|
"Safe" Toys
There are many factors that contribute to the safety or danger of a toy.
Many of those factors, however, are completely dependent upon your cat’s
size, activity level and personal preference. Another factor to be considered
is the environment in which your cat spends her time. Although we can’t
guarantee your cat’s enthusiasm or her safety with any specific toy, we
can offer the following guidelines.
Be Cautious
The things that are usually the most attractive to cats are often
the very things that are the most dangerous. Cat-proof your home by checking
for: string, ribbon, yarn, rubber bands, plastic milk jug rings, paper
clips, pins, needles, and anything else that could be ingested. All of
these items are dangerous, no matter how cute your cat may look when she’s
playing with them.
Avoid or alter any toys that aren’t "cat-proof" by removing
ribbons, feathers, strings, eyes, or other small parts that could be chewed
and/or ingested.
Soft toys should be machine washable. Check labels for
child safety, as a stuffed toy that’s labeled as safe for children under
three years old, doesn’t contain dangerous fillings. Problem fillings
include things like nutshells and polystyrene beads. Also, rigid toys
are not as attractive to cats.
Toys We Recommend
Active Toys:
-
Round plastic shower curtain rings are fun either
as a single ring to bat around, hide or carry, or when linked together
and hung in an enticing spot.
-
Plastic rolling balls, with or without bells inside.
-
Ping-Pong balls and plastic practice golf balls with
holes, to help cats carry them. Try putting one in a dry bathtub,
as the captive ball is much more fun than one that escapes under the
sofa. You’ll probably want to remove the balls from the bathtub before
bedtime, unless you can’t hear the action from your bedroom. Two o’clock
in the morning seems to be a prime time for this game.
-
Paper bags with any handles removed. Paper bags are
good for pouncing, hiding and interactive play. They’re also a great
distraction if you need your cat to pay less attention to what you’re
trying to accomplish. Plastic bags are not a good idea, as
many cats like to chew and ingest the plastic.
-
Sisal-wrapped toys are very attractive to cats that
tend to ignore soft toys.
-
Empty cardboard rolls from toilet paper and paper
towels are ideal cat toys, especially if you "unwind" a little cardboard
to get them started.
Catnip:
-
Plain catnip can be crushed and sprinkled on the carpet,
or on a towel placed on the floor if you want to be able to remove
all traces. The catnip oils will stay in the carpet, and although
they’re not visible to us, your cat will still be able to smell them.
-
Catnip sprays rarely have enough power to be attractive
to cats.
-
Not all cats are attracted to catnip. Some cats may
become over-stimulated to the point of aggressive play and others
may be slightly sedated.
-
Kittens under six months old seem to be immune to
catnip.
Comfort Toys
-
Soft stuffed animals are good for several purposes.
For some cats, the stuffed animal should be small enough to carry
around. For cats that want to "kill" the toy, the stuffed animal should
be about the same size as the cat. Toys with legs and a tail seem
to be even more attractive to cats.
-
Cardboard boxes, especially those a tiny bit too small
for your cat to really fit into.
Get The Most Out Of Toys!
-
Rotate your cat’s toys weekly by making only four
or five toys available at a time. Keep a variety of types easily accessible.
If your cat has a huge favorite, like a soft "baby" that she loves
to cuddle with, you should probably leave that one out all the time,
or risk the wrath of your cat!
-
Provide toys that offer a variety of uses - at
least one toy to carry, one to "kill," one to roll and one to "baby."
-
"Hide and Seek" is a fun game for cats to play. "Found"
toys are often much more attractive than a toy which is blatantly
introduced.
|
