How to make the toy look real

When we try to figure out what cats like in toys, it can seem that cats will fall for the darndest things. Will cats play with anything that is sparkly or crackly or pointy or has knobs on it?

Well, kinda.

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When we see cats playing with wrapping paper or electrical cords or rubber bands or pencil erasers, we can be forgiven for assuming cats don’t care what they play with. But then they ignore what we think is a wonderful toy that we got them, special. What is going on?

Some of what the cat likes is the qualities of the materials. Crumpled paper is easy for a cat to handle, and sheets or boxes of it tend to make wonderful hiding places for potential prey. Likewise, electrical cords can intertwine and look like branches in nature, which can have prey hiding in them.

It might be subtle, like the sparkle of a foil toy. It might be obvious, like a toy mouse made of rabbit fur. But somewhere there is a prey, or a prey habitat, resemblance. Or our cats would not be so interested in it.

We can make something look right.

We can make something act right.

If we combine both ways of catching the cat’s interests, we will be sure to trip the cat’s prey instincts. The foil toy mimics the shine of a beetle’s carapace. The crackly toy sounds like small prey, walking. The round ball bounces unpredictably.

I added body parts to the denim cat toy on the end of a Kitty Tease, and interest increased even more. The flexible fiberglass of this wand toy’s construction makes it easy to mimic the wavering flight of some insect in the house. It also can make the same sound fluttering against a bookcase side or storage cabinet as the genuine article will.

The shredded denim is already an excellent substitute for such prey, as it frays into body extensions. Adding a thorax (with some differently colored twine) or adding eyes (with a scrap of tough rubber) or wings (lace scraps) or legs (some glittery cord that does not detach, only shred) are all easy additions to most toys we can do ourselves.

Here’s some tips to use in casting and directing our cat toy “actors” to help the cat take an interest in the play:

Good casting. This works for looks and acts, because the most lifelike bug in the world is less fun if it just lies there. If we can make it mimic the moves of real prey, we can interest the cat in a scrap of cloth or paper.

Increasing the look of the cat toys to resemble prey will help the cat with “self play,” where they act as both shooter and goalie, and will give them incentive to have fun with their toy.

Steady exposure. We will teach the cat about their toy if we add our interest to theirs. We bond with our cat when we share play.

We can make it more interesting to both of us if we talk about the prey, having them dart around the table legs with taunting directed at our cat. Or perhaps some cats like playing Godzilla, where we have little prey going about their business, when suddenly, Godzilla!

This gets us to talk to our cat. We will add a verbal element to their understanding. We will open communication doors.

A daily play session with such mutually enjoyable elements will create a routine that our cats, and ourselves, will look forward to playing.

Respect for the process. We must “direct our play” for our cats to get the most from it. Let our cat toy actors indulge in scenery chewing death scenes from our favorite movies and games.

We both enjoy some dramatic emoting. This, too, is dramatic realism.

I mean, after the cat has been taunted like that. It was bound to happen.

By having a surprise discovery, a thrilling chase, and a melodramatic ending, we will see our cats gain maximum benefits. It’s also vital exercise, mental stimulation, and learning opportunities.

Go on. When’s the last time we had fun with our cat?

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There’s more ways to care for our cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See all of my posts on CAT CARE.