Mary Allen
Cats need hunting and prey games for their well-being – and for their health, because only cats that move stay healthy and fit. Here is a list of the most common and popular cat toys with pros and cons.
Cats play for fun and to train their hunter skills. Especially young cats play to learn. The coordination eye – paw is trained, as well as movements and communication. Playing is only possible when there is plenty, i.e. there is no lack of food, safety, and security, the cat feels good and is healthy. Above all, the indoor cat, which has no hunting opportunities, must be able to reduce its hunting motivation and energy through play. Playing indoors promotes psychological well-being, physical fitness, and the bond between humans and cats.
Balls
Small balls have the advantage over gaming mice in that they move. Some cats prefer softballs that they carry around the house in their mouths after a successful hunt.
Caution: A toy ball must be big enough that the cat cannot swallow it, and soft and light enough to be able to carry it around in its mouth without any problems.
Frond/Angle
Feathers tied together are attached to the end of a flexible stick. Cats are very fond of swatting at it, biting it, and trying to get their hands on the prey.
Caution: Do not use heavily dyed feathers, from which many fibers come off after a short time, which the cat could swallow in the heat of the moment.
Cartons
Cats love boxes. Here they can hide and – like with newspaper – are fascinated by the crackling and crunching noises. Some cats squeeze into boxes that are only half the size of themselves, others prefer large ones.
Mice
Cats like to throw play mice into the air while standing on their hind paws and catch them again with their front paws. They imitate their natural hunting behavior. People can specifically support this game by throwing the mouse and thus stimulating the hunting instinct.
Caution: Only offer your cat well-made play mice, from which the eye, nose, etc. will not detach immediately. There is also a risk of choking here.
LED Pointer
Laser pointers promise an enormous fun factor. As soon as the cat discovers the wandering dot, it is very keen to capture it.
Caution: Since the cat can’t grasp the point, it won’t get the satisfaction it gets from catching a “real” toy. In addition, the light beam must never hit the cat in the eye – a significant risk of injury!
Water Games
Not all cats avoid water. Cats like to fish for floating objects from small pools. This could be table tennis balls, for example. Ideal for the summer.
Caution: For some cats, water play can be quite a wet affair. It is best to place the water basin on a tiled floor so that the water cannot damage.
Snack Ball
The Kong showed the way and was originally intended for dogs. A tube with small holes, closed on the sides, containing croquettes. Smaller sizes are now also available for cats. If you don’t like plastic, you can also use the natural variant made of willow wood in the shape of a ball.
Fetch
Dogs aren’t the only ones who like to bring back thrown objects. Cats often like it too. It is usually the cat itself that discovers the game for itself without having to teach it.
Prey Hunting
For example, quickly moving small stuffed animals back and forth encourages the cat to lie in wait, focus, and then catch the toy. Then leave the cat to its prey.
Attention: Do not stop the game prematurely if your cat is only watching the toy but is not yet moving. For them, lying in wait is just as much a part of the hunt as catching prey.
Hidden Objects
Place a few treats between crumpled newspapers. Show them to your cat beforehand. She will go in search of the snack. Some cats even become real pros at the shell game. Just be inventive and make your cat work for her treats.
Cat Toys From Nature
With chestnuts, and (insect-free) autumn leaves that rustle so beautifully, the cat is sure to have fun at home. It stimulates several instincts of the cat at the same time. A small scented garden on the window sill also offers the cat variety and stimulates its senses.
Caution: Find out in advance which plants are poisonous to cats. Catnip, lemon balm, and sage are suitable for a scented garden.
Catnip
Not all cats respond to the scent of catnip. However, those who cannot resist the beguiling scent are very happy to spend a lot of time with a small catnip pillow. Alternatives to catnip include cat Scamander, matatabi, and honeysuckle.
Playhouses
You can buy them or if you’re handy, you can build them yourself. Mostly they consist of several levels and a cave, play balls, and scratching surfaces attached at different places. A superb all-rounder for active fun.
Attention: If you have more than one cat, make sure that playhouses have several exits. Cats always need a safe retreat when an obtrusive fellow is blocking the entrance.
Intelligence Games
Cats like to use their heads too. Spotting threats hiding under a cover is a popular hidden object game where the sense of achievement is high. Instead of offering dry food in the bowl, you can hide it and let the cat look for it.
Play Tunnel
They dash through, hide in them, and sometimes drag their prey in to get to safety. A play tunnel is quite diverse and cats love it very much. It is usually made of a rustling or crackling upper material, which encourages the cat, even more, to deal with this toy.
Conspecific And Human
Kittens learn to play with their own kind very early on. Usually, the siblings serve as playmates. They learn to explore boundaries and establish social contact. With a kitten roommate, cats can romp and fight wonderfully. Playing together between cats and their humans is also a popular pastime. It is particularly important that this interaction strengthens the bond between animal and owner.