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An elderly couple in grey sweaters sits on the lawn holding a blue ball as a grey cat lunges toward another ball. 12 / 37

Everyone Said Cats Don't Play Fetch. Frank and Dot Tried Anyway.

AI imagerussian bluebackyardplaytime

Game on in the backyard. Frank and Dot sit right down on the grass in their grey cable-knit sweaters, laughing as Dot holds up a speckled blue ball for the next throw. Misha is already in motion, low to the ground and stretching one paw toward a second ball that just rolled past the flower bed, her body long and focused. Potted herbs line the garden edge, a pair of work gloves lies abandoned in the soil, and a green watering can sits by the fence. It's the kind of play session that works because everyone is on the same level.

People joke that cats don't play fetch, but quite a few do, and Russian Blues are often described as playful and clever enough to enjoy games with their family. Even when a cat doesn't bring a toy back, chasing a rolling ball taps into natural hunting instincts and gives her a burst of exercise, which helps keep indoor cats fit and mentally engaged. Short, frequent play sessions tend to work better than one long one, since cats are built for quick sprints. Choose balls too big to swallow, and put away string or ribbon toys after play. Outdoors, stay with your cat, keep her in a fenced or enclosed space or on a harness, and check the garden for plants that could be toxic to cats. Ending the game with a small treat or a meal can mimic the natural hunt-then-eat rhythm cats find satisfying.

Frank and Dot may be the ones throwing, but Misha is definitely the one running the game. Some afternoons are just made for a good chase.

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