? Come closer" :) I want to stimulate her to go for that prey. Believe me; I do my best and run around activating her. Sometimes she has 1 or 2 minutes of hyper-focus, but after that she goes laying on the floor rolling and washing herself "look at my perfection".

[@donnavorce8856]

I've got a 16 yo rescue lady who's exactly like that. Especiallly if the kittens are about. When it's just us she's likely to frisk about pretty well. But as Jackson told us - rev that old Model T for at least ten minutes before you give up.

[@elsajoy9920]

Jackson, my cat is 18 years old and I would like some tips on stimulating play for super seniors. She will occasionally lie down and track a toy with her eyes and sometimes grab it with her front paws but this may only last for 30 seconds and many days she won''t even do that. Over her life she has had a huge play drive (she is Burmese) and I want her to still have play in her life. Any ideas?

[@BismillahYes]

My cat is also 18. Would love to see a super senior playing special.

[@spinni9768]

My cat is 14 and also was very active during her life. Now, she enjoys most of all a little ball with some small bells inside. I roll it for her, she follows, sometimes even yeets it across the room for herself like crazy, and sometimes she just lays down and smashes it with her hind legs and biting it for a little, then rest, maybe groom, then grabbing it again, all while laying. She is also interested in stringy things and the laserpointer, if the point is "hiding under the carpet or the drawer" (then she sneaks up to the point where it went under and waits... waits... until it emerges again - then I usually have her energy to get her body moving :D ) Oh, and concerning the stringy things - she likes to follow it around, i think it gives her the tingles when I go around a corner with it or some place she can't see it. Then she attacks forcefully. So, she is not so much interested in flying things anymore but ground things, things that move a little slower, things she can track, things that hide, make interesting noises.. Maybe you can try it out! All the best to you and your senior kitty!

[@agnediciuniene9861]

My cat is 15 russian blue. She is very fit, lean, no known health problems. She is active and quick trying to escape outside. But she is not interested in play. She seems just so over it. I have to try really hard for her to go after a toy once. She can jump on counter gracefully and with ease. She can be quick and silent running between our legs to get outside. So I think it is not pain or joint problem. She would easily get bored and required new and new toys and games even when she was younger. Now it is almost impossible to make her play.

[@Belemonguin]

We need more videos on elderly cats! I have a lazy 16yo bum who mostly sleeps and yells for food. The only way he agrees to "play" is training in exchange for treats. I hope this little brain exercise will help him to avoid getting dementia.

[@Lauren_veggiesaurus]

Yes! I have a 12 year old cat with arthritis and despite steroids she still limps sometimes and get stiff. She won’t really get up unless she’s hungry or comes to get in my lap. She spends most of her time on a heating pad. I’m not sure how to get her to play.

[@judimccarty6111]

I love this it gave me some ideas to change things up for Gabby who will actually meow more for me to play with her then for food. She is happy indoors but we moved and have much more limited space to play. So this gave me some ideas to change things up. Also explained why getting her to eat wet food is easier after play time. Thank you for your videos it’s really going to help. I was afraid Gabby was getting a bit depressed over her playtime just because the games she loved we don’t have the room for.

[@AnnetteSlate-t3q]

I have a calico,tortoiseshell and a Bombay. Different as night and day!!! Learned a lot about how to play with them! Thank you so very much for your interactive teaching!!!

[@VernBurns]

You’re so fun! Thanks for the great video

[@EleonoraFalcon]

I love the airwand. It makes my cats go crazy. They love stalking and jumping it. Timriv did figure out how to remove the prey from the wand haha, he's super smart and always figures such things out. But luckily he's sweet and lets me attach it again for more playtime! Also love that it's purple, my fav color 💜

[@DrFeelGoood]

my cat loves when i "act like a cat" and get on all fours and hide from him and run from him, and i sometimes chase him back ! me and my boyfriend will both play with him at the same time too and he seems like he is having the time of his life

[@zumretazumi2764]

I literally tried everything with one of my cats. Everything just like Jackson suggested. She won't play most of the time, while other cats looove to play. Sometimes she'll play for just a minute or two, with money (coins) or tin foil. Nothing else 🙈 she's 6yo, she played like crazy when she was younger but she's really really lazy now. She only wants to be brushed all the time 🙈

[@Twielyeght]

I have a 3 year old cat like this lol. He'll be super interested in it for a few times and do like 1 pounce and attack. Then be done. He does like the laser toy and ribbon toys more, but again, it's not for long 🤷‍♀️

[@gabiruman]

The roleplay part is so true, when my wife plays with the cats she doesn't know to roleplay so she just wobbles the wand back and forth, the cats loose interest immediately, but when I do it I like to roleplay as a prey, and they very much prefer that! Still learned new stuff in this video like letting the cat that runs off with the toy in their mouth drop it on their own, I usually just rip it off them, and I also learned I also have a wallflower and need to pay her more individual atention! Very useful video indeed.

[@kathleenreis1991]

It helps to hear that I just have to stick with the play. My cat has PTSD and it impacts his life. He's not hunting, unintetested in play, then I give up after awhile of him not reacting to it. So I will now spend as much time as possible playing with my cat cause all play is good play! And today I'm purchasing a couple more interactive toys. When he does hunt it's crickets, worms, big months, lizards tails, bugs in general. So I'll look for toys that somehow resemble these things. Thanks Jackson, some really valuable advice!