Owners do too, but we will focus on the cats. It is very important for cats to get at least 15 minutes of play each day. There are a variety of great toys available for them to enjoy. Remember to mimic their behavior in the wild – hunt, catch, kill. They need to catch the toy every once and awhile. This is one of several reasons I do not like playing with a laser. In fact, some cats develop a neurosis called frenzied play syndrome because they never catch the beam of light. You should get your cat’s heart rate up and if possible, get them panting.
Back to their natural behavior, at the end of when they have caught the “prey” you should feed the cat. That is what they would do in the wild. Another benefit is the human-animal bond you will enjoy if you take time to play with your cat every day.
The following video clip stars two of my cats, Mauka and Keanu in play. Please notice that Mauka is allowed to hold the toy for awhile when he catches it to replicate hunting behavior. Enjoy!