Play in cats expresses the predatory behavioral sequence of stalk, rush, grab, and kill. Understanding this motivates more effective enrichment and reduces problematic behaviors.
Cat play is serious business from a welfare perspective because it expresses a core motivational system. Cats deprived of outlets for predatory play may redirect this drive onto moving human body parts, causing injury and damaging the human-cat relationship. Understanding play as predatory behavior expression rather than recreation motivates more consistent provision of appropriate outlets through daily interactive play sessions.