Cardboard biting

Hello all,

This is my first post so please forgive me if its a duplicate. I have two cants, both rescues. The one I took in as a tiny little baby and took in the other who was about a year old and abandoned in my complex. Both are in good health according to the vet. So I know cats like cardboard but mine seem to not be able to get enough of it. They run, jump, wrestle and chase each other and ounce their toys. And never want to play with me. Ever. I try to and they do for 2 minutes then stop. So I guess that's my question is their lack of enthusiasm and engagment to play normal? And they are constantly biting off pieces of cardboard and packing paper. They never eat it or chew on it they just bite off pieces. Usually when they are playing. Is this just their form of entertainment and playing and I am just being paranoid?

Hi and welcome 

The cardboard issue sounds relatively normal to me, and as long as they aren't eating it, even if it's weird, I wouldn't be cncerned.

How do you try to play with them? Are you using interactive toys? One that cats seem to really go wild for is da bird.  If you haven't tried that yet I definitely would.  My cats literally usually 'kill' that toy within 2 weeks of my replacing the 'bird'. At this point I can't count how many I've gone through.

However, as long as they are playing with one another, I think they probably are getting a 'normal' amount of play and wouldn't be concerned that they aren't getting more. I know itmust be alittle frustrating that they don't 'want' to play with you though.

Good luck!

So as far as toys go they have such a variety. They have one favorite which is just a little mouse that they like to throw in the air. They have a track with a lighted ball that they can push around, there is one with a feathery toy that spins around in an erratic fashion powered by a motor, the classic feathers/ribbons/bells on the end of a stick, a bird toy that chirps when it is knocked around, this play "blanket" that crinkles has feathers, and a hidden mouse. They will play with everything for a whopping 5 minutes flop down on their back want a belly rub, stop playing and slink off somewhere else -.-

Bo (the first cat I took in) definitely likes the "crinkle" of packing paper. He just rolls himself around it (which is why he likes that play mat thing).

And did I mention both of my cats dislike catnip? They are the most a typical cats I have ever been around lol

I'm glad that it is normal though; I was starting to feel like a failure.

tulosai said:

Hi and welcome 

The cardboard issue sounds relatively normal to me, and as long as they aren't eating it, even if it's weird, I wouldn't be cncerned.

How do you try to play with them? Are you using interactive toys? One that cats seem to really go wild for is da bird.  If you haven't tried that yet I definitely would.  My cats literally usually 'kill' that toy within 2 weeks of my replacing the 'bird'. At this point I can't count how many I've gone through.

However, as long as they are playing with one another, I think they probably are getting a 'normal' amount of play and wouldn't be concerned that they aren't getting more. I know itmust be alittle frustrating that they don't 'want' to play with you though.

Good luck!

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They sound pretty normal to me. Not all cats like to play with the same kind of toys and not all cats like catnip. Just like people, they all have their preferences for everything from food to toys to litter, etc. 

You're NOT a failure. They seem to be quite happy kitties to me. 

When you play are you standing up and towering over them holding down the toy?  Sometimes it is good if you sit on the floor with them to play.  If they like chasing the mouse that they throw in the air, why not sit down on the floor and you toss the mouse a little bit away and see if they chase it and then bring it back to you.  I have never been able to teach my cats to fetch so don't worry if they don't bring it back to you.  But if you throw it for them to chase then you are being included in the play.  My one cat bites at cardboard all the time and seems to enjoy teething on it.  So don't worry about that at all. 

I would get on the floor with them and play with them and whenever you feel like they are playing with you -- reward them so they feel like playing with you comes with benefits.  Good luck.

As everyone else has stated, your cats sound normal. I would also assume that your two cats have each other so they wouldn't care too much to play with you (it's heart breaking, I know!). Also, they're young so they're always off on their own doing this and that and acting like crazy puppies. 

As long as they're not eating the cardboard, I would also think it's fine. My 2/3 year old cat rarely plays with anything but when I take out some crumpled parchment paper, he goes WILD. I have cardboard boxes all over my house for him to sit in and sleep. Cats love paper and cardboard. It's weird.

Thanks y'all! I do try and get on the ground with them and play. The one does play fetch sometimes which is funky. I have boxes everywhere to. I look like some crazy cat/box lady. Lol