2008.10.20
Channeling the inner kitten
Is there anything more fun than watching cats play?
I get pet-related product information in my e-mail several times a week. Some of it is interesting and some of it, well, not so much. This one from Fucini Productions caught my eye because I really wish my kitties liked to play with toys. If they did, this looks like a pretty good one.
Called the ElastoMouse, the toy hangs from the door knob and features a "[p]lay-n-Squeak sound module that emits realistic mouse sounds as cats play with it, encouraging them to use their hunting instincts. In place of a streamlined mouse design, the ElastoMouse has stretchy arms that hook together, letting it hang easily. Stretchy legs are perfect for cats to pounce and bat."
According to the Web site, the toys are available at PetCo. I think if I were feline, this little toy would be a blast.
My cats, however, prefer to play with empty sacks, abandoned boxes, throw rugs, and, oddly enough, ice chips. Thai will come running to the kitchen if he hears us use the ice maker in the 'fridge. If we have it on flaked ice, invariably some will miss the glass and hit the linoleum. Then he will have a grand old time batting it all over the floor until it melts.
Lately Thai also likes playing dog trainer.
The training sessions go something like this: Stormy will do his little play bow and "woof" at the kitty, and Thai will rumble like the engine of a stock car. Then Stormy will make a little move forward, and Thai will haul off and smack him on the snout.
Puppy retreats, and the cat looks smug in his schooling of the dog. The lessons go on throughout the day. Every now and then Stormy will catch Thai off guard and chase him up the stairs. Score one for the pup.
But if I spend money on tiny, herb-filled mice, feathers on sticks or balls that tinkle, Thai and India could not care less. Maybe they are just weird, maybe they find our zoo-like house to be stimulating enough. I don't know.
What are your kitty's play habits?
My kitties used to like to play with a few toy when they were young. Now that they are over 11 years old, Angel just likes to sleep, purr and be petted but Lilly loves to play with rubber bands and the bottle caps off of my Ginger Ale Bottles! No toys for her...give her a rubber band and a bottle top..she will play all day long!
Comment by Deborah — October 20, 2008 @ 12:09 pm
Charlie and Karma love toys but big brother is always watching and ready to spoil the fun. Anything with strings, elastic or otherwise, Mooch will take over and detroy, or at least, de-string. Someone will hold up the toy, dangle it for the kittens and Mooch waits until one of them has a firm grip, stretching the string taut. Then he swoops in and bites it, and bites it, until snap! No more string. We have numerous toys with varying lengths of umbillical-cordlike remnants. It's very sad. But that's what big brothers are for. Right?
Comment by Heather Froeschl — October 20, 2008 @ 12:28 pm
Shade and Gracie love anything string-related and Shade cannot resist the sound of me crumpling up paper into a ball. Christmas is a blast for them because I ball up some of the tissue paper and they chase it around the house like it's a soccer ball. The only toy I have purchased that Shade likes is a pink catnip mouse. He no longer has a tail or eyes but he keeps on taking his whoopings! I think the funniest play of all is when they play with each other - which is a rare occurence. Shade prefers to smack her little sister than play with her!
Comment by Kim — October 20, 2008 @ 1:20 pm
I miss having a cat. He and our dog got along great. They loved to spend time outdoors, and usually one would go where the other was going. There was more than one time the cat would have nose at door, waiting to go out, only to be "welcomed" by a dog rushing in. More than one time the cat turned around with three quick swats of a paw to the butt, only to be ignored by the shaggy-rumped pooch.
Boxes seem to be a favorite toy, especially around Christmas.
Just one word of caution about toys such as this. On a couple of occasions I have seen cats get their claws stuck in a stringy toy. While I've never seen one get caught on a dangling toy, it was enough for me to ensure that those toys were only out while I could supervise. I didn't want to come home to see a cat on tippy-toes dangling at the doorknob; or worse, a claw dangling from the end of the toy.
Comment by Ed S. — October 20, 2008 @ 1:46 pm
We have 5 cats and now 4 month-old kittens, and their favorite toys are these little sacks filled with catnip. It's like a cheesecloth material, and they're only a dollar or two at Petsmart. They also have one of those mice that makes sounds, and it has catnip in it too, and they will throw it all around the house for hours. Several of our cats also love this pull-back mouse on wheels, which also has catnip in it. They'll chase it around the house and try to ambush it when it rolls past. I'm not sure we've ever had a cat toy they didn't like. But as for regular everyday items, they still love boxes, paper bags, crumpled newspaper, bottlecaps, the little plastic rings off milk jugs, and shoelaces or any other piece of clothing that dangles.
Comment by Other John — October 21, 2008 @ 8:09 am
My cats and dog love playing with each other best. My kitty thinks a wagging dog's tail is the best toy there is.
Comment by Michelle — October 22, 2008 @ 11:19 am
I love to recycle stuff. Rather than throwing out that one sock that you lost the match for, stuff it with some fiberfill that has been sprinkled with catnip. Tie the opening tightly with a strong cotton string. My kitties absolutely love carrying these around, batting them around, etc. If you don't want to buy fiberfill, shred some paper, and/or grow and dry your own catnip. Easy as 1-2-3 and make great donation items to your local SPCA, elementary school sales, or other cat lovers.
Comment by Dixie — February 11, 2009 @ 8:57 am