(First of three parts)
Like humans, cats need mental stimulation and playtime to make them happy.
“The toys that you choose for your cat must take into account the natural behavior of the species. Often the simple ones are the best and ones that offer unpredictable movement, rapid movement, and high-pitched sound are likely to provide your cat with hours of entertainment,“ said Vet West Animal Hospitals in “Toys—Choosing Safe Play Toys For Your Cat.”
Simple and attractive toys
Here are examples of simple toys:
1. Pieces of paper rolled up to provide entertainment for cats if you will move them in an unpredictable and exciting way.
“You can add to the value of this sort of play by rolling the paper downstairs or along ledges and incorporating an element of agility into the game, Vet West said.
2. Cats love to pick up their toys, Vet West said. It suggested that owners give small items and not large ones.
3. Attach a tasty treat to the toy, Vet West said.
4. Attach different items onto the end of the string attached to a rod for different play sessions, Vet West added.
“Cats that initially show interest in chasing a toy may quickly lose interest. However, this may not be an indication that the play session is over, but rather that the novelty of the specific toy has worn off. In fact, for some of these cats, the play intensity might be heightened and stopping might only lead to chasing of less appropriate objects such as your hands or legs. Therefore be certain to try at least one or two additional toys before ending the session, “ Vet West said. DC