Psychology, nature and education of cats

Toys for cats: types and subtleties of choice

Toys for cats: types and subtleties of choice
Content
  1. Appointment
  2. Varieties
  3. What is dangerous for cats?
  4. How to do it yourself?
  5. Features of choice
  6. Useful tips and tricks

In the natural habitat, the cat will always find a suitable object for games and entertainment. It can be a leaf flying in the wind, or a bug passing by.

When the seals are in an apartment or a private house, then here it is much more difficult for him to occupy himself - he has to invent games on his own. As a result, this leads to torn wallpaper, spoiled furniture and nightly “chases” with loud clatter.

Today we will find out what toys should be bought for cats and what types of them are on sale.

Appointment

Cats are pets who like to sleep, but they do not always spend around the clock to sleep. Often they want to play and how to run in, spend the accumulated energy. It is for this that you need to pre-purchase toys that will become the object of entertainment for pets.

Suitable toys are necessary for both small and adult cats. Let us examine in more detail what is the main purpose of such things in cat's life.

  • Properly selected toys enable the little kitten to adapt much faster and easier to the new conditions in which he finds himself. Thus, it will be possible to minimize unnecessary stress.
  • Parting with the mother often becomes a serious injury for the kitten. Toys in the new house will be able to switch his attention and quickly get used to a different environment.
  • Kittens and adult cats playing with suitable toys physically develop much faster and better than lazy individuals who prefer constant lying and sleeping instead of games.
  • When playing, kittens gain the necessary experience and become more familiar with the environment.
  • Many of the toys allow adult cats and kittens to sharpen their claws right in the game.
  • When playing with toys, pets can effectively get rid of plaque. In addition, at such moments, the gums of the animal are massaged when changing teeth.
  • With joint games with toys, you can quickly and easily establish contact between the owner and the cat.
  • With toys, it will be easier for a cat to get used to other animals living in the house, as well as get to know them better.
  • If the pet does not go outside, but is exclusively domestic, then toys are simply necessary for him. Only with them will the animal waste its accumulated energy without experiencing longing and without spoiling furniture, wallpaper and carpets.
  • Playing with toys, kittens learn to hunt, defend and attack, to contact with other animals. All this knowledge is necessary for cats.

Toys for cats and cats are very important.

They not only allow animals to relax, play and have fun, but also provide an opportunity to gain new knowledge and skills, learn something interesting and useful. For example, more sophisticated intellectual and interactive toys develop pet thinking.

Varieties

There are a lot of different cat toys - from simple to more complex and educational. You can choose the perfect option for a pet with any character and preference. Let's get to know more about different types of toys for adult cats and kittens.

Laser Pointers

The favorite pastime of many hosts is playing with a cat with a laser pointer. Pets themselves such entertainments also captivate and take for a long time. You can buy a laser pointer at many retail outlets. They are inexpensive, but cause true delight in cats and the desire to hunt for the coveted red dot, inexorably slipping away from tenacious paws.

Many owners also like these things very much - you can play with your pet without getting up from the couch or armchair. Unnecessary movements will also not be necessary, so a waste of energy is not observed here.

However, it must be remembered that such a game should not disappoint a pet.

At least once a cat has to catch a red light, otherwise she will get tired of such entertainment soon, interest will be lost and inevitable dissonance will arise. Because of this, the hunting program will be lost, which is laid at the gene level.

As a result, the behavior of the cat or kitty can noticeably change, new not very good habits will appear that the owners will definitely not like. For example, an animal can start going to the toilet, sitting down in household shoes.

We must not forget about another important point - the laser can harm the eye retina of the pet. Playing with this device can seriously damage your cat's eyesight. Be careful when playing with the animal. Never point the laser directly at the beast's eyes. In general, overdoing this entertainment is not recommended.

Developing

If you want to pick up interesting developmental toys for your cat, then various intricate mazes and intellectual puzzles with a treat inside can be perfect solutions.

They will not only interest the pet and will contribute to its intellectual development, but also turn out to be less dangerous or harmful than a laser pointer.

Inside the puzzle, tunnel or maze, you can hide not only goodies.

Entangled designs with a ball, a bow, a clew, a pompom and other details inside are very popular. A multi-level track (circle) will also be a good option, at the finish of which the animal will expect a reward - a mouse, a fish, a ball of catnip or another thing that will please a cat.

Such cat toys are ideal for pets, as they will occupy them for a long time. Using these structures, it will be possible to distract the animal throughout the entire time when the owner will be absent, for example, at work. True, and here it will be necessary to remember the observance of one important condition - at the end of all manipulations, the prey must be available to the home "hunter".

Keep in mind that labyrinths and puzzles in which balls or treats are locked tight and the animal can drive them only inside the structure can harm the mental state of the cat.

Similar toys can be made for cats yourself. To do this, you may need a box with pre-made holes, plumbing pipes or plastic bottles. These structures are connected to each other by tape, a ball or other bait is launched inside. Holes must be made so that the cat's foot easily passes there.

Interactive

You can also interest and attract a pet with more intricate interactive toys. They can be battery operated and radio-controlled. Modern manufacturers offer modified electric and smart electronic toys for cats.

Some owners buy their pets more affordable mechanical and clockwork items.

Such automatic toys will take cats, but only for a while.

Usually it’s not difficult to catch self-propelled and radio-controlled objects, so home “hunters” very soon lose all interest in them.

Prey should not invariably elude the cat, but too affordable options will not work either.

If you still bought these toys for your pet, then you should not throw them away or give them away. It is better to periodically remove them away for a couple of weeks, so that the cat forgot about them. Over time, the animal will perceive things as something new and it will be interesting for him to play with them.

Be sure to be interested in a cat special dance mat.

An animal walking along such a thing will click on its surface with a paw, as a result of which a corresponding sound will be made, for example, a squeak of a mouse or the singing of birds. Such sounds will stimulate the pet to further actions.

Mouse

Mice are classic cat toys. They are interested in pets of all age groups. The mouse can be made of fabric, fur, latex, plastic and other popular materials. In addition, such a toy is not only simple, but also mechanical, windup and with a prize inside. For such objects, the whiskered will be chasing at times more interesting.

Clockwork mice are especially popular today and are sold in many stores. They are inexpensive.

Toys, inside which you can hide goodies, are of interest to cats even more groovy options. As a prize, you can use a variety of objects - fragrant herbs, catnip or a ringing small bell.

When buying a toy mouse for your pet, you need to pay attention to such parameters:

  • it must be made of quality and non-toxic materials;
  • if the thing is woven, then it is better to buy mice made of more dense and well-stitched textile;
  • the presence of beads, buttons, buttons and other similar details on the toy is undesirable.

Teasers

Teasers are one of the most beloved cat toys that arouse their special interest. This category includes a lot of different items. They can vary in shape, color and size. But at the same time, they are all designed to solve one main problem - to attract the attention of a cat or kitten.

The most common and entertaining teasers are such options.

  • Toys with feathers. When a small number of feathers of different colors are attached to a stick (like a fishing rod), the cat will surely pay attention to them and begin the hunt.Seals and tumbler toys are very fond of. These are original teasers, which are also often supplemented with feathers at the top.
  • An excellent option would be fur balls attached to a stick like a fishing rod. Such toys are most often stronger and more reliable than simple feather teasers. In most cases, there is a special loose filler in them, which makes a noise that attracts attention during the movement of the toy.
  • No less popular and interesting are pendulum toys. Such teasers are a small spiral part mounted on the base. Any interesting teaser is attached to the spiral. For example, it can be a mouse, a ball or feathers of different colors.

Any teasing toys, especially the last ones described, are ideal not only for adult cats, but also for small kittens. They are absolutely safe and are of great interest to pets.

With catnip

Almost all cats and cats adore catnip and cannot resist it. For this reason, it was she who became so popular among manufacturers of various cat toys. With such a bait, the cat will definitely pay close attention to the desired item and will not back down, even if it cannot immediately get the desired grass.

Toys with a mint animal can toss, bite, lick or drive around the apartment. In most cases, after 10 minutes, the appeal of catnip is nullified, and the animal is included in other games.

For teeth

One of the most popular are rightly recognized cat toys, which are designed not only to entertain pets, but also to clean their teeth.

Things that a pet can nibble freely and with pleasure can be very useful.

Such toys will be appropriate for kittens during the change of teeth. As for adults, “dental” toys are also useful to them, because they can be used to prevent the formation of tartar. Of course, if a cat eats dry food in granules anyway, then her teeth will not need such procedures.

Virtual

Time does not stand still. Today, virtual games attract not only people, but also animals. There are many different applications for smartphones and tablets that can entertain cats.

For example, it could be a game in which you need to catch an object. Such applications work on a similar basis. A certain object will move around the screen, and the cat will need to catch it.

At the same time, appropriate sounds will be made that will attract even more attention from the pet. In most cases, the owners have the opportunity to choose such images that will be more interested in the cat. For example, it could be birds, mice, imitation of a laser pointer and many other suitable objects that the animal will need to catch.

True, with clawed legs, a pet can damage the screen of the gadget on which the game was launched. And the animal is unlikely to spend a lot of energy, since he most likely will not have to move a lot. This option can be left in the case when you and your pet will have the right mood.

What is dangerous for cats?

The choice of toys for adult cats and small kittens today pleases with its diversity. You can find both inexpensive and simple, and thought out to the smallest detail modern options that are more expensive.

Before proceeding with the selection of the perfect toy for your pet, you need to consider which toys for cats are dangerous.

  • It is strongly discouraged to place lures such as grapes or chocolate in cat toys. Chocolate, like any sweetness, is harmful to cats and cannot be eaten. Moustached grapes are also better not to eat - they can easily choke on them.
  • You should not buy or make cat toys with your own hands, in which there are additional details like buttons, beads, rhinestones and the like.The animal can choke on such elements, so it is very important to ensure that they are not on the toys.
  • For playing with pets, we recommend using plain white paper. Newspapers and other materials containing printing ink can be toxic and seriously harm the health of the pet.
  • We must take into account the fact that toys on the ropes (teasers) can be very dangerous for small kittens. Accidentally entangled in a rope or lace, the baby can simply choke or be very scared if he manages to get out. Do not expose kittens to such dangers. Better put off such toys until the pet grows up.
  • In all cases, toys on springs may not be safe. Pets very often pluck a toy bait from them. The unprotected sharp side (tip) of the spring can cause serious harm to the pet.
  • It should be borne in mind that even ordinary boxes can be fraught with danger for cats. If the holes made in them are too small, the animal may get stuck in them.

How to do it yourself?

Good and exciting toys for cats and cats do not have to buy for a lot of money. It is quite possible to build them yourself, without wasting a lot of time and energy.

Simple and quick to do teaser bow for cat made of paper. It is advisable to take for this a simple but dense piece of paper, as well as a ribbon or rope.

Such a teaser is permissible to complicate. You will need to take multi-colored threads, ribbons, a rope and a stick of the desired length. You need to act like this:

  • the threads will need to be cut or simply rolled up;
  • in the middle they will need to be tied with a ribbon, the other end of which will need to be securely tied to a stick;
  • the result is a simple teaser fishing rod.

A very interesting and exciting toy for an adult cat will be maze of plumbing pipes.

It is done as follows:

  • it is necessary to prepare 4 water elbows and connect them to each other in such a way that as a result a closed structure is obtained;
  • using a drill, make a couple of small holes in each knee (a cat's foot should easily pass through them);
  • be sure to carefully process the edges of the holes made so that the cat does not accidentally injure itself on protruding burrs;
  • put the ball in the maze (it is desirable that it contains noisy content).

Such a toy will definitely interest a cat. If desired, you can make the design not closed.

Such a structure will be relevant if you do not put balls / balls inside, but your favorite cat treat.

The simplest teaser for an adult cat or kitten can be built in just a couple of minutes:

  • take a not-so-large woven piece;
  • cut it into small strips having equal width and length (errors are acceptable, but it is better if they are not too large);
  • when cutting strips, take arbitrary sizes;
  • then it will be necessary to carefully knit the woven strips into one bundle;
  • fold them in half, and then tighten in the center with a dense thread or cord;
  • cut the strips with scissors in places where there are bends;
  • evenly distribute the resulting “tail”.

The resulting pompom can just be given to the animal or tied to a stick or lace. Such a thing will definitely not go unnoticed by a cat.

You can sew a fish or a mouse with your own hands.

Do not sew eyes with buttons or beads on them - these details can harm the health of the pet.

It will take very little time to make such things. In order to attract more attention to themselves, you can supplement them with bright details - sew on the fins / tail of multi-colored ribbons, leave “pockets” for treats inside the toy or attach a “playing” mustache from the fishing line.

The interesting fragrant toy will definitely attract a cat. It can be made like this:

  • First, prepare any pattern that seems easiest to you (for example, it can be a small cube);
  • fold the future cube with the inside parts inside and sew the object, leaving only a couple of centimeters on one of the corners not stitched;
  • Now turn out the blank of the toy and fill it with absolutely any material that makes a rustling sound (candy wrappers from candies or plastic bags will do);
  • put catnip inside the cube so that the thing attracts the attention of the pet even more;
  • the remaining hole will need to be carefully stitched with small stitches.

Toys of this kind are recommended to be made from natural wool or felt. These materials are more attractive to cats and cats.

Features of choice

As mentioned above, cat toys must be selected very carefully. The assortment of such things is huge today, so the vigilance shown will be out of place.

  • Always consider the preferences and nature of the pet. Follow the cat. Some individuals like to chase balls more, while others prefer to "fight" with teasers.
  • Be sure to evaluate how safe your chosen toy is. It should be made from environmentally friendly material, which contains no toxic compounds. There should not be easily falling off and detaching parts in the toy either. The presence of buttons, beads and other similar elements is unacceptable.
  • It’s better to buy several different toys at once.. It is worth choosing diverse options so that the pet has a good choice.
  • Take a look at multifunctional models with a good set of functions. For example, claw-point toys or massager toys are very popular today.

Useful tips and tricks

Do not forget that the cat, although it lives at home and feeds thanks to you, still remains a predator. She must bite or gnaw her prey. In such situations, toys made of fur, thread and feathers can be dangerous.

The animal may swallow them or become entangled in them. You can buy such things, but you will need to always carefully monitor how the cat plays with them. In this case, you can prevent the bad consequences in time and help the cat (or stop it from eating an inedible object).

Cats at any age love to hide. In this case, the best helpers for pets are carton boxes.

If several seals live at home at once, then it will be possible to entertain them with the struggle for such an interesting “strategic refuge”.

Each cat has its own favorite toy. Someone likes to nibble old slippers, a blown ball or a cocktail straw.

Do not take things from your pets that are ordinary rubbish for you.

If the animal chose such an object for the game, it means that something attracted him to it. Treat your pet's preferences with understanding.

Teasers can be used not only for playing with a cat or kitten. Such toys are effective in luring animals from their shelters.

Developing games, of course, have a good effect on the mental abilities of cats, allow you to master new "heights", gain new knowledge. But it should be noted that not all such toys really interest and occupy.

      Playing with cats must also be correct. If you just wave in front of an animal fishing rod with a teaser of feathers, then this will no longer be a full game in the hunt. In this case, the pet will take a defending posture and will be ready to defend itself against an annoying object. Often it will be uninteresting for a cat to play like this, but sometimes you need to resort to such actions, because in nature these pets need to be able to fight and defend.

      You can find out how to choose a toy for a cat from the next video.

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      Information provided for reference purposes. Do not self-medicate. For health, always consult with a specialist.

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