Cat toys are incredible accessories that help stimulate your cats mentally, while also providing them with good physical exercise. They are beneficial for indoor cats who usually are less active than their outdoor counterparts. Without enough exercise, a cat can turn destructive and lead to hyperactivity at night, scratching on your precious belongings or displaying unwanted aggression.
With cat toys, you will not only provide them with a healthy outlet for their pent-up energy but will also boost your overall bond with them.
Which Toys Should I Give My Cats?
The type of toys that will be ideal for your cats depends on their temperament and habits. Almost all cat toys are designed to encourage the instincts in cats like chasing, climbing, pouncing and scratching. Your cats may like indulging in one of these behaviours more or may even like to do all of these.
It is suggested that you only buy a toy till you have learned your cat’s behaviour and preferences. This will help you save a lot of money, as you won’t be spending on toys which your cats don’t like.
Best Cat Toy Types to Choose From
Here is a list of some of the best cat toys which are favourites for a lot of cats, and hence are also popular among cat owners.
- Tennis Balls: Almost all cats love chasing balls and batting them. Tennis balls offer good bounce and movement, which stimulates the cats to run after them. This is also a great toy to burn the excess calories in your cat’s body, thereby making them leaner and stronger.
- Plush Toys: Plush toys come in various caricatures like mice, rabbits, squirrels, birds etc which triggers the hunting instincts in cats and keeps them busy with these toys for hours. Chewing these toys also makes your cat’s teeth stronger.
- Motorized String Cat Toys: One of the best toys for cats, a motorized string cat toy taps into the prey drive of the cats since it moves like an actual mouse. These are ideal toys for those cats who have pent-up energy and resort to unwanted scratching and chewing.
- Interactive Cat Toys: An Interactive Cat Toy is essentially a toy that stimulates a predatory response in a cat. For instance, a toy like SmartyKat Chit Chatter Touch-Activated Cat Toy gives out realistic prey sounds upon touching them. This makes it an ideal toy for cats to play with for hours.
- Catnip Toys: A Catnip toy is infused with a natural herb called “Catnip” which offers blissful relaxation to the cats, and creates feelings like happiness, affection and excitement. Apart from keeping the cats busy, catnip toys also help in boosting your bond with the cat.
- Scratching Posts: If you have a cat that indulges in excessive scratching, look no further than scratching posts to give them a healthy outlet. Remember, scratching is a natural behaviour in cats and you can’t prevent them but only produce a creative outlet. Scratching posts does exactly that.
- Cardboard Box: Cats love sitting in dark, enclosed spaces where they can quietly observe the world. This is why cats love cardboard boxes and love to hide inside them. What you can do is, take a cardboard box and cut holes in it, which will allow endless entertainment for cats, as they can hide and also watch their surroundings.
Which Cat Toys You Should Avoid?
Not all toys are safe for the cats. Some owners give their cats items like yarn balls or string balls to play with. This is highly dangerous for cats since they can swallow yarns and strings which can get stuck in their intestinal tract, causing serious damage to them if left untreated.
Similarly, plastic can also cause intestinal damage to cats, and hence, you should keep plastic bags out of your cat’s reach.
In a Nutshell,
You have seen some highly effective ways that will help you pick the best cat toy for your felines. If you still encounter problems in selecting the ideal toy for your cat or are bothered about a toy’s safety, you can speak to your vet to get some excellent insights. They will also give valuable tips to keep your cats stimulated healthily.
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