Playing is essential for the development of kittens. When they are with their mother and littermates, they learn social play, which teaches them to understand and communicate with other cats. As they wean, they start playing with objects, which helps them learn the hunting skills of stalking, chasing, and pouncing. Swatting and batting at objects also helps them develop eye-paw coordination. By 12 to 16 weeks old, kittens have developed locomotory play, which includes running, climbing, and leaping, developing agility and coordination.

Play also helps kittens develop essential behaviors for survival, such as play fighting, play killing, and play escape. It also helps shy kittens build self-confidence as they learn to succeed in catching their prey. Kittens weaned too early may miss out on the benefits of social play and may have long-term effects on growing up alone.

During play, if a kitten bites or scratches too hard, its littermate or mother will give a signal that the rough play is not appreciated, teaching the kitten to inhibit its bites and scratches. Kittens without this education may grow up play fighting too roughly, leading to fights when they do not understand their playmate's signals to stop. If you have an orphan kitten, try to find playmates for it. If that is not possible, teach the kitten not to play too roughly by stopping the game when it gets too rough and saying "Ouch!"