The Importance of Playtime for Kiwi Dogs and Cats

Playtime for dogs and cats isn’t just for fun. It’s about physical, social and mental development too. That’s right. Dog and cat games, played with their owner and on their own, help to mentally stimulate their cognitive functions while helping them stay fit.

Playtime helps Kiwi puppies and kittens grow into well-balanced dogs and cats. It’s also just as beneficial for pets once they reach their senior years. Be sure to choose the appropriate dog and cat games for the particular life stage your pet is in.

In this article PD Insurance shares the wonderful benefits of playtime for dogs and cats as well as some dog games and cat games for you to try.

Why playtime is beneficial for dogs and cats

As mentioned, playtime isn’t just for kicks – it’s essential for making dogs and cats happy and healthy. It contributes to your pet’s personal language. In other words it’s a form of self-expression.

Consider that self-expression isn’t reserved for humans – cats and dogs need it, too. Explore more about animal sentience and the belief that animals have a soul in our interview with animal health and welfare advocate Bob Kerridge.

Given dogs are pack animals and many cats are social too, playtime for pets provides a much needed form of social interaction.

Dog and cat games are an unbeatable source of mental, physical and emotional stimulation. This has a positive effect on these treasured domestic mammals and contributes to a happy household of pets and people.

Further, interactive play with a human helps a young animal develop soft and hard skills (like sociability and soft bites). Here are some other benefits…

Play helps them find their place

Every puppy and kitten or dog and cat arriving in their new home is like a first grader entering school for the first time. It takes time to learn the smells and secret places, to learn about the people and (potentially) other pets that live there.

Life skills

Setting time aside for playtime for pets helps teach them these invaluable lessons in a fun and intuitive way. Playtime is non-threatening yet it teaches basic life skills. These include the rules of the roost – for example, which couch it’s not OK to jump on and which patch of lawn is the best place to sniff and run.

Routine

Because you might clock in your pet’s playtime at the same time every day (this is ideal) it also helps them learn their schedule. Dogs and cats thrive on having the security of a known schedule because it gives them a sense of certainty and independence.

Behaviour

Of course, playtime is a great way to teach your pet discipline in general. When with their litter they probably did just as they pleased but on entering into animal-human cohabitation they need to understand a new set of social rules.

Dog and cat games provide essential exercise

We all know that exercise is essential to pet health. Dog games and cat games, when done well, will help keep them active and therefore fit.

Pets that don’t move around enough are prone to obesity and that can lead to several chronic health conditions. Diabetes and hip dysplasia in dogs and cats are just some examples but there are plenty more. Obesity in pets is rife, now more than at any other time in history. Read about National Pet Obesity Day and how to help a fat or obese dog or cat shed the chunk.

If you have an indoor cat or dog then playtime and games are even more important. Pets that are indoors are less likely to get regular movement so you want to offset any laziness before it gets the chance to set in.

Playtime helps to mentally stimulate a dog or cat

As we’ve highlighted above, exercise is also mentally stimulating for dogs and cats. In fact the same can be said of humans too. Think about when you run, swim, gym or cycle. You hardly need to put your mind to it but you’re processing lots of ideas and emotions easily and swiftly as you go.

Of course you get games that are specifically designed to engage and mentally stimulate a dog or cat’s cognitive functions. Puzzle toys are great for this. They’re also great for helping moderate their food consumption – give them some of their food in a feeding puzzle toy to slow down their eating.

Playtime builds your bond with your cat or dog

Interestingly dogs are the very first animal to have been domesticated, which means we share a very ancient bond. Playtime with your dog helps deepen that bond. Read more about the history of dogs.

Of course cats are old friends too (read about when were cats domesticated) and playtime helps our friendship stay strong.

The more playtime you get with your dog or cat the better you’ll both understand one another. To help this along we’ve also written how to speak dog and for felines, how to talk to cats and all about decoding cat body language.

It can also help curb hunting

Both cats and dogs have natural hunting instincts and, while we don’t want or need them to hunt, playtime helps offset this by exercising these skills safely. Rather than catch that lizard outside they get to catch that feather or ball that you suspend or throw to them.

Speaking of which, check out our tips to stop your cat catching birds.

Playtime is a win-win situation for building your bond with your pet and keeping the environment safe.

Playtime for pets can be a problem solver

Animal behaviour is often mysterious. If your pet is demonstrating behavioural issues, with a little attention and a ball (or stick, or string), and perhaps the input of your vet, you can work out what’s wrong and make it right!

“Behavioural problems like spraying and scratching the couch are simply your cat’s way of communicating with you that something is wrong with their environment,” advises I Heart Cats. “It can take a bit of detective work to get to the bottom of what’s going on. But many behavioural problems stem from an environment that isn’t stimulating enough. Playing with your cat more just might put an end to some undesirable behaviour!”

Of course, if that doesn’t work you can also consider bringing in a pet behaviourist to help your pet unlearn those mysterious behaviours.

Dog and cat games for busting out the playtime

Here’s a list of great dog games and cat games plus other resources to mentally, emotionally and physically stimulate your loved one’s development:

• Best puppy games to play (with a focus on not overloading growing bones and joints)
• Exercising dogs without walking (good for older dogs and breeds prone to joint problems)
• Cat toys (fun feline interactive options)
• Active dog month (canine playtime options and why they’re good)
• Puppy school (for those with not enough time who need to outsource some playtime with dogs)
• Doggy daycare (another wonderful avenue for time-poor owners to source playtime, for dogs especially)
• Puppy training tips (playtime is a form of training and training is a form of playtime too)

More problems solved with pet insurance

Another great problem solver is safeguarding pets with award winning cat insurance and dog insurance. Not only will your pet’s plan give you peace of mind, it helps ensure medical care when they need it.

While dog games and cat games are central to their health, accidents and illness can strike anytime, during playtime or otherwise. Having a pet plan that helps pay for unexpected vet visits, diagnosis and treatment helps you help your pet.

Plus, PD gives you one or months of FREE pet insurance when you buy a plan online. Click below to get a quote.