This section focuses on play behaviours that are directed towards an object. It is visually very similar to predatory behaviour but is directed towards inanimate ‘prey’ instead of real prey items. (Bradshaw, Casey and Brown, 2012). Inanimate ‘prey’ may take the form of commercial toys as well as things not thought of as toys in the traditional sense, for example, leaves, string, rolled up paper.

The types of object play demonstrated by a cat depend on the type of object available. Small, moving objects – those that most closely approximate natural prey – are more likely to stimulate play behaviours very similar to those shown in predatory behaviour, for example chasing and pouncing (Bradshaw, Casey and Brown, 2012; Bradshaw, 2000). Larger, immobile objects are more likely to stimulate play in the form of climbing and jumping behaviours (Bradshaw, Casey and Brown, 2012; Bradshaw, 2000).

*Photographic images and video coming soon