My rescued kitten is friendly but won't play. How to get her active?

Poor little Sooki! If she comes from abuse or neglect, it’s possible she has a certain level of fear or anxiety around humans. You’re doing the right thing by being patient with her. Continue to encourage her to come out of her shell. Keep the environment peaceful and quiet. Continue to try to entice her to play. Try different types of toys to see if you find anything she is interested in. Cats will eventually come around to trust their primary care taker. Using a pheromone diffuser can help her in general to combat anxiety. Providing many hiding places and areas where she can get up high can also help. Lastly, there is a brand of food called Royal Canin that makes a diet called Calm that can help with feline stress. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Congratulations on your new cat! It is absolutely normal for her to be getting used to her environment. I recommend introducing toys slowly, and letting her play on her own time, especially if you do not know what her lifestyle was like prior to living with you. I'm happy to answer any other questions you may have!

Usually kittens are rather playful at this age, but occasionally some are not very playful. It's good to check that she's not unhealthy though, because this can cause a decrease in activity. Check her gums - see if they are pink or white. If they are white, then he may have anemia. Check the belly - see if it's tucked in or is it round and distended. If it's round and distended, then he may have worms or other intestinal diseases. Most kittens get worms from their mothers, so if he has never had deworming medication, then it would be good to do this. Make sure he is eating and drinking well. Also make sure he doesn't have diarrhea or vomiting. These things can indicate that there is a disease causing him to be less active. The best thing you can do is have a veterinarian take a look at him. They will be able to tell if there is something wrong with him. I hope this helps.

He’s adorable. If he was feral and is now separated from the others he may be anxious and still scared or unsure of his surroundings, especially when he’s taken out of the safe spot in his cage. I’m glad he’s getting medical treatment. I would just be patient, he should learn to relax and eventually play as he becomes more confident in his living situation. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Gomez.

What you are describing may just be normal kitten behavior, but Luna no longer has the other kittens in her litter to play with. The key will likely be a large amount of stimulation that is varied. First, I would work on environmental enrichment for Luna. This website has a number of good ideas for that. https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats One of my favorite things for cats is a no bowl feeding system like Doc & Phoebe ( https://docandphoebe.com/ ) that requires them to "hunt" for their food. You could also try a feeding ball. I also recommend using laser pointers and interactive cat toys like a Cat Dancer ( http://www.catdancer.com/ ) to get cats to play with you more appropriately. These toys keep her away from your hands while you are playing which is important. Kittens have a lot of energy and are meant to practice "hunting" multiple times a day, so she will need multiple sessions of stimulation daily to keep her satisfied. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and gives you some ideas. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Lethargy and low energy level in such a young kitten is always a concern. This behaviour could be due to fever, pain, intestinal worms and more. Please de-worm your kittens if they have not been dewormed in the last few days. If it does not make any difference, please take him to your local vets for an appointment.

tSome dogs just naturally don't care to play, just as some people would prefer reading or knitting to being physically active. It is also possible that Jacki has not been with you long enough to feel comfortable "letting go." If this is a temporary adjustment to a new home (I'm not sure how long you've had her), you may find that she starts to initiate play at some point. Or you may discover that you have a cuddler rather than a player. Maybe she is an earnest chewer--preferably of safe dog bones rather than drywall! As you get to know each other, you will discover new ways to interact together.