Play is not merely entertainment for cats but serves important functions in physical health, mental stimulation, and the expression of predatory motivation essential to feline wellbeing.
Play in cats serves multiple welfare functions simultaneously: physical exercise preventing obesity, mental stimulation preventing boredom, and expression of predatory motivation. When these needs are unmet, cats develop behavioural signs of frustration. Interactive play with a person also maintains the human-animal bond and allows owners to notice subtle health changes. The simplicity of the intervention relative to its welfare benefit makes play one of the most cost-effective cat welfare improvements available.