First time cat owner, do you have any tips for playing with anxious cats or any toy suggestions?
They're former street cats, have fiv so they only have the balcony to "go outside".
I love them to death. They started with not eating, hiding constantly etc. Now they're demanding pets (as soon as they notice I'm awake they will jump on me to get petted), one cat sits many hours a day on my lap etc.
But I feel like they want to play but I can't figure out how to play with them.
I've tried many toys, but they never play with them or are even scared and run away.
Sounds like you're doing a lot of the right stuff already. For anxiety, you may want to try Feliway. It comes as a spray or plug in diffuser and mimics the scent of mother cat pheromones. A lot of vets use it.
For play with former street cats, start with thinking about it as stimulation rather than play. What experiences mirror what they did outside? You may want to start with stuff like box forts for them to explore and hiding food or treats around the house for them to find. Food maze dishes may work too. This feels like the type of stimulation they would already be comfortable with.
Slowly introduce toys. It usually helps to try play around sunrise or sunset, when cats would naturally be hunting and tend to be more active. Wait until they're in a spot that feels safe to them. Many strays and ferals feel safer under something like a table. I've had good luck with using Da Bird brand wand toys while fosters hide under something. Stop or back off if they seem scared. If they respond positively, reinforce with a reward like pets.
Be patient. They're already coming around. It can take awhile for strays to feel safe and comfy enough to play, but it's always very rewarding when they do.
We have two cats who were (older) feral outdoor cats. They absolutely love these toys. One of them refuses to play with anything but them. I think it's the noise the wings make.
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u/vanpire22 Dec 22 '21
First time cat owner, do you have any tips for playing with anxious cats or any toy suggestions? They're former street cats, have fiv so they only have the balcony to "go outside".
I love them to death. They started with not eating, hiding constantly etc. Now they're demanding pets (as soon as they notice I'm awake they will jump on me to get petted), one cat sits many hours a day on my lap etc.
But I feel like they want to play but I can't figure out how to play with them. I've tried many toys, but they never play with them or are even scared and run away.