3 Video Games for Cats That Will Entice Your Bored Feline to Play
Key takeaways:
Touchscreen tablet games for cats — most of which try to entice your feline with a moving mouse or fish — have gained popularity on the internet.
Though some pets seem to like these games, studies show that cats may experience some challenges when trying to engage with video games.
If you are looking for a guaranteed way to help your cat relieve boredom, picking up a cat-specific toy may be your best option.
When you have an indoor cat, it can be difficult to make sure they don’t get bored. Even if you work from home, you may not feel like you’re able to find enough time to properly play with your pet. But a bored kitty, left to their own devices, can cause major damage.
Many humans get enjoyment from playing video games. But is it possible to get your cat to play alongside you? While your cat won’t be able to hold a controller, there are some touchscreen tablet games designed with your feline friend in mind that you may want to explore.
Best games and apps to download for your cat
Despite growing conversation around video games for cats, there is not a huge selection to choose from in app stores. But there are three games that stand above the rest in terms of downloads and reviews. The mechanics of these games are largely similar, so picking one will boil down to your cat’s preference.
Search and compare options
1. ‘Cat Alone 2’
This game puts a unique spin on the genre by providing different stages for your cat to interact with. There are eight levels that have challenges ranging from chasing spiders and fish to going after dandelion seeds. So a game-saavy cat is bound to find a level that appeals to them.
“Cat Alone 2” is one of the most popular cat game apps available, with over 5 million downloads. It’s available to download for free in the Apple and Android app stores. But, while it’s free to play, be aware that there are some in-app purchases that may pop up while your cat is playing.
2. ‘Cat Fishing 2’
Want to give your cat a chance to fish without compromising the health of your aquarium? In this free-to-download game, your cat can earn points by tapping the brightly colored fish that pop up on the screen.
“Cat Fishing 2” has over 1 million downloads and is rated over 3 out of 5 stars in both the Apple and Android app stores.
3. ‘Mouse for Cats’
If your cat is more into hunting mice than fish, this may be the game for them. It’s free to download and features colorful mice that tempt your cat to pounce.
With over 500,000 downloads and an average rating of over 4 out of 5 stars, “Mouse for Cats” could prove to be a handy way to keep your cat entertained. And you can download it from either the Apple or Android app store.
Read more like this
Explore these related articles, suggested for readers like you.
Will my cat like video games?
If you’re wondering if your cat will even be interested in video games, the short answer is maybe. Every cat has a unique personality and limitations. Some cats find screens entertaining and enjoy doing things like watching TV or playing video games. But some cats may have trouble seeing and processing images on screens.
There are certain levels of brightness that cats can’t see. In addition, cats see colors as less vibrant than humans do. They also have a shorter range of vision in general, so they may not be able to make sense of the screen at all. This can make getting their attention with a video game a challenge.
Game developers have attempted to work around cats’ vision limitations. For example, depicting prey, like birds and mice, moving across the screen randomly plays into cats’ ability to pick up on movement rather than colors.
But if your cat has a hard time seeing screens, it will be a challenge getting them interested in video games, no matter how fast the prey moves.
Are video games good for cats?
There is little to no research that decisively demonstrates whether or not cats gain enrichment benefits from playing video games. Due to the potential visual challenges, cats may have a hard time getting value out of tablet games.
Cats also are very tactile creatures, and they enjoy catching things and feeling like they successfully hunted something.
So while we don’t have any definitive research saying video games are bad for cats, they’re not the best options for improving cats’ overall well-being. Some reviews from people who have downloaded these types of apps say that their cats quickly grow bored of the games or show little interest to begin with.
Other ways to increase your cat’s enrichment
If you are looking for easy ways to entertain your cat, there are many proven strategies to keep them enriched. A first step is placing certain items in your home that your cat can interact with. Keep in mind that:
Scratching posts are great for climbing, jumping, and redirecting destructive behaviors. They also allow your cat to spread their scent and own their territory.
Window perches provide great visual stimulation and give your cat a glimpse at real wildlife.
Cat trees or other dedicated furniture items give your cat new ways to explore their home from different vantage points.
When it comes to playing, cats love to chase, jump, pounce, and throw toys around. These behaviors tap into their natural instincts to hunt, catch, and eat prey.
Every cat has their own unique preference about toys. The easiest way to figure out what your cat likes the most is by testing different options. Try a variety of toys with your cat, and see which ones draw the most reaction. Consider that:
Wands and teasers come with different dangly toys, like birds and worms, that are perfect for a cat that loves to run and leap for their prize. Experiment with wands that make your cat jump up high and chase along the ground.
Ball toys, which come in many varieties, give your cat something they can easily swat around. Some cats like balls wrapped in sisal, others might like crinkly balls or plastic balls.
Plush toys are often designed to look like mice, birds, or other prey animals. These toys give your pet an opportunity to tap into their inner wild cat and go on the hunt.
Some cats are especially interested in toys that can move or make noise, because they mimic prey that cats would find in the wild.
Cats can lose interest quickly, so keep a selection of toys that you can trade out if your cat seems bored. Even if your cat likes to play with your tablet sometimes, they’ll need other options, too. Our feline friends are just like us: They like to have options!
The bottom line
Video games for cats may sound like a fun and exciting new concept, but there is a good chance that your cat may not find it as interesting as you do. There are factors that make cats a challenging consumer to cater to, like their vision limitations and tendency to fixate on movement.
Often, what makes playtime fun for a cat is chasing, jumping, and throwing things around. If you want your cat to have more enrichment during playtime, you may be better off picking up a toy than downloading one.
Why trust our experts?
References
Ellis, S. L. H., et al. (2008). The influence of visual stimulation on the behaviour of cats housed in a rescue shelter. Applied Animal Behaviour Science.
Herron, M. E., et al. (2010). Environmental enrichment for indoor cats. Compendium: Continuing Education for Veterinarians.
O’Carroll, E. (2021). Cats helped build the internet. Now, the web is giving back. Experience.
The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. (n.d.). Identifying prey preference.
The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. (n.d.). Toys.
