My Jacky learned how to “bring me the ball” only he did it like a soccer player. It was quite marvelous. Rewards were very important though. The best ball for this is not one of those fragile plastic cat toys, though. Jacky, who was very active, loved weasel balls—a much sturdier ferret toy with holes in it so he can still pick it up in his mouth if he wants. It also has a bell. For sheer exercise those interactive wands with feathers are great for jumping, stalking, and playing sort of hide and seek. Cats do sleep a lot during the day. That is normal and happens more as they grow older.
I used to discipline Jacky when he got on the table while food was on it by squirting him with a little squirt gun. It worked until he grew to love the squirt gun game more. It had 12 ritual moves. Him on chair raising ears then eyes above table level. Me pointing gun at him. Him putting one paw then 2 paws on table. Me waggling gun. Him jumping up. Me squirting. Him jumping to window and licking himself then looking at table. Me waggling. Him jumping up again. Me squirting. Him jumping to chair, licking and looking over table again. Me squirting. Him jumping to floor but staying there looking at me. Me squirting. Him running 3 feet away and looking back. Me squirting. Him running out of the room—game over.
Cats can surprise you. I got up to go to work when the clock radio went off and first fed the cats. When I retired the radio didn’t go off. I got up when I wanted. He figured out how to stamp on radio buttons to turn on clock same time every morning.
I like them to learn how to use their “hands” to the extent they can. Jacky could pick up things like pencils. Coins, however, were too difficult.
Bed games can be fun, like the “moving foot-lump” game or peekaboo if cat is a burrower.
Best way to help a cat get smart—an active cat friend.