Toys can provide some seriously important mental stimulation in your cat's life. And of course it is adorable watching our ferocious little beasts showing those toys who's boss. I will be the first to admit that my cats are NOT hunters. If they saw a real mouse, I'm not sure they would know what to do. When they see spiders, they look at them awkwardly and try to gently paw at them while I'm running in the opposite direction. Oliver does like to chase those large black flies when he can, but overall everyone agrees that live prey just aren't their thing.
But when it comes to toys, they have all sorts of fun. Orange's favorite thing is to play fetch with a bottle cap. Owen loves bunny kicking anything he can hug. Fiona LOVES the TurboScratchers with the balls that go round and round. And Oliver likes to whack around those petite little mice. They all love laser toys in any form. And with so many preferences, you can imagine how many toys we've had over the years. When I moved to my new place two years ago, I ended up packing two giant boxes of toys. So now every few months we go through all of them and donate some to the local cat rescue. That way I have an excuse to buy more!
I've rounded up some of the toys that we've played with most recently. The list got so long that I've had to split the blog entry into two parts. So more to come! All toys can be found on Amazon for easy shopping (hint hint). Browse on through and see if there are any your kitty might want to try!
The TurboScratcher
As I've mentioned, this is Fiona's FAVORITE toy on the planet. We have 5 all around the house. The TurboScratcher is a round plastic toy about 1 foot in diameter. It has a central corrugated cardboard scratch pad (that can be replaced) and an outer track with a white ball in it. SO simple. Yet somehow infinitely fascinating.
I sprinkle catnip onto the cardboard periodically for added fun. Fiona will run around the house and then sit in the middle of the scratcher and just keep spinning the ball around herself. She'll then get tired and lay across the track, while still batting at the ball, then become startled when the ball touches her. Sp then she will jump up and run around the house and this continues until she gets distracted. I have somehow not managed to catch her zoomies on video. But one day it will happen! Oliver and Owen love when I sprinkle catnip on their scratcher!
Owen is less interested in the ball, but loves the cardboard part. He rubs his face all around the scratcher and rolls around. Not the toy's intended purpose, I guess, but he still enjoys it!
I don't know who thought of this toy, but they are a genius. I replace the cardboard a few times a year and the plastic portion lasts FOREVER. Sometimes I stick other plastic balls with bells in the center into the track for added ful. I can usually find the TurboScratcher on sale for under $15. I've gotten it a few times for $8, which is a bargain. It's worth it. Fiona highly recommends it! Everyone else will take their turn with the TurboScratcher on occasion, but Fifi has definitely laid claim to them all. This is definitely kitty-approved x 4!
TurboScratcher Link: https://www.amazon.com/Bergan-Turbo-Scratcher-Colors-vary/dp/B000IYSAIW?ref_=ast_sto_dp
The Cat Dancer
This is probably the cheapest cat toy on the planet and you can even DIY it pretty darn easily with some thin cardboard and thicker wire.
I purchase this toy for every new kitten in the family. I've got several unopened ones that I keep as a back up here. It is so simple, yet so amazing. The cardboard moves around like a butterfly and the cats go crazy jumping and pouncing trying to get it. Instant hit always.
The Cat Dancer has become so popular that it can sometimes be difficult to find on Amazon. Chewy makes its own version, which works just as well!
Cat Dancer Link: https://www.amazon.com/Cat-Dancer-101-Interactive-Toy/dp/B0006N9I68/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=cat+dancer&qid=1595291915&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-4
SmartyKat Hot Pursuit
This is a battery-operated toy. You turn it on and can choose between slow, fast, and random modes. The wand moves under the cloth to mimic a mouse and my cats go crazy watching it and pouncing. Make sure you place this in a nice open area because your cat will be zooming around with excitement.
The Hot Pursuit is definitely one of Oliver's favorite toys. I'd say he has the strongest hunting drive of everyone, so he loves when I put on the "random" mode. Owen is more of a spectator. He will paw at the wand as it comes near him and pounce once or twice, then just lie on the fabric disk and watch.
Fiona is definitely the most aggressive player, but the Hot Pursuit has held up very well! The wand can be detached and replaced if needed. Luckily, I haven't needed to replace it yet!
There is a very similar product called the Cat's Meow Motorized Wand Toy. We actually bought this product first. It is pretty much exactly the same as the SmartyKat Hot Pursuit, just a different color. For some reason, the wand didn't fit quite as well, so I'd have to reattach it occasionally. But it is still a good product!
Colorful Springs Toy
These are super simple plastic springs that bounce. Since they are lightweight and easy to grasp with their paws, cats can play with these on their own.
Oliver will bat it around and chase it all over the place. Owen likes to stick his paw inside the spring and fling it around. Fifi, per the norm, goes crazy. Orange tends to be more interested in toy mice than in the springs, so more fun for everyone else! I'm pretty sure there is a spring toy under every piece of furniture in the house. I highly recommend these!
Ethical Pet Colorful Springs Link: https://www.amazon.com/Ethical-Wide-Colorful-Springs-Cat/dp/B000CMKHDG
Kong Kickeroo
The Kong company is one of my favorite toy companies for both cats and dogs. Their toys are durable and high quality. There are several styles of the Kickeroo; my cats love the original Kickeroo, which is a long stuffed fabric rectangle with a crinkly, furry tail. The Kickeroos are the perfect length for those cats that like to hug and bunny kick the heck out of their toys. They even have a miniature kitten version now!
Oliver will roll on his side, grab the Kickeroo, then kick it with his back legs until he loses his grasp and it flies out of his reach. Then he will pounce on it and play time starts all over again.
I have 4 Kickeroos around the house so everyone has the opportunity to get their frustrations out. Sprinkle some catnip on the Kickeroo and you've got a good 15 minutes of crazy play time to watch.
Kong Kickeroo Link: https://www.amazon.com/KONG-Kickeroo-Pattern-Catnip-Colors/dp/B001JQLKUI
Jackson Galaxy has come out with two similar toys called the Ultimate Bunny Kicker and Hunting Instincts Kicker. I recently found them on sale at PetsMart and decided to give them a try. They are nice and sturdy and both are cat approved!
The Bunny Kicker has a plastic frame that resists kicking, making the hunting experience a little more realistic and "interactive."
The Hunting Instincts Kicker has two parts that are velcroed within the toy, causing a ripping sound when kicked. It's hard to hear it over the rustling newspaper, but Owen loves the rip!
Amazon links (please note that Amazon has mixed up the names so make sure to refer to the picture when shopping):
Birdies, Mice, and Furry Ball Toys!
I love the small toys made by SmartyKat. They've got crinkly ones and furry ones and even a few that make chirping noises! I will warn you that the chirp is quite loud, so you may want to put the toy away at night time if you have nocturnal players.
Oliver LOVES chasing balls around the house. His favorite is the tinsel pom pom ball!
Orange plays with the any small plush toy. She loves playing fetch!
Owen will bat any little toy around and wrestle and bunny kick it. He's so adorable!
And Fifi will pounce and smack. She is always curious and will make a toy out of anything! She was messing with a fidget spinner the other day!
My favorite SmartyKat toys:
Plush Fish Toys
I recently bought a pack of plush fish toys on Amazon that you can fill with catnip and they were a big hit!
They have a small zipper on the bottom where you can pour in some catnip for extra fun.
There are several sizes, so everyone can enjoy. Orange got to pick first!
Oliver was so excited that he couldn't wait for me to open the package for him.
I took a video of everyone after I scattered the toys around since they were having so much fun!
I did put the fish in the washing machine and then air dried them outside since they weren't from a reputable company. They held up just fine and it gave me piece of mind that my kitties could bite the heck out of them without worry.
Fish Toy Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07B3L3SLB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Electronic Fish
I've been seeing these flopping fish toys on Amazon and finally decided to try one out. There are no well-known cat toy brands that make these electronic fish, which is why I was hesitant. The fish is made of soft fabric with batting on the inside. There is a small plastic box inside, which houses a small motor, and a plastic piece that inserts into the tail to move it back and forth. The toy can be charged with a USB cord (one is attached). When you turn the toy on, the tail will flap with any motion.
The sound is a little bit loud, so Owen wasn't a huge fan. Oliver was curious at first, but decided he wasn't a fan of the noise. Fiona has spurts where she will attack it and bunny kick the fish as it is moving. Orange isn't scared of it, but she wasn't totally impressed. So really it only has a 25% approval rate, but Fiona does really have a good time when she plays with it. If you have a very active cat with a high prey drive, you could definitely give it a try.
Electronic Fish Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083S3ZXDF/ref=dp_cerb_3
Now that you've completed part 1 of the toy list, it's time to spoil your kitty! Let me know what they like! Part 2 coming soon. I know you can't wait!
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