How much play do indoor cats need?

Two structured play sessions a day, 10 to 15 minutes each. The duration matters less than the structure. Cornell flags interactive play as essential enrichment for indoor cats.[1] Each session should run the full predator sequence: stalk, chase, pounce, “catch,” reward. Skipping the catch (toys that always escape) is frustrating, not enriching. End the evening session with a small wet-food meal to close the natural predator-eat-sleep cycle. Two sessions a day is the threshold most owners notice the 3 AM zoomies decreasing within a couple of weeks.

When to call a vet: a previously playful cat who’s lost interest in play could be in pain, depressed or unwell. Vet visit.