Feline Pine Forums

Cat Toys: You gotta have them

2008-03-11T01:46:51-05:00

Although cats generally have different play styles than their canine counterparts, toys are as much a necessity for cats as they are for dogs. Toys help fight boredom and give cats an outlet for their instinctive prey-chasing behaviors. And when you are the one moving the toy around while your cat fishes for it, chases after it, or jumps in pursuit of it, playtime becomes a bonding experience for you and your cat.
“Safe” Toys

Our mothers always told us “no playing ball in the house,” but cats can usually participate in that forbidden exercise without knocking down a vase or a lamp (and being grounded for two weeks). Still, there are plenty of factors that may contribute to the safety of the toy they’re batting around.

Many of those factors are completely dependent upon your cat’s size, activity level, and preferences. 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 removing string, ribbon, yarn, rubber bands, plastic milk jug rings, paper clips, pins, needles, dental floss, and anything else that could be ingested. All of these items are dangerous, no matter how cute your cat may appear 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 ingested.

Soft toys should be machine washable. Look for stuffed toys that are labeled as safe for children under three years of age and that don’t contain any 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, which are fun either as a single ring to bat around, hide, or carry, or when linked together and hung in an enticing spot.
Plastic 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, or you may lose some sleep, as 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. Plastic bags are not a good idea, as many cats like to chew and ingest the plastic.
Sisal-wrapped toys, which are very attractive to cats who tend to ignore soft toys.
Empty cardboard tubes from toilet paper and paper towels, made even more fun if you “unwind” a little cardboard to get them started.
Comfort Toys:

Soft stuffed animals, which are good for several purposes. For some cats, the stuffed animal should be small enough to carry around. For cats who want to wrestle with 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 enticing to cats.
Cardboard boxes, especially those a little too small for your cat to really fit into.
Catnip:

Catnip-filled soft toys are fun to kick, carry, and rub. Catnip is not addictive and is perfectly safe for cats to roll in, rub in, or eat.
Plain catnip can be crushed and sprinkled on the carpet or, for easier cleanup, on a towel placed on the floor. Catnip oils will often 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 affected by catnip. Some cats may become over-stimulated to the point of aggressive play and others may become relaxed.
Kittens under six months old seem to be immune to catnip.
Get The Most Out of Toys

Rotate your cat’s toys weekly by making only a few available at a time. Keep a variety of types easily accessible. If your cat has a favorite, like a soft “baby” that she loves to cuddle with, you may want to leave that one out all the time.
Provide toys that offer a variety of uses—at least one toy to carry, one to wrestle with, 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 obviously introduced.
Many of your cat’s toys should be interactive. Interactive play is very important for your cat because he needs active “people time” —and such play also enhances the bond between you and your pet. Cats generally engage in three types of play—"fishing, flying, and chasing"—and all types are much more engaging for cats when you are part of them.

Feline Pine litter is not lasting as long as advertised…..

2008-08-16T22:23:56-05:00

My friend switched over to FP but the litter does not last very long. She only has one cat but we have to change litter twice a week. Has anybody else had this experience with the FP litter (original one). I’m thinking of switching to the clumping type but would like some feedback first. For those of you who have switched to the clumping type, are you using less now or same amount?

Laser lights toys… why so addicting??

2008-10-06T00:15:40-05:00

I was rambling on about these crazy gizmos in another thread and thought I’d start a new thread for them. If something sounds a bit familiar, it’s because I did a little cut and paste action rather than re-write the whole thing all over again. : P

I’ve got two oversized kitties, one massive dude and his much-smaller-but-still-a-big-gal sister. I’ve already been working on the dietary changes to slim them down a few sizes and now I’m working on getting more excercise in the mix. My big guy would rather spend all day sleeping and only get up to eat, switch beds, and follow mommy around for more attention. Sometimes I get up and go from room to room just so he’ll get off his fanny and follow me! LOL! He doesn’t like most toys, and catnip makes him overly aggressive and then he crashes too quickly. But I’m in love with those little laser lights!! They both go NUTS!! I zip those little lights all over the place and watch my formerly catatonic kitties jump up and go berzerk! That little red dot zipping across the floor will make my big couch potato run around in circles all over the room, even if it’s only for a few minutes, while his sister would play with it all day. So needless to say I think it’s a wonderful invention. Just make sure you don’t point the lasers in their eyes!

I found my current laser lights at Walmart. They had some different ones in the kitty/puppy toy areas, but mine is a cheap keychain-mounted laser pointer I found in the checkout line for ~4 bucks. If you twist it, it has three or four different display options including a mouse shape, but my spazzy kitties prefer the basic red dot. Little sister figured it out first, but now they both know where the light comes from, so now if they see me pick up the lazer gizmo, they both come a-running. But sometimes they don’t see me get it, but still seem to know when I click the light on, even if it’s not pointed anywhere. Question for Dr Gaspar: what is it about those laser lights that drives kitties totally bonkers?? Does it emit some kind of noise or wavelength that kitties can see/hear the second it’s turned on, even when covered up? Or do I just have psychic cats? : P

Anyone else have any crazy lazer fun they want to share??

Dogs eating cat ‘deposits’ and FP pellets?

2008-03-20T13:53:56-05:00

Does anyone have suggestions on how to keep the dog out of the cat box, or from ating the pellets that come out on the cats’ feet? My dog is driving me nuts with her constant pellet eating. I am pretty good at catching her before she eats their ‘deposits’ but the pellets are harder to spot and keep cleaned. I am not going to check the outside of the box area to keep it pellet-free numerous times a day.

need help with litter change

2008-05-06T19:44:54-05:00

I have two cats and have been trying to switch to FP litter. I placed a new box filled with FP litter near the box they have been using with the standard litter. So far, neither cat has used the FP box. I’m afraid to remove the old litter box completely until I know they’re using the new one. How do I get them to use the FP? I gently set each cat on the FP litter to acquaint them with it, but that hasn’t worked. Any suggestions?

Introducing Penny to Herman

2008-04-09T11:35:13-05:00

Penny came home yesterday. She is still very scared. The woman at the shelter said that she had had it rough, and she would take a while to get comfortable. She didn’t want to get out of the carrier when we got home, even! I made a spot for her in the bathroom---bed, food, water, toys---and let her hang out in there for a bit. Then last night I sat with her and finally got a good cuddle! I was so excited. Today we’re going to show her the bedroom and see what she thinks of all that space. Herman was not so happy, but he got a couple of new toys out of the deal, so he’s been busy with those. Anyone have any tips for getting them to be nice to each other?
Penny is very pretty . . . dark gray with interesting light markings and a white belly. I think she might be part blue abyssinian? She’s very long with tiny feet and long legs and a long tail.

changing over to feline pine?

2008-04-13T10:01:30-05:00

I am ready to change over and bought the FP scoop. I know on the original it says to transition your cats over to it, do you have to do that w/ the scoop kind as well? I really want to change it but don’t want to freak out my kitties! I have 2- Tyson, adopted from a shelter in 2003 and Girlie stray kitten rescued in 2004.

Weirdo at his Water Bowl

2008-04-15T00:25:48-05:00

Funny-Face has the strangest way of getting a drink- I have his dishes elevated to his chest level because he is 18 years old and just isn’t as flexible as he was when he was younger, but anyway, he has to circle his water bowl at least four times, then he will stick his face over the bowl and howl like his best friend just died. He cannot get a drink of water without circling and howling first. He does have CRF and I am wondering if this is somehow related to that. I check his mouth and throat for sores, but don’t see any. He also howls at nothing. I’ve caught him standing between my nightstand and bed, howling at the wall. I can get him to stop by walking into the room where he is and ask him “whats up?” Then he chirps at me and follows me around. Is howling in weird places for no reason a sign for senility in cats? He isn’t very alert either...I can sneak up behind him without him knowing I’m there.

therapy cats

2008-03-30T22:11:50-05:00

i have a special kitty named Lily, who is very affectionate and gentle, and as a work at a nursing home, i have begun bringing her in 2x weekly for the residents. she has done very well.
does anyone else have a therapy cat, or are there other hints i should know about?

“love bites” from the kitten…how to stop it??

2008-04-01T03:02:02-05:00

i have two cats, a nine year old female and a one year old male (both fixed). it was rough going at first getting them to tolerate eachother, and they still have their moments, but overall they get along much better than before. I’ve noticed however, that when the little one goes up to the older one, he’ll give her a few licks on the head, which she’s fine with, and then he’ll lean down and bite her! not very hard, and usually just below one of her ears or on the back of her neck. she of course gets upset and the hissing and growling begins. any idea why he’s giving her these little love bites, and if there’s anything i can do to get him to stop??