Bathtub ping-pong for cats: how to play
Bat and chase lightweight ping-pong balls inside an empty bathtub where curved sides bounce the ball continuously.
- Time
- 5 min
- Energy
- Medium
- Space
- Small room
You'll need
- 1 or 2 ping-pong balls
- empty bathtub
Set up
Ensure the bathtub is empty before starting play.
How to play
Ensure the bathtub is empty before playtime.
Toss a couple of ping-pong balls or crinkly cat balls into the empty bathtub for your cat to swat.
Let your cat hop in or lean over the tub rim to swat and intercept the spinning ball as it ricochets up the sides.
House rules
- The bathtub must always be empty.
- Make it easier
- Sit beside the tub and roll the ball gently back toward your cat whenever it settles in the bottom.
- Make it harder
- Add a second ping-pong ball or a crinkle ball to create unpredictable rebounds.
Signs it's having fun
Rapid paw swats, batting the ball in arcs, watching the bounce with wide eyes, pouncing back and forth.
Stop if you see
Stop after a short session, as cats prefer multiple short sessions no matter what the play activity.
Sources
Written from these sources and checked against vet and trainer guidance. General guidance, not veterinary advice.
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