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A laughing older man in a cap tosses a toy as a tuxedo cat leaps mid-air after a small gray mouse toy in a backyard. 19 / 37

Grandpa Threw the Toy Mouse Across the Yard and Domino Went Airborne

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Mid-leap, front paws flung out and whiskers swept back, Domino is caught at the very peak of his pounce. A fuzzy gray toy mouse tumbles just below him, and Grandpa, cap pushed back and grin stretched wide beneath his mustache, has one arm still raised from the throw. The backyard around them is a cheerful jumble of potting projects: a blue trowel, garden gloves, pine cones, pots of herbs, and a striped towel draped over a bench.

Plenty of people are surprised to learn that some cats really will play fetch. It tends to appear in cats who love chasing small toys, and it can be encouraged gently: toss a lightweight toy a short distance, praise or reward the cat when it brings it back, and keep sessions brief so they stay fun. Even cats who never return the toy benefit hugely from chase-and-pounce games. Interactive play gives indoor and outdoor cats exercise, helps maintain a healthy weight, and lets them act out natural hunting behavior in a harmless way. A few short sessions a day, especially before meals, can leave a cat relaxed and satisfied. Always put away string or wand toys afterward.

Domino certainly has the athletic part down. Whether he'll actually bring the mouse back to Grandpa is another question entirely.

Some cats nap through the afternoon. This one prefers a little sport first.

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