Why won't my older cat play with toys after getting a kitten?

This could be difficult to assess how much is the new kitten and how much is Opie getting older and just not being as playful. First make sure you are feeding a high quality cat food to give Opie plenty of energy. I like Royal Canin and Purina ProPlan. Second, try to find new toys that Opie seems to enjoy. Don't keep these toys out all the time as he will get bored with them. Try a laser pointer or other toys that stimulate the predatory response. You could also try feeding him with a treat ball so that he has to work/think to get his food. This helps to stimulate his brain. Try throughout the day to think of other ways to stimulate him as this will help break up the day for him. Please post again if you have further questions.

A cat could stop playing for many reasons including illness, anxiety or not being interested in the toy anymore. If Maximus is showing any signs of illness or anxiety, have him examined by the veterinarian. You may try purchasing some new toys to see if that helps. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

This all sounds like normal behavior for an older cat - as they become adults they are often less interested in playing and cuddling. I doubt a new kitten would make Sammy more likely to play or cuddle, and it can sometimes be difficult to introduce a new cat into the house depending on the personality of your cat. Sometimes it goes great and the old cat enjoys the new cats companionship and other times it can cause stress and make an anxious cat feel more anxious. If you do decide to get a new cat this information can help with an introduction: https://www.americanhumane.org/fact-sheet/introducing-cats-to-cats/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA-c_iBRChARIsAGCOpB3pz_xbrEjo5QJNK5yK8odrEGEQte7aR1lpVwVAlyUTp21ppH-_bP4aAk95EALw_wcB

Kittens go through different stages where they are more or less active, so it may be that he just doesn’t want to play right now. If he seems very lethargic, if his appetite is decreased, or if you notice changes to his urination or defecation habits I’d recommend having him examined by your veterinarian to rule out a medical problem.

By the time cats are 7 years old they usually start having arthritis. It may be that he is in pain and does not want to move much. He should also have his teeth checked as there could be serious tartar, gingivitis and tooth neck lesions that are very painful and keep him from using his teeth to play with the mouse toys. So , you are right, he should be checked by your veterinarian for arthritis, pain, teeth and possibly have wellness blood work done to rule out any organ conditions that make him feel not so well.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This behavior is likely due to the new kitten. The good news is that Nolan is very likely to go back to his normal self fairly soon. This is not an uncommon reaction in cats when a new cat is introduced to the household. Good luck and have a good night!

It sounds like he has found a fun game to play with you and that is his new favorite playtime activity! While this may be frustrating for you, its possible he may just really like that particular play behavior. You could try some fixed hanging toys, such as this: https://www.petco.com/category/cat/cat-toys https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/cat/cat-toys/cat-scratcher-toys/you-and-me-sisal-cat-scratch-post As for why he is acting that way and not letting go, I suspect it is truly just that he thinks its a very stimulating, fun thing to do. Here is a little info you may find helpful: https://catfriendly.com/cat-care-at-home/life-stages/ https://catfriendly.com/cat-care-at-home/playing-with-your-cat/ Thanks for asking PetCoach!