Cat Toys: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

The carpets around my house are beginning to resemble an ancient burial ground for prehistoric cat toys. Strewn hither and yon, I am considering hiring an anthropologist to help discover their origin.

Now I realize that a few of these tattered toys amazingly remain my cats' favorites, but as I  run across fragments of eyes, pieces of ears and stumps of tails that were at one time part of what I considered to be attractive playthings,  it is difficult for me to understand what keeps these skeletons so alluring to my cats.  I have to admit that I sometimes dispose of them, much to their chagrin.

As I wander through my house, I am aghast at the number of little furry or feathered bodies which were at one time recognizable, tossed aloft and deftly chased with enthusiasm by my pussycat predators. I had forgotten about most of them, but I suspect  my cats stash them away for a rainy day, leaving them scattered around randomly in almost every room for their convenience.

It seems that the bathroom is the storage spot in which my cats prefer to hide their "loot". I discovered these two bandits this morning apparently gloating over the bodies of their kill.

 
These adorable "Rosie  Rats" won't last long, sadly to say. Within a week or two, my three hunters will annihilate  these pristine furry critters, tailoring them to fit their needs.

Now I ask you what should a kitty mom do to keep them happy?  I far prefer the appearance of these adorable little guys to the worn out remains that they seem to adore. Am I being selfish?

Of course my kitty gifts really should be unconditional. I guess I will just have to continuously restock their supply as the toys fall apart from their constant use. It  must mean that I have hit the jackpot in finding toys that they most enjoy.

Do your cats appear to favor their older "used up" toys over the newer, more attractive and appealing variety?  Please leave a comment and share your cat toy experiences.

The Impeccable Feline: Spoiling Your Cat?

 

I will let you in on a little secret, but please don't tell anyone. I am holding you to your promise!  I don't want my husband to know!

There is nothing more appealing to me, as far as my kitties are concerned, than finding products that will delight not only them, but which will make my life as a cat servant easier and more enjoyable. I am frequently found surfing the Internet looking for new and unique items with which I can treat my fur kids to a delightful and interesting past time.

Today I was in luck. A friend sent me an email filled with fascinating feline oriented items.  And while I totally enjoyed visiting the sites and reading about these fancy and intriguing  toys and products that I would dearly love to purchase, my pocketbook seemed a bit light.

For example, take this very creative item designed by Sandy Lam, aptly named, Catain.

This is a curtain that has been designed expressly for  climbing by your pussycat, who will hopefully leave your own draperies untouched. Clever idea, but I wonder how kitty will distinguish the feline version from the human variety?  It kind of gives one pause for reflection. You can read more about it by visiting: Curtains Made Just For Kitty.  While you are there, check out their amazing scratching posts. There are times when I wish I were a pampered ball of fur!

The Cat Connection offers lots of fabulous stuff which your impeccable feline will most certainly shower you with affection if you gift them with a few of the items offered for sale. They even have a Cat Sitter DVD available which will lull the most finicky indoor cat into thinking he is enjoying an afternoon in the great outdoors. What more an enchanting gift could you bestow ?

 
I highly recommend that you make your final stop by visiting The Sophisticated Cat, a luxury Cat Boutique to complete your shopping trip. You can even find the purrfect cabinet to tastefully camouflage the litter box.

 

Do you think your feline would be enthralled by these fabulous fancy feline products, or do you suspect that we humans will find them more enchanting, leaving kitty bored in short order?  Please do share your thoughts with a comment.

The Cat Toy Dilema

Finding a cat toy that is both appealing and safe would be a great discovery.

I am a sucker when it comes to giving presents to my cats. I search for them with a passion that would rival the quest for the Holy Grail. After searching the Internet I found a whale shaped cardboard toy that featured an area that was designed to provide hours of happy scratching and even a place to stretch out to take a nap. What appealed to me especially is that a portion of the proceeds were donated to an animal charity. What a win-win situation I thought.

I carefully stashed it away in the hall closet to save for Christmas. My cats were on it like white on rice. Opening the bi-fold mirrored closet door, they found it and dragged it out into the middle of the living room. For 15 minutes they played with it like it was a million dollar treat.

Then it sat there, dejected, rejected and unused. They may have thought that it might make a good foot rest for humans.

Two other toys arrived that I thought would be appealing and enticing. One was a pink mouse on wheels. Pull the tail and the little critter runs across the floor inviting kitties to stalk them. After a few luke warm chases, this mouse is now resting on its back, wheels in the air like a dead thing. The other was a mouse attached to a wire, connected to a weight loaded base. Cats are supposed to play with this mouse while the base revolves making the toy more compelling. Yeh right sure. This toy has been relegated to a huge pile of useless toys in our bedroom.

My friend brought my kitties a gift, pictured above. They loved it. All of them seemed to be attracted to it. Lucyfur, my mackerel tabby domestic spay, upon finding it, grabbed it out of my hand, growling and hissing at the other cats, claiming it as her prey, warning them not to approach her or the feathery object attached to the plastic wand with a string.

With one swift move she detached the toy from the wand scurrying under the bed making fearsome sounds. The toy has since disappeared . . . hopefully someone will be find it and resurrect it from its hiding place.

What kinds of safe toys continue to attract your cat's attention for a reasonable amount of time? I want to keep my threesome happy .

It seems to be my primary mission in life, lately.

Then Came Lucyfur!

For years I strongly resisted the addition of a third cat to our household. After we lost Mousie Tongue,a beautiful seal point Siamese to a hidden heart condition when he was eight years old, I wondered if I would ever be ready to bring another cat into our home, or if I could ever be able to open my heart again.

My Veterinarian, Dr. Erin Holder,of Florida Wild Veterinary Hospital in Deland, Florida  began dropping compelling little hints to me, every once in awhile, suggesting that it might just be the right time to consider adding another cat. Since over two years had passed, adopting a kitten might be prudent. After all, a diminutive  ball of fluff has got to be appealing to any cat lover, right?

I began to give her invitation serious thought. So when she called to let me know me that a litter of kittens were available to go to a new home, my husband and I reluctantly,  our curiosity aroused though, visited her clinic for a look. After all, how could I say, "no" to her gentle reminder.

Mousie Tongue was a super affectionate cat who always gave me kisses, or spent time chewing my hair. It seemed like his tongue was always ready to bestow a loving gift, or to give me the feline version of a shampoo to ensure that I was appropriately groomed. He took such good care of me. So much to my surprise and delight, when I reached into the cage to remove the prospective adoptee, and held her close to my face, she immediately started giving me an abundance of kisses. That did it! I decided at that moment that her behavior was a sign of approval from Mousie Tongue and she came home with us.

Lucyfur has been a part of our family for almost three years. She is not a highly social cat, and will deign to sit on my lap from time to time. She plays with the boys on her terms,chasing them around the house in spurts, is highly territorial about "her" toys and is not a fussy eater. But she continues to kiss me and has even learned to do so when I request one, verbally. 

But I sure don't appreciate the facials she gives me with her sand paper tongue, and her continuing compulsion to chew upon my fingers. But it sure is hard to refuse these little purrsonality traits that she must consider to be endearing.

I am very happy that I listened to Dr. Holder's reminders. After all, Mousie Tongue must have been whispering in her ear in the first place.

Do you ever feel that a Rainbow Bridge baby has located a needy pet to join your family? I am curious to hear about your experiences.

 

Traveling With Pets: Helpful Hints

 
Missy Toe: Who owns Donna

I am frequently asked,"What is the best way to travel with a cat?"  While some cats do enjoy traveling, in my experience with ours, they are not a part of that elite group of felines.

The moment our cats spy a carrier they become anxious.  No matter what we have done to make their carriers more appealing and inviting, leaving them around the house filled with cozy towels and abundant toys and treats, they are not falling for our rouse.

While they do not  necessarily associate carriers with the dreaded trip to the veterinarian, they know that once they are placed in that soft bag carrier, that the noisy moving monster, the car, is not far behind.

They immediately express their feelings by communicating their displeasure loudly and incessantly, only pausing for a traffic light stop. The soft music we provide is drowned out completely.

Despite their discomfort with travel, cats often have to be transported when moving, or if we as caretakers are involved in breeding and showing  or just welcoming a new kitty into the household

While traveling with felines can be a stressful time for both cats and their caretakers, we can ensure their safety and  make them as comfortable as possible when travel becomes a necessity.

What can we do to make them as comfortable as possible while traveling?  It depends on the mode of transportation we are using.

Driving:  I recommend that kitties are safely enclosed in a carrier, crate or cage. While we may have to listen to the "Hallelujah" chorus for the entire trip,  letting a cat roam free in the car sets up a dangerous situation, not only for the cat, but for the driver as well.

Cats love to explore the interior of the car,  and  can often find themselves situated under the pedals, putting the driver at risk of injuring the cat. If a window must be opened, it is a tempting escape route.

I have frequently seen felines posing attractively in the rear window, soaking up the sun, but this is worrisome to me. A cat loose in the car is inviting tragedy, as far as I am concerned.

Air Travel: Visit my previous entry:  Air Travel With pets: Making it Safer

If you are planning extensive travel with your pets, and are considering  overnight stays, there are many pet friendly hotels and motels that  do welcome our furry families. Visit  Pet Friendly Travel.com

 

Scarlette: Who owns Fourhorsegal

For dog lovers: For more information about traveling with your dog, visit  Dogtime.com's excellent article.

Traveling with a cat or dog does present challenges. With proper preparation the experience can be safe and enjoyable for both humans and pets.

Have you had an interesting travel story? Please leave a comment and tell us about it.

Let us Spray! What is Going on?

In the 44 years I have shared my heart and home with felines, I have been owned by only one intact Russian Blue male who sprayed. This happened once! Algernon was was in the middle of a show career as an adult. He was 14 months old and had never displayed a proclivity to spray. Of course, he was neutered the next day. I would far prefer to show a cat in Premiership classes ( for neutered cats) than have my house reek of cat urine. Neutering was an instant cure. There was never another episode of this undesirable behavior.

Now I am in a total quandary. We have three cats. They are all altered and indoor cats. Trouble, our 8 year old white Oriental shorthair is slightly neurotic so is presently under treatment with the anti-anxiety drug, Buspar. He tends to over-groom, pulling out large chunks of fur, resulting in a motley appearance. His disposition is very sweet and always easy to handle. His favorite past time beside eating is being doted upon with love.

Our lilac-point Oriental shorthair, Hush Puppy, also 8 years-of-age, is the gentlest of cats and loves to play with toys. His favorite activity is crawling under the covers with me, or to sit on my hip while we watch TV. Although he is the shiest of the three, Hush Puppy's purrs can be heard from quite a distance. He loves to bask on the hammock in front of the window in our bedroom, soaking up the sunshine while he naps. His rank in the hierarchy of our feline residents is the bottom of the totem pole.

Lucyfur is the youngster at three years old, in our house. Spayed and microchipped at three months-of-age, she was adopted from our Veterinarian's clinic. Lucyfur has a very strong personality. The word, "determined" comes to mind, in describing her disposition. While she is an affectionate kitty, when she makes up her mind to pursue a project, nothing in the world gets in her way. We think she is the dominant cat in our household, and strongly suspect that she is the culprit in our recent dilemma.

All of a sudden last week, we discovered that one of the cats was spraying the side of the bed, mattress, box spring and its metal frame. The carpet under the bed is impregnated with the pungent stench of cat urine. Our eyes water upon entering the room. We don't have a clue about what is causing this sudden aberrant behavior.

There is nothing new going on in our home. Schedules have not changed. We continue to have regular playtime with the cats and their favorite interactive toys. There have been no variations in feeding schedules or food. Our veterinarian examined the cats this morning so we now await anxiously for urine test results.

We are aware how deeply territorial cats are in nature. Since there have been a few noisy stray cats roaming the neighborhood recently, it is possible that this has triggered territorial marking behavior. Every window in the house is now closed.

And yet the spraying continues in spite of our using a pheromone product designed alleviate this behavior. We are at our wit's end with frustration, and truly hope that the cause is medical.

Update: Veterinary results of urine test: Struvite Crystals (FLUTD) which requires dietary change to higher protein, low carbohydrate ( no grain) food.

Thanks to everyone for the excellent comments and suggestions offered. It really is crucial to check for possible medical problems that may be the cause of inappropriate feline elimination behaviors.

I am so relieved that this is not territorial behavior raising its ugly head. I will post an update following her course of treatment, and results of her follow up exam in two weeks.

Silent Sunday on Frequently Feline: Cheap Cat Toy

Aaron Rift of TheCatDiaries seems to get his paws on some very inexpensive cat toys to entertain his feline friends. This one, which has captivated one of his kitties cost all of $2.00at Wal-Mart.

So you don't have to get "fancy" to impress your kitty. Watch his adorable video of this contented cat on a financial budget plan




Do your cats enjoy bargain brands in conparison the the pricier varity?

Leave a comment and let us know.

Overweight Cats: Are They Really Appealing?

 
With the overwhelming amount of  data with which we humans are subjected concerning the benefits of remaining slim to remain healthy and energetic, I am wondering  and concerned about what it is about fat cats that many people find humorous.

From what I have observed on the Internet, there are folks that actually take great pride in their overweight cat's appearance and publish their cat's photographs and even share videos of them.

Perhaps they are throwing out the gauntlet to win the title, "The World's Fattest Cat"?  Is there such a great disparity in  human's and feline's health needs?

Maybe the folks who find overweight cats entertaining  are not aware that these cats are at great risk for Diabetes, heart conditions, kidney failure and other serious diseases.

So why are these people bragging about their obese cats? I don't get it at all. If our two cats spend too much time hanging out on the couch watching ANIMAL PLANET, I get worried. They are bored and even possibly somewhat depressed because I may not be paying enough attention to them. I take the hint!

Cats have very specific nutritional needs , fresh water and plenty of exercise. Not only will that aid  burning off those extra calories, but it is a great opportunity for bonding time with our felines. There are so many fabulous toys on the market to choose from  which will entertain cats and their servants for hours on end.

Watch the video "Fat Cats Rule" from SourApple2008

After I watched several videos featuring "chunky cats"  I was not surprised to observe that they all had very high "hits".

I   purrsonally still don't understand the reason for their popularity, do you? What are your thoughts about overweight cats? Leave a comment and tell us.

Felines Discover Ingenious Use for Exercise Bike

Our two ingenious cats, Hush Puppy and Lucyfur have discovered a few interesting uses for the broken exercise bike in our bedroom. Lucyfur loves to perch on the seat which affords her the opportunity to locate any "hidden" toys, and Hush Puppy occasionally enjoys draping himself on the handlebars to stretch out for a nap.

But their greatest delight is jumping into a plastic bag, swinging to their heart's content when I hang a plastic bag from the handlebars.

The other day I returned from my veterinarian's office with a stash of cat food stored in a paw-printed plastic bag. As soon as the cans were unloaded, Hush Puppy excitedly jumped into the bag, staring at me with his huge blue eyes, begging me to play with him. I acquiesced to his imploring look, grabbed the bag and hung it on the handlebars.

The loud purring sounds which emanated from the bag resembled a finely tuned engine. Lucyfur, not missing a trick, watched Hush Puppy carefully. I could feel the wheels turning in her head as she made her move to get in on the act.

I grabbed my camera, and the rest is history! Enjoy this little video starring Hush Puppy and Lucyfur and, of course, a paw- printed plastic bag.

Happy Birthday today, Mozart!

Silent Sunday on Frequently Feline: Cat Toy of Interest?

I have tried so many of these toys with our cats, and most of the time they fall on deaf "paws". So quickly they get bored.. sigh..

But when I first watched this video by Aaron Rift (who has done it again with another new charming addition to his series), I was struck and purrhaps more hopeful that our cats might be drawn to this toy.

The calico kitty seemed to be entranced and so involved playing with the toy that I had hope.

This said, wait till you watch the end of the video however, and you decide if this is such a captivating contraption.