Cat toys are all around us at home. We don’t really need to buy them. We should take care because some informal toys can harm — small, short lengths of fine string, for example, can be trapped in the mouth and throat causing serious damage. Supervision is fairly important or at least an awareness of what is going on. Is the toy in the video dangerous, do you think? I watched him most of the time and it seemed safe to me.
Cats see things differently to us. Obvious! But it applies to toys. We like cat toys to look like cat toys. There is a commercial aspect to them. Cats aren’t commercial or consumers.
Cats see objects to play with. How do they select them? We’re not completely sure but bits of plastic are a favorite. They can get their teeth into them. They can push bits of plastic around, which animates the plastic object so that it becomes alive. They’re not too hard and they are durable.
The piece of plastic in the video is the plastic cover for the three prongs of a three-pin plug which we have in the UK. It comes with the packaging. Gabriel loves it and has played non-stop with if for 20 minutes and longer at one stretch.
On the basis of what I’m saying and what you can see in the video it does beg the question whether we need to buy cat toys because they are ultimately all around us at home.
Love to watch kittens at play. Gabriel is certainly growing and becoming more confident! I don’t think the plastic cover will hurt him at all.
Thanks Leah. He certainly is growing. He is very active in the evening and morning. Typical cat, but more noticeable for a young, active cat.
Kits are such a joy to watch. So much energy and fascination.
But, what I love most of all is when I see one of my older cats (12-15 years) engage in play. It doesn’t happen often; but, when it does, I’m so happy to see that kitten in them that I remember.
The age old games that cats play, running and jumping and stopping for a quick wash and fishing under the furniture, so lovely to see I could watch Gabriel play all day long. Yes he is growing fast and looking very confidant in his new home. You’ve done wonders with him Michael.
Thanks Babz. He is playing with the same piece of plastic this morning at 7:30 and he is still at it as I write this 30 mins later 😉 .
He is so curious and wonders why you are following him I bet. On the distilled water here, a soft ring comes off and Charlie loves those. After she plays they are ok to leave where they are since they don’t kill bare feet! Cats are funny critters! My dogs would rather play with the store purchased cat toys haha
Good one Tina. Plastic rings from bottles are another classic cat toy ; ) . I have the same experience. Gabriel is still playing with the same bit of plastic this morning (early) and he goes on for a very long time. Inexhaustible.
Yes, sometimes they seem to go on forever without getting tired. Even if I wad up a little piece of paper, the girls will play with it until I refuse to get on the floor to get it out from under whatever!