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Cat toys are a form of enrichment in their daily lives. It is always nice to have a variety of things to keep them busy, whether they’re engaging in solo play, same-species play, or human play.
Toys are a way to enhance your cat’s life quality, promoting healthy exercise, brain activity, and socialization skills. If you have recently bought a new toy for your cat and you want to address it to them adequately, here are a few tips to get you started.
It shouldn’t take much coaxing. Your cat should warm it up with a bit of motivation.
The 5 Tips on How to Get Your Cat to Love His New Toy
Some felines can be stubborn about accepting unfamiliar things—even if they would be entertaining to play with. Some cats are scared, others skeptical—and some don’t trust change.
But here are a few ways to pique some interest.
1. Play with Them!
If their human is interested in something, they’re more likely to give it a go. When introducing the new toy to your cat, spend several minutes playing with them so they learn it’s all fun and games.
Exercise is super important for your feline, and playing is a great way to encourage your kitty to move. But more so than exercise, the time you spend playing with your cat creates a bonding experience and level of companionship. There’s not a much better way to connect with your kitty than to engage in predatory play fights.
2. Lure Your Cat with Catnip
Most cats can’t refuse the alluring power of catnip. If you rub a little catnip on the toy’s exterior, permitting it didn’t already come with some inside, it can be extra motivation for your cat to take an interest.
Catnip can really enrich your cat's life, especially if you choose a fun, well-built catnip toy. Our favorite option is Hepper's Catnip Stick Toy, which offers sturdy construction, 100% organic catnip fill, and a great range of colors. These toys are handmade in the USA and feature bite-proof double bagging.
At PangoVet, we've admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
3. Let them Sniff Around
Oftentimes it’s best to let your feline investigate. Set a new toy or toy down on the floor where they can really get up in the nooks and crannies. They will want to sniff around and might be hesitant at first. This is an effective way to ensure they learn the toy is not dangerous and if you are lucky, the more they inspect, the more curious they mightl become.
4. Create Positive Associations
Oftentimes, toys have no significant value for your cat until they learn that they are actually positive. You can ensure they like their toy by rewarding your cat to create positive associations with it. Teach your cat how to play with the toy by tossing a treat every time they approach it, paw it, or put it in their mouth. Very soon your kitty will be excited every time they see their toy. Once they are at this stage you can start to give treats only from time to time.
5. Keep The Reinforcement Value Up
One more thing, never give them full free access to those toys. If they are always available, they become just a regular part of the environment. Instead, have a variety of toys in a box and allow your cat to play with them only for a few minutes in the day. Use a variety of them in a rotation and present them a couple of times a day. This will ensure your cat sees them as an opportunity rather than something that is always available.
Types of Toys to Try
There are tons of toys on the market to keep most domestic house cats busy.
Self-Play Entertainment
Self-play toys are ones your cat can bat around and operate independently. They don’t need any additional cats, pets, or people to help them out.
These toys include:
- Fake mice
- Catnip stuffed toys
- Scratching posts
- Balls on a track
- Puzzles
- Exercise wheels
- Treat dispensing toys
Cat-to-Cat Play
Cats can share lots of toys, even ones that provide solo play. But here are a few fun activities they can engage in together.
- Cat trees
- Exercise areas
- Cat rooms
- Tunnels
- Hanging teasers
Human-Feline Play
There are tons of toys you can enjoy alongside your feline buddy. But be careful! If you’re playing with just any old toy, you can get scratched or bitten quite easily. It’s good to put some distance between you and those ferocious claws!
- Teasers
- Wands
- Handheld lasers
DIY Cat Toys
There are tons of cat toys you can make for little to no cost to you. Once you know what kind of toys your cat prefers, you can create them at home using a DIY tutorial. Plus, it’s something fun to pass the time or even an exciting project for your children.
This is an inexpensive way to really see what works for your cat, too. That way, you are spending something other than a bunch of hard-earned cash on expensive gambles that your cat will never touch. Don’t worry—you don’t have to get creative. That’s what Pinterest creators are for!
Generally, you can find DIYs to match any experience level. Just make sure you don’t use any toxic paint and the toys you make don’t have small pieces that your cat could accidentally ingest.
Importance of Interactive Play
Interactive play is extremely good for your cat. Kittens learn most of their social abilities through interactive play with their siblings. Much more social than their wild cousins, well-socialized adult domestic cats enjoy having other creatures, big and small, around to socialize with.
This promotes healthy mental stimulation and physical activity.
Some cats really do prefer to spend their time by themselves. Granted, that’s only true in some cases. But if you can, getting them to engage will give the old grump a refresher they didn’t know they needed.
Catnip Considerations
Catnip is definitely a cat favorite. It is marketed all over and has various species-specific products, but it can be a good thing. Some catnip can be harmful to cats—and some cats are totally immune to the mind-altering effects of this frenzied feline herb.
Be Careful About Toxic Elements
Sometimes certain pesticides and other chemicals that are sprayed onto catnip can cause allergic reactions and other health concerns in cats.
It’s always best to buy organic catnip that contains traceable ingredients when you can. Most companies advertise whether their catnip is organic and may also include where it is sourced—so pay attention to labels and fine print!
If you’re concerned about your cat’s catnip consumption, speak to a veterinarian right away.
No Effect
Catnip affects roughly 60-75% of cats, but definitely not all of them. Certain cats are immune to the alluring aspects of this magical plant. If your cat is among them, any toy that contains catnip will not be any more motivating.
If you have a cat that is immune to catnip, you can offer other greens—like cat grass. Your cat can munch away on their own patch in a warm window. Your houseplants are safe, and your cat is getting a little roughage in its diet. Why not?
The other great news is that valerian root and silvervine are other great alternatives to catnip that you can try for your cat as many cats who are not susceptible to the euphoric effects of catnip are susceptible to these fun alternatives.
Final Thoughts
Most cats won’t have trouble breaking in a new toy—especially if you have a crazed feline ready to shred anything that comes their way. But sometimes, your kitty can need some convincing, and you can help soften their judgment.
Remember, you don’t always have to spend money on new toys. Check out our site’s DIY tutorials on all sorts of exercises, puzzles, and toy inventions for your cats. Who doesn’t want to craft on a rainy day? Plus, it’s usually free!
Featured Image Credit: Natalya On, Shutterstock
