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Last night I discovered just how awesome play therapy really is!
Backstory: I took Minnie in as a pregnant stray, she has always been a bit temperamental, moody, and just overall seems very stressed out. She was most definately used to being around people and experienced being inside a home, however she was very skinny so I assume she was either dumped nearby or just neglected/not fed by her owners. Either way, she just seems to have a lot of "emotional baggage" (if that makes sense)
Minnie had never really been playful up until a few weeks ago. She was always preoccupied with her kittens, and never really showed much interest in playing. Whenever I would try to play with her the kittens kind of take over the toys and she would just sit back and watch.
Well since 3 out of her 4 kittens have gone to their new homes, she has been showing more signs of bound-up energy(biting/attacking my legs, etc.) So last night, I locked the 4th kitten out of my bedroom, so it was just me and Minnie. I brought out the feather toy and had a little play session. She loved it! She got the big saucer-eyes, flickering tail, etc. After she was worn out, she laid on the floor and rolled over on her back, which is not something I have really seen her do before(except when she went into heat lol) She just had a "calm" about her that I hadn't really seen before. She also was more affectionate after that. I think I have found the solution to her frustrations. So simple, yet not something I had really thought about previously. Hopefully this will help with her over-all well being and maybe curb her aggressions towards Banjo(my resident teddy-bear cat)
Here is what I am talking about, specifically:
Play Therapy | Little Big Cat
Backstory: I took Minnie in as a pregnant stray, she has always been a bit temperamental, moody, and just overall seems very stressed out. She was most definately used to being around people and experienced being inside a home, however she was very skinny so I assume she was either dumped nearby or just neglected/not fed by her owners. Either way, she just seems to have a lot of "emotional baggage" (if that makes sense)
Minnie had never really been playful up until a few weeks ago. She was always preoccupied with her kittens, and never really showed much interest in playing. Whenever I would try to play with her the kittens kind of take over the toys and she would just sit back and watch.
Well since 3 out of her 4 kittens have gone to their new homes, she has been showing more signs of bound-up energy(biting/attacking my legs, etc.) So last night, I locked the 4th kitten out of my bedroom, so it was just me and Minnie. I brought out the feather toy and had a little play session. She loved it! She got the big saucer-eyes, flickering tail, etc. After she was worn out, she laid on the floor and rolled over on her back, which is not something I have really seen her do before(except when she went into heat lol) She just had a "calm" about her that I hadn't really seen before. She also was more affectionate after that. I think I have found the solution to her frustrations. So simple, yet not something I had really thought about previously. Hopefully this will help with her over-all well being and maybe curb her aggressions towards Banjo(my resident teddy-bear cat)
Here is what I am talking about, specifically:
Play Therapy | Little Big Cat
