As a responsible owner of a cat, I usually ask myself many philosophical questions. For example, what are my cats’ intentions when they decide to occupy my laptop while I work?
Or, how do I entertain this little fluff without having to play an intense round of hide and seek with all living room furniture?
It can be summarily said in one word: toys! Now, let’s look at some amazing variants that would help your cat to stay active and at the same time, both of you will be entertained for hours.
Interactive Toys: The Most Challenging Puzzles
But first, let us look at interactive toys as if they are a sort of catnip for your kitty’s brain. These plastic structures make sure that your kitty is not only teased but also worked out.
Just think about it—cats are born to hunt. They have an innate desire to chase, spring, and stalk their prey (which could be your toes but I guess more like their toys). So why not give them something that is similar to that pleasurable activity?
An excellent choice is the laser pointer. This tiny light allows even the most sedentary of couch bums to become Usain Bolt.
There’s no other way to put it – watching them sprint across the room for a tiny red dot is just astounding. Just make sure to finish each jeering session with a physical toy otherwise they will their heads will be baffled at how to catch a laser for their life!
Yet another great toy would be a puzzle feeder. These appliances force your kitty to work for their treats or their kibble.
It’s as if you hand them their own escape room—except no room and instead snacks. And let’s be honest, most of the cats are ready to go math algebra if there’s food in the equation.
Wand Toys for Fun and Engaging Playtime
When talking about fun activities, let us not forget to mention wand toys. These are a classic and they still remain in fashion until this very day. Have yourself positioned as an acrobat at the Cirque Du Soleil while your feline jumps through the house all thanks to you involved in a fun feathery wand routine. How fun!!
Those come in different types such as ribbons or feathers, which means almost every cat can get them. They help you and your pet to play and interact as one can be a hunter and the other can be a prey. Moreover, it is a good activity for both of you!
You can say you are exercising by doing a little cardio while waving a furry wand around, and your cat is doing it while not sitting idle.
Interestingly enough, one of the main benefits of these toys is the pleasure of fulfilling your kitty’s instinctive requirement to hunt and stalk. Hence instead of watching them gaze out the window at birds they will never catch, grab a wand toy and let those instincts go wild!
Electronic Toys: The Future Is Now
Without further ado, let’s find out what advancements technology has made in terms of feline entertainment!
With movement sensors and motions that randomly occur allowing the scenario to be as if there was real prey, electronic toys have supersized the amount of interaction during playtime.
Imagine a mouse robot scurrying around the room corners to allow your cat to chase it, doesn’t it feel like a safari right in your room?
These devices also have timers so they are very useful gadgets in case you feel like attempting to binge watch yet another series on Netflix (who am I kidding!). Some of them even have the feature of a built-in laser or certain sound effects to catch the kitties’ attention.
Naturally we have to say one key aspect — battery operated toys need batteries by the dozen! It is best to get prepared for this since when Fluffy says ‘I want it!’ she means she wants it yen years, and with ten cups of coffee having been drunk, she definitely will not stop zooming her new favorite around the house.
Toys From Scrap Material: Use Your Imagination
But DIY toys are the point in this discussion and so do not underestimate the power of these creative toys! Plastic bottles and aluminum foil balls can be used to keep cats entertained at home, as cats go insane over crumpled paper, no seriously, a lot of money can be saved through using items that’s readily available around the household.
If there is a promise that all of this is safe, you can also use an old ping pong ball and glue feathers onto them to create a ‘fuzzy ball,’ or there is the hope that animal treats can be placed in a cardboard box cut on the corners so that the animals have fun getting them out. One possibility is that it combines crafting, constructing and a side of snack in a single possibility.
The advantages of this twofold: firstly if you are not working then they will save you money through the recycling of parts; secondly, when you showcase these unique toys at get together with other pets’ parents, the unique creative skills that you possess will definitely gain you additional appreciation.
Suggested Resources:
Fun Cat Toy Ideas
https://www.cathealth.com/cat-care/what-toys-should-i-get-my-cat
Engaging Activities for Cats
https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/activities-engage-your-cat
How To Keep Indoor Cats Happy
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/general-cat-care