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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / October 2004New (old) cat toy
I have seen references in the past to a toy I FINALLY located! The battery operated ball with attached fur squirrel/raccoon/whatever. I'm having a little difficulty with the on/off switch - either it won't stay on or (once in action) doesn't want to switch off again - but Melisande LOVES it! And even with carpet, the silly thing manages to run all over the living room. Sometimes Melly chases it, and sometimes IT chase Melly! For those of you who haven't seen it (or wore one out and can't find another) you can find it at: http://www.harrietcarter.com/SubA.cfm?pth=13&cat=15&sr=24 They call it a "weasel ball". Tons of fun for the entire family - darn thing actually looks like something alive, since it moves more or less at random. "EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" <evgmsop@earthlink.net> had some very interesting things to say about New (old) cat toy: >I have seen references in the past to a toy I FINALLY >located! The battery operated ball with attached fur [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >run all over the living room. Sometimes Melly chases it, >and sometimes IT chase Melly! Glad she likes it. I once bought one for Felix, and he was scared to death of it. :-(  Signature"The universe is quite robust in design and appears to be doing just fine on its own, incompetent support staff notwithstanding. :-)" - the Dennis formerly known as (evil), MCFL I've thougth of buying one for the gang, but I'm afraid it would last a good 3 seconds. Fez would undoubtedly rip it to shreds the moment he gets his little paws on it. :) SignatureVictor Martinez Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM) Send your spam here: uce@ftc.gov Email me here: pistorLITTER@BOXaustin.rr.com >I've thougth of buying one for the gang, but I'm afraid it would last a >good 3 seconds. Fez would undoubtedly rip it to shreds the moment he >gets his little paws on it. :) The best toy for my cats, from their point of view, is one which is very inexpensive. Take one old sock (one with no holes in) Put a spoonful of 'nip inside the sock & shake it down to the toe. Knot open end of sock so 'nip can't escape. Give to cat Endless hours of fun as the highly dangerous 'nip sock has to be pounced upon, stalked, killed, disembowelled... Cheers, helen s --This is an invalid email address to avoid spam-- to get correct one remove fame & fortune h*$el*$$e*nd**$o$ts**i*$*$m*m$o*n*s@$*a$o*l.c**$om$ --Due to financial crisis the light at the end of the tunnel is switched off-- > >I've thougth of buying one for the gang, but I'm afraid it would last a > >good 3 seconds. Fez would undoubtedly rip it to shreds the moment he > >gets his little paws on it. :) > > The best toy for my cats, from their point of view, is one which is very > inexpensive. Yep, most of the store bought toys sit in a box unused. The purchased toys the girls like are the little rubber balls. Unfortunately 11 of 12 have been transported to the Mothership, never to be seen again. Smokey also likes her lemon (too big for transport). Cali was mildly interested in the 'rabid raccoon', but only once it stopped. The smaller wind up mice were also interesting, but the blue flashing electronic one scared the crap out of everyone. Even the fierce and grumpy neighbour cat. The favourite toys are string (supervised), bottle caps, crumpled up paper, empty box the expensive cat toy came in, stair treads, dried plants, etc. About the only toy Cali will still play with is a 'Big Bird' from Sesame Street tied to the end of a string. One night a few years ago we woke up to this huge racket rumbling up from the basement and charging down the upstairs hall. We thought we were taken for sure. We were in the middle of renovating the basement and I'd left a nail and string (plumb bob) where Cali could get at it. She charged all the way from the basement to the second floor, making as much noise as she could with that nail. She was lucky it did not catch on something. This was the first time I'd seen Cali's evil grin, she was quite pleased with herself, having woken the whole house. > Take one old sock (one with no holes in) > Put a spoonful of 'nip inside the sock & shake it down to the toe. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > --Due to financial crisis the light at the end of the tunnel is switched off-- > >I've thougth of buying one for the gang, but I'm afraid it would last a > >good 3 seconds. Fez would undoubtedly rip it to shreds the moment he > >gets his little paws on it. :) > > The best toy for my cats, from their point of view, is one which is very > inexpensive. Yep, most of the store bought toys sit in a box unused. The purchased toys the girls like are the little rubber balls. Unfortunately 11 of 12 have been transported to the Mothership, never to be seen again. Smokey also likes her lemon (too big for transport). Cali was mildly interested in the 'rabid raccoon', but only once it stopped. The smaller wind up mice were also interesting, but the blue flashing electronic one scared the crap out of everyone. Even the fierce and grumpy neighbour cat. The favourite toys are string (supervised), bottle caps, crumpled up paper, empty box the expensive cat toy came in, stair treads, dried plants, etc. About the only toy Cali will still play with is a 'Big Bird' from Sesame Street tied to the end of a string. One night a few years ago we woke up to this huge racket rumbling up from the basement and charging down the upstairs hall. We thought we were taken for sure. We were in the middle of renovating the basement and I'd left a nail and string (plumb bob) where Cali could get at it. She charged all the way from the basement to the second floor, making as much noise as she could with that nail. She was lucky it did not catch on something. This was the first time I'd seen Cali's evil grin, she was quite pleased with herself, having woken the whole house. > Take one old sock (one with no holes in) > Put a spoonful of 'nip inside the sock & shake it down to the toe. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > --Due to financial crisis the light at the end of the tunnel is switched off-- There are a couple of "beloved things" in the house. One is a big sisal fish. It's about a foot and a half long. It's a plastic fish body wrapped in sisal. It is meant to hang on a door. The body is hollow with rattley things in it. This is "beloved fish". Sugar lays on it, wrestles it. Sleeps with it. It is about as old as she is and since I have never seen them since (my ex SIL gave it to us) it will be a sad day if anything ever happens to it. Grant loves his Wibble Wobble. It's a pink weighted ball with a tall pink plinth from which a black elastic cord is attached that has feathers on the end. He doesn't play with it (I gave one to mom for Tycho and Tycho destroyed it in a matter of days smacking it around). No, this is Grant's teether. He sits and gnaws on the cord. If I move it when vacuuming, he will try to pull it out, so I have to remember to set it back out. Grant has no back teeth, so I assume it is like a gum massage. Pearl, well, Pearl isn't much of a toy girl, although lately she has taken to mauling a fur ball that Sugar likes to toss around. Pearl tries to eat it. Karen Chuplis <kchuplis@alltel.net> had some very interesting things to say about Re: New (old) cat toy: >Grant loves his Wibble Wobble. It's a pink weighted ball with a tall pink >plinth from which a black elastic cord is attached that has feathers on the >end. Since Ava adopted us, I've been avoiding toys for Felix with feathers. No point in encouraging him to think of feathered objects as something to chase and beat up, IMO [I'm also not a fan of carpet scratching posts, although in our current non-carpeted apartment, that wouldn't be as much of an issue as in previous apartments]. Signature"The universe is quite robust in design and appears to be doing just fine on its own, incompetent support staff notwithstanding. :-)" - the Dennis formerly known as (evil), MCFL > The best toy for my cats, from their point of view, is one which is very > inexpensive. [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > --Due to financial crisis the light at the end of the tunnel is switched off-- My cats' favorite toys are the rings and tops from milk jugs, the plastic caps from water bottles, etc. Our house looks like the inside of a kitchen trash can!!!! Hugs, CatNipped >I've thougth of buying one for the gang, but I'm afraid it would last a >good 3 seconds. Fez would undoubtedly rip it to shreds the moment he >gets his little paws on it. :) Same thing here - though it would be Rocky who would rip it apart. Little Bit would run and hide. Sammy would think it was great and play without doing any damage. Rocky would pounce and demolish it. When Rocky first started playing with toys he quickly tore apart toys that Sammy had been playing with for a couple years. Luckily, Sammy's favorite toy remains the ever-present soda bottle cap, which resists Rocky's best efforts to rip apart. SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html >>I've thougth of buying one for the gang, but I'm afraid it would last a >>good 3 seconds. Fez would undoubtedly rip it to shreds the moment he [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > favorite toy remains the ever-present soda bottle cap, which resists > Rocky's best efforts to rip apart. I'm beginning to get concerned about all these nice posts about "my cats like playing with this, or that." My cats don't play with anything inside the house at all. They have a catnip mouse (ignored), a feather on a stick (ditto) and a small ball (ditto). When I posted recently that Boyfriend had come into the lounge and totally disappeared someone (sorry, can't quite recall who) suggested I put a cardboard box in the middle of the floor. I didn't have one, but BF re-appeared the next morning anyway. So I thought to myself, I've seen all these lovely pics of cats enjoying themselves inside cardboard boxes, and I've never given them one, never even thought of it. So down to the local shop and came home with a lovely box 15 inches long, 12 inches wide and 12 inches high. Puuurrfect, I thought, they are sure to love it. No. It still stands in the middle of the kitchen floor totally ignored. Why is this? Could it be because they go outside a lot of the time and amuse themselves there, and just like to come in to eat, sleep, and relax? Or are they both miserable so-and-so's ;-) Tweed <----still struggling to understand cats. > I'm beginning to get concerned about all these nice posts about "my cats > like playing with this, or that." My cats don't play with anything inside > the house at all. They have a catnip mouse (ignored), a feather on a stick > (ditto) and a small ball (ditto)... [snip] > Why is this? Could it be because they go outside a lot of the time and > amuse themselves there, and just like to come in to eat, sleep, and relax? I think so. Playing is all about hunting - chasing, stalking, pouncing, biting and clawing, etc. So if they get to do their hunting outdoors (for real, no less), then it makes sense that they'd have less need to do mock hunting indoors. Which is less amusing for you, unfortunately, but probably just fine for them! Joyce > > I'm beginning to get concerned about all these nice posts about "my cats > > like playing with this, or that." My cats don't play with anything [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Joyce Thanks, Joyce. That makes sense as there is lots to hunt and catch outside. I'm not a bit bothered about it not being amusing for me, I was just worried they weren't acting like a lot of rpca cats. I'm relieved now. Zzzzz (BF & Kitty) It's a hard life, catching rodents all day and wandering around in some huge gardens and fields...take us away ;-) Tweed >>> I'm beginning to get concerned about all these nice posts about "my cats >>> like playing with this, or that." My cats don't play with anything [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > Tweed another thing to try is put it in different spots. Don't expect them to do anything but just move it around. Also, when it gets colder they might be more interested. Or turn it over. They like a challenge. >another thing to try is put it in different spots. Don't expect them to do >anything but just move it around. Also, when it gets colder they might be >more interested. Or turn it over. They like a challenge. One or the other of mine have to try any box on for size. My fluffiest cat, Tasha, and my biggest one, Smokey, are no exception. One thing you might try is turn over a box that's about 1 1/2 by 2 feet and cut a hole in one end, then cut a hole in one of the sides so cats can go in but they have to make a turn to come out the other exit. This frequently leads to kitty antics as one waits by one of the holes for the inside cat to emerge. You can also take a toy and throw it under the box. Regards and Purrs, O J >>another thing to try is put it in different spots. Don't expect them to do >>anything but just move it around. Also, when it gets colder they might be [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > Regards and Purrs, > O J They can make do with the one they've got, no way am I getting them another box to scoff at! I've moved it, cut a hole in one end, put a towel inside and am now awaiting developments. I'm not holding my breath, though. Tweed >>> I've thougth of buying one for the gang, but I'm afraid it would last a >>> good 3 seconds. Fez would undoubtedly rip it to shreds the moment he [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > > Tweed <----still struggling to understand cats. Yes, but one day they will suddenly "discover" it. >I'm beginning to get concerned about all these nice posts about "my cats >like playing with this, or that." My cats don't play with anything inside [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] >amuse themselves there, and just like to come in to eat, sleep, and relax? >Or are they both miserable so-and-so's ;-) No reason to be concerned, unless of course a normally playful cat suddenly loses interest (which was one of my first signals when Sammy was sick). I think toys are a learned behaivor. Of my three, only Sammy plays with toys all the time. LB pretty much ignores toys, except the ever popular paper bag. Rocky didn't play with toys inside for a couple months. I think watching Sammy play gave him the idea. Also, I replaced the stick on one of those feather toys with a fly rod. So he learned the joys of those toys outside. As for the cardboard box, that's another thing Rocky wants no part of. He also doesn't play with paper bags. I think one reason is the time he was stuck in a trap, so he avoid tight places. >Tweed <----still struggling to understand cats. If you ever think you've figured them out, they'll do their best to confuse you. SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html >>Tweed <----still struggling to understand cats. > > If you ever think you've figured them out, they'll do their best to > confuse you. LOL. I know I'll *never* understand them. They enjoy one food so much, you buy a few cans. Then it's horrible. They want their food in pouches, instead of tins. OK. Pouches. Yummy for a few days. Then they want their food in foil trays. Fine. Foil trays. I now have tins, pouches and foil trays which are obviously all disgusting. Dogs would never do this <sigh> Give me patience. Tweed > >>Tweed <----still struggling to understand cats. > > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > instead of tins. OK. Pouches. Yummy for a few days. Then they want their > food in foil trays. Fine. Foil trays. This sounds like Cali, who wants her food rotated every 3 or 4 days. But has a definite preference for dry over wet. Smokey on the other hand will only eat Whiskas, despite numerous attempts to upgrade her. We used to joke that this stuff was $10 a bag at Costco for a year's supply. Fotuneately she prefers wet and gets her quality food there. > I now have tins, pouches and foil trays which are obviously all disgusting. > Dogs would never do this <sigh> > Give me patience. > > Tweed > I'm beginning to get concerned about all these nice posts about "my cats > like playing with this, or that." My cats don't play with anything inside [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Tweed <----still struggling to understand cats. Hehe. Don't hold your breath. ;o) Of course they're not interested in the box if you went out and got it specifically for them. The box has to come with something for you that you unpack and then the box is left sitting on the floor for a while while you admire your new things and then you turn around and the box is full of cat. This is my experience. Even more effective if the box contained something expensive for your cat, which said cat will proceed to ignore while enjoying the box it came in. Nobbut, seriously, when we are out on the island in summer, my cats don't play inside at all. That is just the place to eat and sleep. They play (Frank) and hunt (Nikki) outside. Here's Frank in full play mode last summer (I have this as my wallpaper): http://tinyurl.com/5ac43 SignatureMarina, Frank and Nikki marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki >> So I thought to myself, I've seen all these lovely pics of cats enjoying >> themselves inside cardboard boxes, and I've never given them one, never [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > Hehe. Don't hold your breath. ;o) Of course they're not interested in the > box if you went out and got it specifically for them. So that's where I went wrong then ;-) >The box has to come with something for you that you unpack and then the box >is left sitting on the floor for a while while you admire your new things >and then you turn around and the box is full of cat. This is my experience. >Even more effective if the box contained something expensive for your cat, >which said cat will proceed to ignore while enjoying the box it came in. <grin> > Nobbut, seriously, when we are out on the island in summer, my cats don't > play inside at all. That is just the place to eat and sleep. They play > (Frank) and hunt (Nikki) outside. I'm happy to think their instincts are met by it being safe to go outside here, and so much to catch too! Even though I'd quite like them to play inside sometimes. Ah, well. Seems to be the monsoon season here, the cats have hardly been out for days except for quick toilet duties. BF forces himself to accompany me to shut up the chickens, he considers it his duty. He likes it when the weather is okay, but driving rain, well he just has to grit his teeth and get on with it. Bless him. > Here's Frank in full play mode last summer (I have this as my wallpaper): > http://tinyurl.com/5ac43 That is some fierce stick! Bravo, Frank. Tweed > I'm beginning to get concerned about all these nice posts about "my cats > like playing with this, or that." My cats don't play with anything inside > the house at all. They have a catnip mouse (ignored), a feather on a stick > (ditto) and a small ball (ditto). Don't you know there's absolutely NO statement that can be truthfully made that begins "ALL cats ......"? > When I posted recently that Boyfriend had come into the lounge and totally > disappeared someone (sorry, can't quite recall who) suggested I put a [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > themselves inside cardboard boxes, and I've never given them one, never even > thought of it. Mine enjoy hiding in empty paper grocery bags, but always manage to quickly collapse them so they can't get into them. When I saw a cloth equivalent with the open end wrapped around a fairly firm wire, so it could be set permanently open, I promptly bought it. Do you think Melisande would even CONSIDER crawling inside of it? (Another nine bucks wasted!) > So down to the local shop and came home with a lovely box 15 inches long, 12 > inches wide and 12 inches high. Puuurrfect, I thought, they are sure to [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Tweed <----still struggling to understand cats. > I've thougth of buying one for the gang, but I'm afraid it would last a > good 3 seconds. Fez would undoubtedly rip it to shreds the moment he > gets his little paws on it. :) Ah, but when Melisande gets a paw on it, it takes off in another direction! (As I said, sometimes It chases HER!) >I have seen references in the past to a toy I FINALLY >located! The battery operated ball with attached fur >squirrel/raccoon/whatever. That's great that Melly is so delighted with her toy. We had the Weasel several years ago and all three cats totally ignored it. It's lying here gathering dust *some*where!! Maybe I'll try it again. Jeanne >I have seen references in the past to a toy I FINALLY >located! The battery operated ball with attached fur [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >looks like something alive, since it moves more or less at >random. oooh, thank you. Stinky will have one PDQ. Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com > I have seen references in the past to a toy I FINALLY located! The > battery operated ball with attached fur squirrel/raccoon/whatever. I'm [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > Tons of fun for the entire family - darn thing actually looks like > something alive, since it moves more or less at random. When I was teaching canine good citizen classes I would use the weasel ball as a distraction for the dogs for their final test. Then one day one of them bit the weasel right off the ball (and failed his test). Now the weasel (without the ball) is one of the favorite play things for Oliver. I can't tell you how many times I have found that thing in the oddest places like he puts it there to try to freak me out. Imagine sticking you hand in to grab a roll of TP and running into wet fur! SignatureMargaret Fine mefine@mindspring.com On Thu, 14 Oct, Margaret wrote: ---------------------<snip>---------------------- >Imagine >sticking you hand in to grab a roll of TP and running into wet fur! I don't have to imagine, I know what a wet furball feels like when you find one in the dark. I can even tell using just my feet! Amazing! Regards and Purrs, O J First up, I'd suggest sprinkling catnip in the box (do your cats like the 'nip?) Nip does wonders to get ours interested in things. Secondly it is a matter of personality--Kumani and Tyche will gleefully wedge themselves into any box they can find, and when their toys fail to amuse they make their own toys by stealing from Mom and MomDad. Nocturne, on the other hand, considers "play" beneath her dignity and spends her time enthroned on a chair attempting to fathom the bottomless stupidity of humans (though she WILL, on rare occasoins, start frolicking with a fur mouse ONLY if she thinks no one is watching!) We no longer buy Nocturne toys for Yule since they just get stolen by the bitties; she gets catnip, her one vice. --Enfilade |
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