How Playful Should A 12 1/2 Year Old Cat Be?

Snowball has quite a few different toys. I take a few toys out at a time for him to play with, and once a week I rotate his toys and exchange them for a few different ones. Lately, he hasn't shown much interest in any of his toys. The only ones he will play with are his very small lightweight balls and mice that can be batted around easily. These toys seem to trigger his prey instinct. I would like him to stay alert and active, and I have tried getting him a few new toys, but he isn't interested in these either. This morning I bought him a new ball that lights up and makes bird sounds. When I was taking the ball out of the package he seemed interested. When I put the ball on the floor he walked over and sniffed it, but when I rolled it across the floor for him to chase he didn't do anything.

Here is a picture of Snowball with his new ball and it shows how he typically reacts to toys. Is this behavior normal for a cat his age or is something wrong?

Lorie he is just getting older and slowing down- just like we do. I know you take him to the vet reguarly and care for him like no other, but it is a good idea to just take him in and have a blood panel run. So the vet can see if there is any problems before they get too serious

Thanks for your quick response Hissy. Snowball will be going to the vet for his regular exam within the next few weeks, and I will ask them to do a blood panel on him when I make the appointment.