Do you walk through the pet store, see the many toys available
for your cat, and wonder if the expense will be worth it? Cats can be fickle creatures, but a good time can be
found with almost any toy. Cats are like children they go through stages and sometimes need age appropriate toys
and can get bored very easily. Some suggestions for toys include the cat towers, stuffed mice, small amounts of
catnip, stuffed animals, ribbons, and plastic balls.
From an early age, kittens learn to pick up things in their
mouths. It is an instinct, just like using their claws. When a cat plays, they like to grab and bit their toys. Let
us look at the toys listed above. A cat tower is a great way to teach you cat where it is appropriate to climb. It
will keep them off the blinds or curtains while giving them hours of fun. There are many styles of cat towers from
the two-story towers to the ones rising to the ceiling. The answer to your question is, the more levels they have
the more fun and enjoyment they will receive out of a cat tower. A cat will use the tower for play as well as
sleep. They like to bat at ropes and other items dangling off the tower as well as going through little tunnels up
to the next level. If you have two cats you will have fun watching them give chase to the top often trying to knock
the other off. A cat tower can be practical because they will scratch at it rather than your couch.
Stuffed mice are also important to any kitty’s playtime. Not all
mice are the same; most cats prefer the small leather mice with the multi coloured fur and long tails. These mice
come in twelve packs or three packs, and the kittens will tear them apart. Cloth mice are typically second during
playtime. If you find your kitty to be uninterested in mice you might want to check the type of mouse you have
bought them.
Catnip toys are very popular. Catnip will cause your cat to be
rowdier, which can be a plus because they wear down faster. Catnip before bedtime is a great way to get your cat to
sleep for quite a while and leave you to slumber. Catnip should be given out sparingly. You do not want to give
your cat catnip every day because it can have adverse effects to their behaviour. They can start to depend on it
and have mood swings.
I have found the best toy may just be your old stuffed animal
lying around the house. My kitty, Spooky, will bring me a stuffed animal when she is ready to play and she has
stuffed animals in her toy basket. There is nothing more amusing than watching my kitty brings me a stuffed animal
bigger than she is and proceeds to toss it in the air and pounce. Cats like the feel of certain things in their
mouths that is why they chew on paper, plastic and even your blankets. The feel of the material in their mouths
allows them to clean their teeth or when they are teething help reduce the pain. The stuffed animal can work in
much the same way and keep them away from harmful products.
To answer my above question, you do not have to go to great
expense to entertain your cat, however when you spend a little on toys you keep your kitty from getting bored. You
may even decide to hide a few toys and reintroduce them after a few months to keep from purchasing new ones all the
time. Just make sure it is not the favourite toy of your pet or they may find other ways to entertain themselves
that you do not find amusing.
|