Why Cats Love to Play with Balls of Yarn: Tips for Pet Owners
Cats love to play with balls of yarn for several reasons.
Firstly, the hunting instinct. For a cat, a ball of thread becomes prey that it can catch and "kill".
When a cat plays with a ball, it chases it, grabs it with its paws, bites, and tears it. This allows it to demonstrate its hunting skills.
Secondly, a ball of yarn is a great toy for training reaction and agility. It rolls and bounces unpredictably, forcing the cat to follow it and react quickly.
Jumping, accelerating, abrupt stops - a ball of thread makes the cat move actively.
Thirdly, playing with a ball brings emotional satisfaction to the cat. The moving object arouses interest and excitement.
Catching the "prey" gives the cat a sense of pride and success. And physical activity during the game causes the release of "happiness hormones".
In addition, a ball of yarn is a great object for playing alone. Many cats like to play on their own when their owners are not available.
Unlike balls or mice, a ball of yarn will not roll away under the sofa for a long time. The cat can play with it alone, kicking and chasing it around the apartment.
Playing with a ball of yarn also satisfies the cat's natural need for comfort and safety. A soft, warm ball of yarn is associated with a nest and babies. Therefore, playing with it, the cat feels calm and relaxed.
Some cats also like to simply wrap a ball of thread around their paws and bite the thread.
Perhaps the texture of the threads is pleasant to the touch and taste. And manipulating the paws and mouth during play is another way to train motor skills.
Thus, playing with a ball of yarn satisfies many of the cats' needs - hunting, activity, comfort, safety. It is an instinctive and natural behavior that brings pleasure.
It is important for owners to properly organize the cat's game with a ball of thread in order to make it as useful and safe as possible.
First, choose a high-quality and durable ball. It should not unravel or break from the cat's bites and scratches. It is better to buy special balls for playing with cats made of durable threads.
Secondly, make sure that your cat does not swallow any torn pieces of thread. This can lead to dangerous intestinal obstruction. After playing, inspect the ball for damage.
Third, play with your cat. This will channel her energy into peaceful channels and strengthen the trust between you. Roll a ball of yarn on the floor for your cat to catch.
Fourthly, after playing, put the ball away in a place inaccessible to the cat. Otherwise, it will play with it uncontrollably and may cause damage.
Thus, if properly organized, playing with a ball of yarn will bring only joy and benefit to your pet! This is a great way to strengthen the bond with him and provide the necessary physical activity.
Earlier we wrote about why a dog doesn’t obey.
