my cat doesn't like to play it seems -- or she'll just play for a few minutes and walk away. she's pretty calm most of the time, rarely overstimulated and running around. shes perfectly healthy also, just has asthma that's being treated. she just likes to chill. is it weird that she doesnt play very often?
So the first thing I’d normally ask about is your cat’s age. Is this cat 8 months old? Then yes, it’s very peculiar and I’d recommend seeing a vet. Is the cat 18 years old? Then it’s VERY normal and I’d consider the few minutes of play that she gets just awesome.
If the cat is somewhere in between, consider the types of play you’ve been offering. She may gravitate towards a certain type of play. She may prefer things like puzzle feeders that reward her immediately for interacting with it (as opposed to giving a treat after playing with a wand toy).
As always, if you’re using wand toys, pay very close attention to how you use it. Are you constantly yanking it out of your cat’s reach? A cat with lower prey drive may not really feel motivated to continue chasing after something that they consistently can’t catch. Even cats with high prey drive can get a little discouraged if they can’t catch what they’re hunting. In the wild, a cat won’t continuously try for the same prey over and over again. Typically if it gets away and KEEPS getting away, they’ll give up and move onto an easier target. Energy is a valuable resource!
Some cats are more sedentary. As long as they’re provided stimulation, there’s no need to force them (or pull out the laser pointer - I know a lot of folks are tempted to do this for their more lazy cats, but it’s not necessary, I promise!) Encourage play behaviors when you DO see them. If your cat likes catnip, try using that, as a natural stimulant it will encourage some playful behavior.
