Even with dozens of cat toys at their disposal, it’s not unusual for felines to choose strings over everything. After all, images of cats and balls of yarn are cliché for a reason.
But, your furball choosing that years-old string over the new shiny toy you bought for them shouldn’t leave you disappointed. Why do cats like string?
Here are the main reasons cats can spend many hours playing with their favorite string.
While way thinner than most cat tails, a string slightly looks like a cat’s tail. And since felines love chasing their tails, they do the same to the piece of yarn.
Playing with string gives both physical and mental stimulation to cats, which is one reason cats like string. As a cat owner, this is great for you.
Their hunting days are long gone, and they know to purr if they need food. Some, if not most, chase strings around because they simply love playing.
The slithery movement and twitches of the string mimic prey trying to escape. Having complete control of the string—which makes it easy prey—as opposed to a laser pointer is also a contributing factor here.