At fifteen, a cat who tires quickly but loves attention is telling you exactly the kind of play she wants: the hunt, shortened and slowed, with company at the center of it. She may no longer chase across the house, but watching, stalking, and one good pounce still light her up, and those small sessions give her movement, interest, and time with you.
Low, Slow, and Along the Floor
Drag a wand toy along the floor rather than waving it in the air. A toy that skims the ground in slow arcs, pauses behind a chair leg, and creeps again asks her to watch, shift her weight, and stalk, all movements an older body can usually manage without jumping or twisting. Let her catch it often. A game she never wins loses its point, so end a chase with the toy caught, a small treat if her diet allows, and calm praise.
Play where she already rests comfortably, on a rug or mat with grip under her paws, rather than asking her to relocate to a play area. Keep sessions to a few minutes, a few times through the day, and read her breathing and posture as the clock: ears forward and eyes bright means she is engaged, while turning her head away, lying down mid-game, or walking off means she has had enough. She sets the length, every time, and honoring that is what keeps her asking for play again tomorrow.
Pauses, Rest, and What to Avoid
Build pauses into the game itself. An older cat hunts in bursts, so let the toy rest while she rests, then move it again when she looks back at it. Avoid toys that demand leaps, sharp turns, or stairs at speed, and avoid picking her up to bring her to play, because sore joints make handling and landing uncomfortable in ways she may only show by avoiding the next session. A soft ball rolled slowly across the floor, a feather dragged under the edge of a rug, or a cardboard box she can sit in and bat from can suit her on days when even wand play feels like too much.
Warmth helps her enjoy it. A session after she has woken and stretched, in a warm room, goes better than play demanded of a stiff cat just lifted from a cold sleep. Gentle stroking between bursts counts as part of the game at this age, because the attention is half of what she is asking for.
When Less Play Means a Vet Visit
Note what she enjoys and how that changes. If she stops responding to all play over a few weeks, after once loving it, treat that change as information for her vet rather than simple old age, because pain is one of the possibilities a vet will want to investigate, along with appetite, sleep, and how she is moving around the house. Bring specifics: the games she has dropped, the date you first noticed, and anything else that has shifted, such as hesitating before a step she used to take easily.
Her senior record should carry this side of her life too, not only weights and visit summaries: the wand game she still loves, the pace that suits her, and the length of session she chooses. Anyone caring for her while you are away can then play with her the way she likes, and her vet sees a fuller picture of her comfort. Kept together in KinsLe, her Pet Passport notes record the floor game she favors and the rests she needs between bursts.