There are two reasons why buying your cat toys is a good idea. Firstly because they will enjoy playing with them, keeping them busy and entertained and secondly because they will not use your furniture as toys. But deciding on the best toy for your cat can be tricky because there are so many different ones available!
recycled toys
You can spend a fortune on cat toys and that’s great, but sometimes they’ll appreciate a simple recycled item from around the house. Perhaps the all-time favorite cat toy is a cardboard box: it’s great for sitting and sleeping, ambushing and hiding. Take a box more than big enough for the cat to fit in and cut out an entry hole, as well as some “windows” for sneaky paw attacks. This will keep them entertained for a long time and they can use the box as a scratcher and the texture will feel good on their claws.
Similarly, paper bags have the essential charm of cat toys. They are great for sitting and attacking, as well as being easy to scratch and even chase around the house. Particularly if there are two cats in the household, the paper bag is still a superior toy and is often a free part of doing some shopping.
interactive toys
There are many toys that you can use to play with the cat to interact with it and have fun. Most of these will involve some sort of stick or wand to make sure your hands are out of the way of those flailing claws. One example is a Feathers on a Stick toy that involves a simple plastic stick with a cluster of feathers on the end. The resemblance to a friendly bird is unmistakable and they will have a lot of fun chasing it on the ground or jumping to catch it.
Another simple but effective toy is a piece of string or ribbon. Drag it across the ground or through the air and it won’t be long before there’s a cat on the other end! wear a length of at least a couple of feet long to avoid being scratched, but make sure this toy disappears when you’re not around in case you get tied up with it.
appropriate toys for cats
For solo play, fluffy mice are always a hit and if your cat likes catnip-scented items then a toy with this will encourage her even more. They can mimic their hunting behavior, pouncing on prey and then proudly carrying it around the house once they’ve ‘killed’ it. Some make noises or move independently and these are great for braver cats, while timid ones may find this intimidating.
Cat balls are so much fun as they are lightweight, can be easily chased around the house but are big enough that younger cats won’t choke on them. Often supplied in packets, the biggest danger can be to anyone’s feet when the cat chases the ball around the house!