What are some fun toys for cats?
My cat is 6 years old and he’s been a lazy fat bum for a while now, so I’ve been trying to get some toys for him to play with. I got one of the whips and he LOVES when we play with that, and the balls with the bells in them.
What are some other fun toys for him to play with? He needs to lose some weight, haha.
Here’s some ideas to get you started:-
Puzzle Feeders
Cut holes in cardboard boxes and lay the bottom of the box with some treats that your cat must paw out.
Empty toilet tissue and paper towels rolling fun
Punch holes in the toll, fill with treat and tape the ends. As the cats push and roll, treat will drop out
Plastic bottles/jug
Alter plastic bottle and jugs by cutting tiny holes in them. Fill with treats and replace cap.
Yogurt cups
Punch holes in the sides and lids and fill with treats.
Egg Carton/Plastic easter eggs
Punch holes in a clear egg carton and fill with treats
(adapted from Cat Fancy magazine)
Other toys:-
Milk Jug Ring – just throw them on the floor and watch your cats go insane!
Shoelace – drag along the floor to keep the cat chasing
Twisty drinking straws – They love to chew on them and makes great hunting toys
Pillow Tunnels – line a few pillows on the floor to make a tunnel and watch you cat dash into them!
Crumpled paper – instant ball with sound effects!
Card box Tower – This requires some assembling but it’s a hit with all cats!
Materials needed:
1. One cardboard box
2. Ugly fabric any print or solid
3. Glue sticks
4. Sandpaper any grade
5. Catnip toy (optional)
6. Old sock (fill plastic bag with sand and insert in sock)
7. Extra cardboard
8. Pencil or marker
Tools needed:
1. Duct tape (personal favorite tool of mine)
2. Scissors
3. Glue gun
4. Serrated knife (steak knife works- so I hear)
Instructions:
1. Open cardboard box on one side by separating at seam. This will allow placement of a sandpaper shelf.
2. Cut a flat piece of cardboard to fit box, allowing enough for a 2 inch flap on 2 sides. These flaps will be used to glue shelf inside box. This will be a shelf or middle landing area. Glue sandpaper, rough side up, onto cardboard shelf.
3. Center the shelf inside cardboard box, this doesn’t need to be exact, just eyeball it, sand paper side up. Using glue gun attach shelf. Use duct tape and apply multiple layers to shelf and wall area to securely hold it in place.
4. Use duct tape to secure cardboard box back together at seam to hold its original shape.
4. Mark on the box, with pencil, where entry holes should be located. Carefully cut out holes.
5. Cut fabric to cover entire cardboard box.
6. Cover entire box with ugly fabric, even holes, these will be cut out later. Use glue gun to secure fabric to box, it works well.
7. Now find "holes area". Here you will snip the fabric in the center of each hole, then cut in a + sign pattern stopping ¼ inch away from cardboard. Pull these fabric flaps to the inside and secure with glue gun.
8. You’ve wondered now about the sand filled sock? The Cat box needs weight or kitty will surely knock it over, multiple times. So take the sock and duct tape it to the back of the box near the bottom. Sock can also be used in the bottom inside the box; cover completely with tape or kitty will find the sand.
Optional: Catnip toy can be attached to inside top of box.
You can also try making a cat hammock out of old pillow cases.
Visit the link for a pictorial guide and on how to set it up nicely..
http://irene-sheehy.com/cat-hammocks.htm
January 17th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
Here’s a link about cat toys:
http://www.absolutelycats.com/22Catnip.html
Good Luck!
References :
January 17th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
Lol. I know what you mean, my older cats are really fat. Well get a toy with feathers on it, that creates instant interesst. Cats love feathers especially when they are moving. Maybe get a stick with stuff dangling on it. That will get the cats attention. You can also try one of those plastic things with the ball that goes in a circle on a track. They are amazing. Just put some catnip in the cardboard part and the cat will be playing all night. It’s called the turbo scratcher and it’s simply amazing! My cats love it!
http://www.thecatconnection.com/miva/graphics/00000001/fur_2602.jpg
You could also get the kitty more toy balls and mouses, maybe somethng that you can control with a remote like a remote control mouse.
A lasor is also fun. My cats love them too! You can get them in any store and they are really cheap. Cats will run, jump and chase the laser dot.
References :
January 17th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
white mice and a PSP
References :
Gaming Cats Monthly
January 17th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Feathers on a stick are often well liked. My oldest cat currently is almost 14 years, and will still attack the furry mice. Goes after a ball once in awhile.
A cat dancer sometimes is irresistible. Some cats go after the red dot from a laser pointer, and other cats ignore it.
References :
January 17th, 2010 at 2:14 pm
haha! Sounds like my fat cat. My kitty loves laser pointers. I got one from target that looks like a mouse. He will even climb up the walls when he chases it.
My cats also like balls that are soft and lightweight. They cant make any noise. My cats carry them around the house in their mouths…really cute.
References :
January 17th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
My cat loves to play with anything that makes a crinkle sound. He’ll especially get into an empty case of water and poke at the plastic cover. Or there are some toys at the pet store that make crinkle sounds when the cats walk on them or play with them. The cats get exercise by jumping on, and running around the toy that makes the sound.
Hope this helps.
References :
January 17th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
try one with catnip they love it bells are good toy mice are fun if you play at hiding them scratching poles are good and featherd toys hope this helps.
References :
January 17th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
My new kittens love the peacock feather we bought them, and one of them is CRAZY over this shiny, soft, blue ball. She will pick it up in her mouth and growl with it but every time we throw it she runs like crazy to get it. Idk if this is a toy but my cats love their cardboard scratch post. They also love to hit things (like balls in plastic containers) that go around and around and around.
References :
January 17th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Here’s some ideas to get you started:-
Puzzle Feeders
Cut holes in cardboard boxes and lay the bottom of the box with some treats that your cat must paw out.
Empty toilet tissue and paper towels rolling fun
Punch holes in the toll, fill with treat and tape the ends. As the cats push and roll, treat will drop out
Plastic bottles/jug
Alter plastic bottle and jugs by cutting tiny holes in them. Fill with treats and replace cap.
Yogurt cups
Punch holes in the sides and lids and fill with treats.
Egg Carton/Plastic easter eggs
Punch holes in a clear egg carton and fill with treats
(adapted from Cat Fancy magazine)
Other toys:-
Milk Jug Ring – just throw them on the floor and watch your cats go insane!
Shoelace – drag along the floor to keep the cat chasing
Twisty drinking straws – They love to chew on them and makes great hunting toys
Pillow Tunnels – line a few pillows on the floor to make a tunnel and watch you cat dash into them!
Crumpled paper – instant ball with sound effects!
Card box Tower – This requires some assembling but it’s a hit with all cats!
Materials needed:
1. One cardboard box
2. Ugly fabric any print or solid
3. Glue sticks
4. Sandpaper any grade
5. Catnip toy (optional)
6. Old sock (fill plastic bag with sand and insert in sock)
7. Extra cardboard
8. Pencil or marker
Tools needed:
1. Duct tape (personal favorite tool of mine)
2. Scissors
3. Glue gun
4. Serrated knife (steak knife works- so I hear)
Instructions:
1. Open cardboard box on one side by separating at seam. This will allow placement of a sandpaper shelf.
2. Cut a flat piece of cardboard to fit box, allowing enough for a 2 inch flap on 2 sides. These flaps will be used to glue shelf inside box. This will be a shelf or middle landing area. Glue sandpaper, rough side up, onto cardboard shelf.
3. Center the shelf inside cardboard box, this doesn’t need to be exact, just eyeball it, sand paper side up. Using glue gun attach shelf. Use duct tape and apply multiple layers to shelf and wall area to securely hold it in place.
4. Use duct tape to secure cardboard box back together at seam to hold its original shape.
4. Mark on the box, with pencil, where entry holes should be located. Carefully cut out holes.
5. Cut fabric to cover entire cardboard box.
6. Cover entire box with ugly fabric, even holes, these will be cut out later. Use glue gun to secure fabric to box, it works well.
7. Now find "holes area". Here you will snip the fabric in the center of each hole, then cut in a + sign pattern stopping ¼ inch away from cardboard. Pull these fabric flaps to the inside and secure with glue gun.
8. You’ve wondered now about the sand filled sock? The Cat box needs weight or kitty will surely knock it over, multiple times. So take the sock and duct tape it to the back of the box near the bottom. Sock can also be used in the bottom inside the box; cover completely with tape or kitty will find the sand.
Optional: Catnip toy can be attached to inside top of box.
You can also try making a cat hammock out of old pillow cases.
Visit the link for a pictorial guide and on how to set it up nicely..
http://irene-sheehy.com/cat-hammocks.htm
References :
January 17th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
get something with catnip in it. my cat goes mad for it, she plays for ages with it.
References :
January 17th, 2010 at 5:26 pm
You could try a "Slim Cat" ball! It is a sturdy plastic toy that you fill with your cat’s food, and it will dispense food as your cat plays. You can adjust the holes to make it easier or harder for the food to fall out.
I recently bought one at my local pet store, and it’s great. I feed my cat half his food in a dish in the morning, then in the evening he gets the other half in the Slim Cat. The package recommends feeding exclusively with the toy if your cat is quite heavy.
The food reward gives your cat incentive to play independently. In addition to teasing with the whip, your cat should be pretty active!
Keep in mind that most cats have difficulty losing weight. Reducing their food can be dangerous, so lower portions slowly and not too dramatically while emphasizing play time.
References :
Here’s a picture of what to look for. You can get it online or check local pet stores.
http://www.amazon.com/Multivet-Slimcat-Ball-Feeder-Green/dp/B001D1BNFG
January 17th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
my cats love these little mice that rattle…
and they also love anything w/ catnip…
http://www.zooplus.com/bilder/valerian/mouse/cat/toy/1/51218_intierior_katzenspiel_1.jpg
References :
January 17th, 2010 at 6:18 pm
I also have a fat cat and she loves the undercover mouse and panic mouse cat toys. The best thing about them is that they are battery operated so you can turn them on and the cat can play with out you. Plus it is hilarious to watch. You can see them in action here http://discountcatstuff.com/videos/best-cat-toys-videos/
References :
http://discountcatstuff.com/videos/best-cat-toys-videos/