Why It’s Important to Play with Your Pets

People usually end up searching for this topic after a familiar scene: the dog is restless at night, the cat is ambushing ankles, or a favourite cushion has been shredded while everyone was out. Often the question underneath is simple—is my pet bored, under-exercised, or missing something more?

Play sits right at that intersection of movement, mental work, and connection. Done well, it helps manage weight, reduces stress-driven behaviours, supports training, and gives pets a safe way to practise the instincts that shape their daily lives.^{1, 2, 9}

Why play matters (beyond “burning energy”)

For dogs and cats, play is a small, ordinary ritual with big downstream effects. It can be physical—chasing, tugging, climbing—or mostly mental, like sniffing games, puzzle feeders, and short training sessions that ask the brain to work.^{1, 2}

When that daily mix is missing, pets don’t “become naughty” so much as they default to whatever behaviours are easiest to access—vocalising, chewing, over-grooming, pestering other animals, or pacing the same worn track through the house.^{1, 2}

Play and physical health

Regular activity helps maintain a healthier body condition and supports joints and mobility over time. Extra body fat increases the risk of problems such as diabetes and osteoarthritis, and it can quietly reduce quality of life long before it becomes an obvious crisis.^{4, 5}

Play contributes to that daily movement in a way many pets will accept more readily than “exercise” alone—especially when you match the activity to the animal in front of you (age, breed type, health status, temperament). If your pet has pain, limps, or tires suddenly, swap to gentler games and check in with your vet before pushing intensity.³

Quick signs your pet may need more (or different) play

• Weight creeping up despite no obvious diet change.^{4, 5}
• Restlessness in the evening, especially after quiet days indoors.^{1, 2}
• Chewing, digging, scratching, or “getting into things” when left alone.^{1, 6}

Play and mental stimulation

Enrichment isn’t a luxury add-on. It’s part of welfare: sensory input, problem-solving, choice, and safe social contact. When pets can’t express normal behaviours—or when life is too predictable and empty—boredom and stress can show up as repetitive or disruptive habits.^{1, 2}

How play helps prevent boredom-related problems

Many “behaviour problems” are better described as unmet needs. Rotating toys, adding food-dispensing puzzles, or running a two-minute training game can redirect that need into something the household can live with.^{1, 7}

It’s also worth noting that behaviour issues don’t reliably disappear with age. If a pattern is strengthening—reactivity, escalating rough play, or anxiety—early, qualified help makes a difference.⁸

Social learning and training through play

Play is one of the easiest ways to rehearse life skills without making it a heavy event. For dogs, games can practise recall, impulse control, and calm transitions between excitement and stillness. For cats, play with the right toys can satisfy the chase–stalk–pounce sequence in a safe direction.^{9, 10}

Using play as a training tool (simple and practical)

• Keep it short. A few minutes, then a pause. Stop while your pet is still engaged.
• Reward the behaviour you want. Treats, a favourite toy, or a brief burst of the game can reinforce calm or cooperative choices.⁸
• Finish cleanly. Offer a chew, a snack in a puzzle toy, or a calm settle so arousal doesn’t spill into mouthing or zooming.⁷

Strengthening the bond through play

Play is shared attention, at ground level, on the pet’s terms. Over time, those small exchanges build predictability and trust: the dog learns that people are worth checking in with; the cat learns that hands aren’t the toy and the toy always arrives when the game starts.¹⁰

Play is also a quiet way to “read” your pet. A change in play style—less jumping, shorter bursts, avoiding one side, sudden irritability—can be an early clue that something physical or emotional has shifted and needs a closer look.³

Managing destructive and stressful behaviours with play

Chewing, scratching, digging, and midnight sprints are often the visible edge of a bigger picture: too much stored energy, too little stimulation, or stress without an outlet. Regular, appropriate enrichment can reduce the risk of stress-related behaviours and help pets settle more easily when alone.^{1, 2, 7}

Separation anxiety: what play can and can’t do

A pre-departure play session and a food puzzle can take the edge off for some pets, but true separation anxiety is a clinical behaviour problem and may need a vet-led plan, behaviour modification, and sometimes medication. If your dog injures itself trying to escape, soils the house only when alone, or panics at departure cues, treat it as a welfare issue rather than a “training fail”.⁶

Matching play to the pet you have

Cats: small hunts, often

Cats are wired for short, intense bursts. Interactive play that mimics prey movement (wand toys, rolling toys, food-based games) helps them express predatory behaviour safely. Aim for controlled sessions and keep hands out of the game to reduce play aggression.^{9, 10}

Dogs: movement plus thinking

Dogs often do best with a mix: physical games (fetch, tug, chase games with rules) alongside “brain work” such as scent games, basic cues, and puzzle feeding. Rotate activities to keep novelty without turning every day into chaos.^{1, 7}

Safety notes that prevent common play injuries

• Choose toy sizes that can’t be swallowed; supervise anything that can splinter or tear into chunks.
• Avoid very hard objects for dogs to chew (some can crack teeth); if in doubt, ask your vet what’s suitable for your dog’s chewing style.
• If your pet has breathing issues, arthritis, or is overweight, keep play low-impact and build gradually.^{4, 5}

Making play a realistic daily habit

The most effective play routine is the one that actually happens. A few short sessions spaced through the day usually work better than one long weekend blow-out followed by five quiet days.¹

• Anchor it to existing moments: after morning coffee, before dinner, just before you sit down to watch something.
• Rotate, don’t hoard: keep some toys away and swap them every few days to refresh interest.⁷
• Use food wisely: puzzle feeders and scatter feeding can turn mealtimes into enrichment without adding extra calories—just account for treats in the day’s intake.^{1, 5}

Long-term benefits: a calmer home and a healthier animal

Play supports the basics—fitness, body condition, and mobility—while also shaping behaviour through safe outlets and daily learning. It can be the difference between a pet that copes with ordinary life and one that continually leaks stress into the household.^{1, 2, 4}

Keep it simple. Follow your pet’s preferences, keep sessions short and safe, and treat changes in playfulness as useful information. Over time, the bond deepens in the steady way most animals prefer: through repetition, reliability, and quiet attention.³

References

1. RSPCA NSW — Enrichment
2. RSPCA Pet Insurance — Supporting the emotional wellbeing of dogs and cats
3. RSPCA Knowledgebase — What are the signs of pain in cats?
4. World Pet Obesity Association — Guidelines for pet obesity (communication and definitions)
5. WSAVA — Global Nutrition Committee (nutrition assessment and guidelines resources)
6. RSPCA NSW — Behaviour (common concerns including separation anxiety and boredom)
7. RSPCA WA — Why enrichment is so important (dog enrichment and behaviour)
8. AAHA — Canine and Feline Behavior Management Guidelines: Age and behaviour
9. RSPCA Australia — The importance of a safe and stimulating environment for cats
10. RSPCA Pet Insurance — Understanding why your pet behaves in certain ways (including play aggression and play needs)