Interactive Cat Toys
We all know how much kittens love to play. I guess the real truth is we love to watch kittens play; we're not so sure whether they are enjoying themselves or not. It is part of their learning process to hunt, catch and play with things they find. As kittens, they have no frame of reference and will hunt anything that moves. We watch with great delight as they clutch and poor and roll around with their captured prey, whether it is a cotton wool ball or a grasshopper. It is such an innate part of cat behaviour, and for the human owners it is a source of unbending delight and joy to observe.
So, as cat owners, do we have a responsibility to make sure kittens get their fair share of appropriate play? What is it that we need to teach kittens? What skills do they need to acquire? There are no clear answers to these questions; all we know is that kittens will naturally gravitate to behaviour that we classify as play. This natural instinct is something which cannot be denied and so, as cat owners, it is our job to simply provide the mechanisms that kittens will use in their playtime activity.
Luckily for us, Toy manufacturers have come to our rescue with a huge array of interactive cat toys! Although the logic of many of the toys appears to lie in their appeal to the human owners, there is probably some benefit for kittens as well. Let's have a look at some so you can decipher yourself. One of the important things which all cat owners know is that kittens do not differentiate between toys which you are holding in your hand and your hand itself! You need to protect your hand from straying, clutching claws and that is why protective gloves with long fingers which you can wear whilst dangling tempting objects in front of your kittens eyes, have such appeal. As the kitten joyfully tries to catch the object you are holding it does not matter if a straight claw rakes into a finger because the glove with 9 1/2 inch fingers will keep your real fingers out of harm's way.
There are many cat charmers on the market that utilise a fishing rod type mechanism by which you can drag, flick in the air, and wriggle on the ground, any small fluffy object so that your kitten is mesmerised by the movement both along the ground and up into the air. Kittens will chase leap and cavort as they attempt to retrieve the irresistibly fashioned lure. What about a laser bug? This is simply using a laser light to point on the wall or on the floor so that your kitten will chase at. I have some real doubts as to the benefits of this one as it may lead to an unnatural frustration, but used in moderation or when other toys fail to attract, it may have its place. It seems we no longer have any excuses not to play without cats, if we ever need one. There are so many interactive cat toys on the market that playing and training your little kitten becomes even more enjoyable for cat owners and maybe the kittens too!
Undercover Mouse, Practical and Creative Innovations
Panic Mouse Undercover Mouse is the toy that introduces your cat to new heights of excitement at play. The Undercover Mouse moves silently; randomly speeding and reversing direction under its durable nylon cover. The hidden mouse skitters furtively just out of your cat's view. The movements are so real you and your cat will swear there's a live moouse in the house!Undercover Mouse allows for easy speed adjustment and will provide hours of interactive fun powered by 3 AA batteries.Includes:One (1) Undercover Mouse electronic cat toyOne (1) ripstop nylon skirtOne (1) mouse wandRequires three (3) AA batteries (not included)
FroliCat BOLT Interactive Laser Pet Toy
A finalist in the 2009 Chicago Innovation Awards, the FroliCat BOLT Interactive Laser Toy can entertain you and your cat for hours. Hold it in your hand or place it on a flat surface. The BOLT emits an automatically generated red laser pattern that will have your kitty leaping, jumping, and batting with glee. Use it in automatic mode and watch your pet chase random patterns, or try manual mode and aim the laser dot wherever you like. You can create your own exciting laser patterns. You can also adjust the mirror to aim the laser across a variety of surfaces. Even the laziest cat will have a ball. An automatic shutoff feature activates after 15 minutes in either mode, or you can operate the manual on/off switch. Requires 4 AA batteries (sold separately).
Play-n-Squeak Tailspin Toy
What makes Tail Spin so incredibly engaging is that the tail appears randomly, putting your cat into predator mode, stalking the tail and pouncing at-will. Sturdy stump also features sisal top for scratching pleasure and a Play-N-Squeak MouseHunter peeking out of a hole in the stump!
Kit-e-quiz Cat Challenge Toy
I just got this for my two cats. They love it! They have two treat balls which they have totally figured out, so I decided to get them this. One is super food motivated and one is play motivated so they both have fun. So far we have only done the stick side. It took them a little while to figure out (one cat kept biting the sticks) but soon they figured it out. They even like the ball part which I thought they might have out-grown! Great game if you have a very food motivated cat!
Great links for Incredible Cat Toys
