Paper ball toss for cats: how to play
Crumple scrap paper into soft balls and toss them along a hallway or open room so your cat can chase, pounce and swat them.
- Time
- 10 min
- Energy
- Medium
- Space
- A room
You'll need
- plain scrap paper
- a hallway or open room
- a second person (optional)
Set up
Pick a hallway or open room with a clear floor, and check that nothing heavy is sitting where it could fall during a chase. Crumple a few sheets of plain scrap paper into balls your cat can bat and pick up, and keep the game to about 5 to 10 minutes.
How to play
Make the ball. Crumple one sheet of plain scrap paper into a loose ball big enough for your cat to bat and pick up. Keep string, yarn and small loose bits off the ball.
Let your cat see it. Sit on the floor and crinkle the ball so they notice it, then let them watch as you roll it slowly along the floor past them.
Toss it low. With your cat watching, toss the ball gently down the hallway so it bounces just over them or lands a little way past them.
Try the two-person version. Position your cat between you and another person in an open area such as a hallway, and toss the ball back and forth over your cat so they can leap up and swat at it. Praise your cat each time they do.
Let the ball be caught. If your cat picks the ball up, tosses it or holds it in their paws, praise them and let them enjoy it before you toss another.
Rotate the balls. Put the balls away at the end of the game and bring a few out again another day so they feel new and exciting.
House rules
- Toss the ball past or just over your cat, not at their face.
- Praise your cat when they leap up and swat the ball.
- Hands are never the toy; the ball is.
- Rotate the balls so your cat does not get bored with them.
- Make it easier
- Toss the ball only a short way past your cat, and praise every swat and every leap.
- Make it harder
- Toss a little further so the ball bounces along the hallway. Add a second person for a back-and-forth game.
Signs it's having fun
A crouch before the pounce, chasing after the ball, batting it across the floor, picking it up and tossing it in the air.
Stop if you see
Your cat starts swatting at or pouncing on you instead of the ball. Stop the game there: play that targets people can escalate into bites and injuries.
Safety
Safety- Use plain paper balls only. Skip any ball small enough to be swallowed, because it can cause a blockage.
- Do not add string or yarn to the ball. If string or yarn is swallowed, it can cause severe intestinal damage.
- Clear the play space first: check that there are no heavy objects that could fall onto your cat during the chase.
- Throw away any ball that is torn or shedding pieces. Pieces that separate when chewed can be swallowed.
- Never use your hands as the toy; that can teach your cat to target people.
- Keep a batch of balls and rotate a few at a time so your cat stays interested.
Sources
- Beat Feline Boredom With 3 Fun Cat Games | Fear Free Happy Homes
- Kitten Behavior and Training - Play and Investigative Behaviors | VCA Animal Hospitals
- Toys | Indoor Pet Initiative
- Safe toys and gifts | Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
- Six Ideas for Feline Enrichment
Written from these sources and checked against vet and trainer guidance. General guidance, not veterinary advice.
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