Toys for cats: types and subtleties of choice

In its natural habitat, a cat will always find a suitable object for play and entertainment. It can be a leaf flying in the wind, or a bug running past.

When the cats are in the conditions of 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, damaged furniture and nocturnal "chases" with a loud stomp.

Today we will find out which toys to buy for cats and which varieties are on sale.

Cats are pets that love to sleep, but they do not always spend 24 hours sleeping. Often they want to play and run well, spend the accumulated energy. For this, you need to buy toys in advance, which will become an object of entertainment for pets.

Suitable toys are essential for both small and adult cats. Let's take a closer look at what is the main purpose of such things in a cat's life.

• Correctly 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 reduce unnecessary stress to a minimum.
• Separation from the mother is often a serious trauma for the kitten. Toys in a new home will be able to shift 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 playing.
• While 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 while playing.
• By 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.
• When playing together with toys, you can quickly and easily establish contact between the owner and the cat.
• With toys, it will be easier for the 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 out into the street, but is exclusively domestic, then toys are simply necessary for him. Only with them will the animal waste the accumulated energy without feeling melancholy and without spoiling furniture, wallpaper and carpets.
• Playing with toys, kittens learn to hunt, defend and attack, and contact other animals. All this knowledge is necessary for cats.

Cat and cat toys are very important.

They not only allow animals to have a good rest, play and have fun, but also provide an opportunity to gain new knowledge and skills, to learn something interesting and useful. For example, more sophisticated intelligent and interactive toys develop pets' thinking skills.

There are so many different cat toys - from simple to more complex and educational. You can choose the ideal option for a pet with any character and preferences. Let's take a closer look at different types of toys for adult cats and kittens.

A favorite pastime of many owners is playing with a cat with a laser pointer. Themselves pets, such entertainments also captivate and occupy for a long time. You can buy a laser pointer at many retail outlets. They are inexpensive, but they cause true delight in cats and a desire to hunt the coveted red dot, inexorably escaping from the tenacious paws.

Many owners also really like these things - you can play with your pet without getting up from the sofa or chair. You don't have to make unnecessary movements either, so there is no waste of energy here.

However, we must remember that such a game shouldn't disappoint the pet.

At least once the cat must catch the red light, otherwise she will soon get tired of such entertainment, interest will be lost and an inevitable dissonance will arise. Because of this, the hunting program will fail, which is laid down at the genetic level.

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

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

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

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

These cat toys are ideal for pets as they will keep them occupied for a long time.With the help of these structures, it will be possible to distract the animal throughout the entire time when the owner is absent, for example, at work. True, even here it will be necessary to remember that one important condition is observed - at the end of all manipulations, the prey must be available to the domestic "hunter".

You can make similar toys for cats with your own hands. This may require a pre-drilled box, plumbing pipes, or plastic bottles. These structures are connected to each other with tape, a ball or other bait is launched inside. The holes must be made in such a way that the cat's paw can easily pass through.

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 winding things.

These automatic toys will keep cats busy, but only for a while.

The prey should not invariably elude the cat, but options that are too affordable will not work either.

If you did buy such toys for your pet, then they should not be thrown away or given away. Better to periodically remove them away for a couple of weeks so that the cat will forget about them. After a while, the animal will perceive things as something new and it will be interesting for him to play with them.

Will definitely interest the cat special dance mat.

An animal walking on such a thing will press on its surface with its paw, as a result of which a corresponding sound will be emitted, for example, the squeak of a mouse or the singing of birds. These sounds will stimulate your pet to take further action.

Mice are classic cat toys. They are of interest to 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, groovy and with a prize inside. It will be many times more interesting to chase such objects with a mustache.

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

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

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

Teasers are some of the most beloved toys by cats, and they are of particular interest. There are a lot of different items in this category. They can vary in shape, color and size. But at the same time, they are all designed to solve one main task - to attract the attention of a cat or kitten.

Such options are considered the most common and entertaining teasers.

• Feather toys. When a small number of feathers of different colors are attached to a stick (like a fishing rod), the cat will definitely pay attention to them and start hunting. They are very fond of cats and tumbler toys.These are original teasers, which are also often complemented with feathers in the upper part.
• An excellent option would be balls made of fur, attached to a stick like a fishing rod. These toys are often more robust and reliable than simple feather teasers. In most cases, they contain a special free-flowing filler, which, while the toy is moving, makes an attention-getting noise.
• Pendulum toys are no less popular and interesting. These teasers are a small, spiral-shaped piece attached to a base. Any interesting teaser is attached to the spiral. For example, it can be a mouse, a ball or feathers of different colors.

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

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

The animal can throw toys with mint, bite, lick or drive around the apartment. In most cases, after 10 minutes, the attractiveness of catnip is reduced to nothing, and the animal is already included in other games.

Cat toys are rightfully recognized as some of the most popular ones, which are designed not only to entertain pets, but also to clean their teeth.

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

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

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

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

True, with clawed paws, 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 it most likely will not have to move a lot. This option can be left in case you and your pet are in the right mood.

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

Before you start choosing the perfect toy for your pet, you need to consider which toys are dangerous for cats.

• It is strongly discouraged to put baits such as grapes or chocolate in cat toys. Chocolate, like any sweetness, is harmful to cats and should not be eaten by them. It is also better not to eat grapes with whiskered ones - they can easily choke on them.
• You should not buy or make your own cat toys, which contain additional details such as 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 toys.
• Plain white paper is recommended for playing with pets. Newspapers and other materials containing printing ink can be toxic and seriously harm your pet.
• It should be borne in mind that toys on strings (teasers) can be very dangerous for little kittens. Accidentally entangled in a rope or lace, the baby may simply suffocate or be very frightened if he manages to get out. Do not expose kittens to such hazards. It is better to put aside such toys until the pet is older.
• Spring toys may not be safe in all cases. Pets very often rip off the toy bait from them. The remaining unprotected sharp side (tip) of the spring can seriously harm your pet.
• It should be borne in mind that even ordinary boxes can be dangerous for cats. If the holes made in them are too small, the animal can get stuck in them.

Good and fun toys for cats and cats do not have to be bought for a lot of money. It is quite possible to build them with your own hands, without spending a lot of time and effort.

Simple and fast you can do teaser bow for a 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.

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

• the threads will need to be cut or simply rolled;
• 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 end result is a simple teaser rod.

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

It is done as follows:

• it is necessary to prepare 4 water supply elbows and connect them to each other in such a way that the result is a closed structure;
• 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 hurt itself on the protruding burrs;
• put a ball in the labyrinth (it is desirable that there is noisy filling in it).

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

Such a structure will be relevant if you put inside not balls / balls, 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 small piece of woven fabric;
• cut it into small strips of equal width and length (errors are permissible, but it is better if they are not too large);
• when cutting strips, take arbitrary sizes;
• then it will be necessary to carefully tie the woven strips into one bundle;
• fold them in half, and then tighten in the center with a thick thread or lace;
• cut the strips with scissors in places where there are folds;
• distribute the resulting "ponytail" evenly.

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

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

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

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

• first, prepare any pattern that seems to you the easiest to execute (for example, it can be a small cube);
• fold the future cube with the front parts inward and sew the object, leaving only a couple of centimeters in one of the corners not sewn;
• now turn out the blank of the toy and fill it with absolutely any material that makes a rustling sound (candy wrappers or plastic bags are suitable);
• place the catnip inside the cube to make the thing even more attracted to the pet's attention;
• the remaining hole will need to be sewn neatly with small stitches.

As mentioned above, the selection of cat toys must be very careful. The range of such things is huge today, so the vigilance shown will be useful.

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

Do not forget that although the cat lives at home and feeds thanks to you, it is still a predator. She must definitely bite or gnaw on 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 these things, but you will need to always carefully monitor how the cat plays with them. In this case, you will be able to prevent bad consequences in time and help the cat (or stop it from eating an inedible item).

Cats of any age are very fond of hiding. In this matter, the best helpers for pets are carton boxes.

If several cats live at home at once, then it will be possible to entertain them by fighting for such an interesting "strategic shelter".

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

If the animal has chosen such an object for the game, it means that something attracted him to him. 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 out of their hiding places.

Educational games, of course, have a good effect on the mental abilities of cats, allow them to master new "heights", gain new knowledge. But it should be borne in mind that not everyone is really interested in and occupied by such toys.

It is also necessary to play with cats correctly. If you just wave a fishing rod with a feather teaser in front of an animal, then this will no longer be a full-fledged hunting game. In this case, the pet will assume a defensive posture and will be ready to defend itself from the annoying object that annoys him. Often the cat will not be interested in playing this way, but sometimes such actions must be resorted to, because in nature these pets need to be able to fight and defend themselves.

You can learn how to choose a toy for a cat in the following video.