Play or something else?

Play is not always social bonding – it can be an individual trait or a by-product of the environment. For example, misdirected play on another cat or a person can look like chasing, can be silent, and may be directed at one person or many. It can involve something that is moving—like a leg—or behaviours such as pouncing, grabbing, biting, kicking, stalking, ambushing, and scratching.

Because these body postures are similar to behaviours that signal a cat wants something to move away, it can be confusing. In situations where a cat is trying to tell another cat or person to go away, you may also see:

• Scratching

• Bites

• Vocalising

• Stalking

In contrast, postures that indicate play can include:

• Pouncing

• Bum wiggling

These play behaviours are associated with positive emotional states. This is why it is so important to differentiate body postures from play postures and ask yourself: what is the function? Is it pseudo-prey, or is the cat using defensive and offensive behaviours and trying to attack legs not out of play, but for some other reason?

Social play can promote confidence. Play through hunting can also be seen—it is not always a desire to find food; sometimes it is simply fun.