My cats' only form of play is to chase each other. What's up with that?

My cats' only form of play is to chase each other. What's up with that? Maybe I'm not providing them with the right toys?

Sometimes the chasing seems to have some "attitude", like it's a bit more than just play. I don't know how to describe it. I guess attitude is the best word I can think of right now.

Edit: Can this be moved to Behavior? My error for posting it in the Lounge

That's how Luna and Midnight play. They chase each other around the house like mad all the time. Midnight get's a little overwhelming, because he has so much energy. But most of the time Luna keeps up with him. I also throw toys for them. I have to becareful which toys, because Midnight will just take the toy and growl at it. Now I'm using straws for them to play with. They do good together with those.

Jack does most of the chasing in this house, but 9/10 he just runs around the house by himself like a loon!

My cats run up and down the longest hallway in my apartment pretty much all day on-and-off. Your cats running around chasing each other like looneys means they're very comfortable in your apartment and they are happy. Frightened, or otherwise poorly adjusted cats will slink around, avoid contact with people and other cats, and definitely never run or chase, since they would be trying to keep a low profile in a foreign territory. When you say you have toys, do you mean like toy mice and other stationary toys? It sounds like your cats would enjoy a fishing pole type toy, since they can chase you around when you have it, which will also help you all bond. Many cats need more stimulation than stationary toys can provide, so they look at these toys with disdain and refuse to play with them. Getting a laser pointer would be a good idea as well, since your cats can chase it without you running around possibly getting in their way. Both my cats will chase the laser dot for a long time, all up and down our hallway until they are panting.

Sneaky and Holly will chase each other all over the house too. Nothing like it being 11pm and you hear "thud, thud thud- RRRRROWWWW" The girls are playing

Mistoflees used to do it with Sneaky. And I wish I'd seen that it wasn't "normal" for him to quit doing it- he stopped doing it when he was 14 or so- the time that I think his kidneys were starting to fail.

Cheryl

Only one cat in our house now! But he rrrrrrruns down our wood hallway with his tail "humped" & jumps on the couch to look out the window then jumps down. He does this a lot. Sounds like a horse! Sure looks like he enjoys it. I know he doesn't want to go out, because he backs away from the door when we are coming or going. Thank goodness he doesn't do ihis running at night. My husband calls him, "Poppy's Pony" all the time. He runs more than any cat we've ever had!
He also has what I call a Wily Coyote trot (sort of bouncing,head sort of stuck out with tail down that he uses back & forth in front of the kitchen opening usually when he knows I am cooking. (He gets his favorite soft food when we have our dinner).
I bet they really are just having a good play time, working off steam!
Like little children who run around the house chasing each other when cooped up.

Yup, sounds pretty normal. Sometimes my cats wrestle, sometimes they just like to chase each other around. It seems to be a lot of fun for them

Originally Posted by rad65

Frightened, or otherwise poorly adjusted cats will slink around, avoid contact with people and other cats, and definitely never run or chase,

Click to expand...

Well, my 2 cats lead separate lives and it's a little sad because I adopted Daisy to be Penny's best friend more or less. Hasn't worked out that way and the adoption was in 2005. So nearly 6 years later, it's highly unlikely the "best friends" thing will ever happen. I wanted them to nap together, etc. Penny will "go around" (avoid) Daisy instead of doing a direct pass. Daisy doesn't mind passing Penny directly because it can often trigger a chase--I think Daisy likes being chased since she can't get Penny to give snuggly affection (I think she'd prefer that ---but basically has given up after 6 years, so "to be chased" is better than nothing). At least they chase each other is what I tell myself, even if the chasing has a dash of "cattitude"

Never say never.

You just never know what will happen as the years pass, cats reserve the right to change their minds at any time. I've read story after story in pets forums about cats who suddenly blossomed, or became friends with another, or started playing, or stopped living behind the couch, after years.

Chase Me Chase You is a popular Game in this house too.

What a wonderful post. Thank you otto