interactive toys

Are Laser Toys Safe for Cats?

Feline Lifestyle| 38 Comments

cat-laser-toy

Some cats go wild for laser toys, chasing the little red dot around the house, up and down furniture, and, in Ruby’s case, even up walls. Well, she tried, anyway. Allegra will chase any reflection of light, even if it’s just the sun reflecting off my phone on the wall, so a laser pointer is definitely a hit with her.

But are laser toys really such a good idea to use with cats? And more importantly, are they safe?Continue Reading

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Product Highlight: RompiCatz Critter Collector Series

Products| 6 Comments

rompicatz-critter-collector-series

This post is sponsored by RompiCatz and contains affiliate links*

Wand toys are one of the best ways to get your cat engaged with play and allow them to exercise their natural hunting an prey instinct. I’ve found that few toys are as well thought out and designed as the RompiCatz Critter Collector Series. RompiCatz founder Ellen T. has been creating toys that move and act like real prey for many years. Each toy is extensively tested by Ellen and her team of furry assistants and their many furry volunteers who gladly lend a helping paw.Continue Reading

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Petstages Tower of Tracks

Products| 12 Comments

tower-of-tracks

This post contains affiliate links*

Ball and spin toys are nothing new, but this new inexpensive take on an old favorite looks really good to me, so I wanted to share it with you. This three tiered tower features a stacked and sturdy construction with a non-slip base to hold the toy in place.Continue Reading

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Pet Fit for Life® Wand Toys (2023 Review)

Products| 3 Comments

pet-fit-for-life-cat-wands

This post is sponsored by Pet Fit for Life® and contains affiliate links*

Interactive wand or fishing pole type toys help entice your cat to play and satisfy her hunt/prey instinct. They’re also a wonderful way to bond with your cat. With so many wand toys out there, it’s hard to tell which ones are good quality and will actually excite your cat, rather than ending up being relegated to the corner of a closet. The Pet Fit for Life® meet both criteria, and then some.Continue Reading

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Fitness Toys for Your Cat

Products| 9 Comments

fitness-toys-cats

This post contains Amazon Associate links.*

Regular exercise is just as important for our cats as it is for us. Exercise not only helps keep your cat physically healthy and prevents her from becoming overweight or obese, it also keeps her mentally stimulated. Helping your cat get more exercise can also be a wonderful way to increase and strengthen the bond between you and your cat.

Admittedly, it can be challenging to get some cats to exercise for any length of time, but as with so many other things, having the right tools can make all the difference. The following toys can help get even the most reluctant kitty off the couch.Continue Reading

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Play Aggression in Cats: How to Prevent and Correct It

Feline Behavior| 19 Comments

play-aggression-cats

Cats need to play. Play is vitally important to a cat’s mental and physical health, and it’s especially important for indoor cats. Even though cats may sleep up to 16 hours a day, when they’re awake, they need stimulation, and the best way to accomplish this is with play. In the wild, when lions, tigers, and other wild cats aren’t sleeping, they’re either hunting or teaching their young to hunt. And play is nothing more than channeling your domestic tiger’s hunting instinct into play.Continue Reading

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Ripple Rug Review

Products| 12 Comments

Ripple-Rug

Play is vitally important to a cat’s mental and physical health, and it’s especially important for indoor cats. Even though cats may sleep up to 16 hours a day, when they’re awake, they need stimulation. The best way to accomplish this is with play, and the best toys are those that engage your domestic tiger’s natural hunt and prey instinct. The Ripple Rug does this in a super creative and fun way.Continue Reading

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Why Your Cat Needs Environmental Enrichment

Feline Behavior| 2 Comments

cat-tree

Environmental enrichment is a term that is used by many feline behaviorist, and it’s important that you understand what it means for your cats.

Creating an environment that stimulates your cats’ senses and gives her opportunities to exercise her natural instincts is especially important for indoor cats. Renowned behaviorist Jackson Galaxy, host of Animal Planet’s “My Cat From Hell,” calls environmental enrichment “catification.” Catifying your cat’s environment not only makes her happy, it can also prevent serious behavior problems ranging from scratching and inappropriate elimination to aggression toward other cats in the household.Continue Reading

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Best Interactive Cat Toys

Feline Behavior, Feline Health| 18 Comments

Allegra with Neko Flies Kattipede

Interactive toys are a great way to keep your cats stimulated both mentally and physically, and a great way for both you and your cats to get in on the fun.

Interactive toys fall into two categories: toys that your cats can play with on their own, and toys that are designed for joint play for cat and human. I introduced you to Interactive Puzzle Toys for Smart Cats a couple of months ago.

Interactive toys provide fun for cat and human

Toys such as feather teasers,wand toys or fishing pole type toys can provide hours of fun for you and for kitty. Playing with your cat is not only fun, it also increases the bond between the two of you. Here are some of my, and Allegra and Ruby’s, favorites:Continue Reading

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Interactive Puzzle Toys for Smart Cats

Feline Behavior, Products| 22 Comments

CatAmazing_Review

Puzzle toys are a great way to keep your cats entertained and mentally stimulated when you can’t play with them. The toys are designed to be filled with treats, and they challenge kitty to retrieve the treats through varied openings in the toys. Most puzzle toy manufacturers recommend using dry food with these puzzles. Since I don’t recommend feeding any dry food, not even as treats, I recommend using freeze dried meat based treats such as Pure Bites or Whole Life.

There’s a huge variety of puzzle toys on the market. The toy shown above is the CatAmazing Puzzle Toy, and it’s remained a big hit with Allegra and Ruby. In addition to using treats inside the toy, I put smaller toys inside, and that works just as well as treats in terms of holding their interest.Continue Reading

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