cat's obsession with toy

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Maxine G - 08 Feb 2007 18:22 GMT

Hi. My cat LOVES his feather toy, to the exclusion of almost everything
else. Every time someone in the house stands up, he runs to the closet
where the toy is kept and starte meowing piteously. He comes into my office
or bedroom and starts meowing and tries to get me to go down to play with
him.

It's a little annoying and so pathetic! We always feel bad about saying no
to him, but we can't play with him constantly. Attempts to get him
interested in other toys have failed completely. He seems so forlorn when
we don't play with him.

I assume this is within the realm of normal cat behavior, but is there
anything we can or should do to help him with his obsession? He's about 2
and 1/2 years old, and we've only had him for about 2 months.

Thanks,
Maxine

Signature

mgusenet+this year at pcg dot net

Reply to this Message

cybercat - 08 Feb 2007 18:35 GMT

> Hi. My cat LOVES his feather toy, to the exclusion of almost everything
> else. Every time someone in the house stands up, he runs to the closet
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> anything we can or should do to help him with his obsession? He's about 2
> and 1/2 years old, and we've only had him for about 2 months.

Just play with him more. They are all a little obsessive. He will move on
to other interests, as they all do, if you keep a variety of toys around.
Get him some that do not require your particiption, too--danglies and
such.

Reply to this Message

Rene S. - 08 Feb 2007 21:50 GMT

> Hi. My cat LOVES his feather toy, to the exclusion of almost everything
> else. Every time someone in the house stands up, he runs to the closet
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> interested in other toys have failed completely. He seems so forlorn when
> we don't play with him.

Can you "schedule" playtimes with him, so he knows that regular play
sessions are forthcoming (such as 10 minutes in the morning and 10
minutes in the evening)? Can you leave out some other toys, such as a
paper bag, and sprinkle with catnip to get him more interested?

As a side note, I would opt to keep the toy safely in the closet when
you're not playing with him. I would worry, if he's that obsessed,
that he might chew or ingest part of the toy! (I speak from
experience.)

Reply to this Message

Lynne - 08 Feb 2007 22:40 GMT

on Thu, 08 Feb 2007 21:50:16 GMT, "Rene S." <rschweitzer@kalmbach.com>
wrote:

> Can you "schedule" playtimes with him, so he knows that regular play
> sessions are forthcoming (such as 10 minutes in the morning and 10
> minutes in the evening)? Can you leave out some other toys, such as a
> paper bag, and sprinkle with catnip to get him more interested?

This is great advice. Cats adapt well to routines, but the humans need
to adhere to them so the cats know when to expect what.

> As a side note, I would opt to keep the toy safely in the closet when
> you're not playing with him. I would worry, if he's that obsessed,
> that he might chew or ingest part of the toy! (I speak from
> experience.)

Also great advice. Especially if this toy has string, definitely lock it
up when the cat is not supervised. We had a scary incident with a teaser
toy and my kitten recently. Had I not been home, I shudder to think of
what might have happened.

As a funny side note, the same teaser toy was an xmas gift to Levi from
my mother. It's some kind of little puppet on a string with a stick for
playing. Inside the body of the puppet is a sound maker that kind of
squeeks/whistles/huffs(?) when it's shaken up and down. Well not only
did Levi LOVE this thing, he became a vicious killer over it! He grabbed
it and ran and growled at anyone who came near him and his new treasure.
He did this for almost a week. I know it's not a good behavior to
encourage, but man did that crack me up. I'd give it to him and chase
him just to hear him growl.

I have since cut the puppet part from the string and discarded it,
because of Levi's accident. He doesn't growl anymore, but man he loves
this thing. It's like cat heroin!

Signature

Lynne

Reply to this Message

dreamn3d - 08 Feb 2007 23:04 GMT

I wonder if your cat thinks the toy is a bird..lol

OK...You might think my Fluffy is a latch-key kitty with the TV as a
babysitter, but he gets really bored also, just like your cat. So, I
placed two bird feeders right outside his favorite viewing window and
the temper tantrums have came to an abrupt halt. It's his new
favorite show.

Reply to this Message

Maxine G - 09 Feb 2007 00:18 GMT

>> Hi. My cat LOVES his feather toy, to the exclusion of almost
>> everything else. Every time someone in the house stands up, he runs
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> sessions are forthcoming (such as 10 minutes in the morning and 10
> minutes in the evening)?

That's a great idea. I'll try that.

> Can you leave out some other toys, such as a
> paper bag, and sprinkle with catnip to get him more interested?

We've tried all sorts of other toys. He'll get interested for a few
minutes, and then go back to waiting in front of the closet. There are a
lot of toys laying around the house, but he mostly ignores them, even when
they're smothered in catnip!

Yes, that's exactly why we keep it in the closet. He's already tried to
"eat" the toy.

Thanks for all the suggestions, everybody!

Signature

mgusenet+this year at pcg dot net

Reply to this Message

Cheryl - 09 Feb 2007 03:22 GMT

> I assume this is within the realm of normal cat behavior, but is
> there anything we can or should do to help him with his
> obsession? He's about 2 and 1/2 years old, and we've only had
> him for about 2 months.

Hi Maxine. My answer might be completely out of the question, but I
have to ask. Does he have another kitty friend to play with, or is he
an only cat? Sometimes having a buddy helps him feel more secure in
the home, and have someone to play with. Then again, sometimes it's
hard to integrate another, though not impossible even if they seem to
hate each other at first. An only cat will want you to be his
playmate during waking hours.

Signature

Cheryl

Reply to this Message

Maxine G - 09 Feb 2007 21:04 GMT

Cheryl <jlhshadow@NOSPAMhotmail.com> wrote in news:Xns98D1E3A165EFAshads@
130.133.1.4:

>> I assume this is within the realm of normal cat behavior, but is
>> there anything we can or should do to help him with his
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> hate each other at first. An only cat will want you to be his
> playmate during waking hours.

We have his sister too. They do play together some, although sometimes it's
hard to tell whether it's playing or fighting.

Signature

mgusenet+this year at pcg dot net

Reply to this Message

Cheryl - 11 Feb 2007 18:21 GMT

> We have his sister too. They do play together some, although
> sometimes it's hard to tell whether it's playing or fighting.

I'm glad he has a playmate and a littermate is great. I know what you
mean about the playing vs. fighting thing - my littermates are about
the same age as yours and they play rough. The sister gets the worst
of it sometimes, but she doesn't back off and gets her licks in. LOL
Then the next minute they're snuggling together grooming each other.

Good luck. I don't have anything else to add and I see you have some
good suggestions.

Signature

Cheryl

Reply to this Message

Veloise - 10 Feb 2007 02:17 GMT

Maxine wrote:

> Hi. My cat LOVES his feather toy, to the exclusion of almost everything
> else. Every time someone in the house stands up, he runs to the closet
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> anything we can or should do to help him with his obsession? He's about 2
> and 1/2 years old, and we've only had him for about 2 months.

Attach the toy to a door jam and let it dangle there. 24/7 playtime!

Get a laser pointer and wean him off the feathers. (This might not be
a solution.)

Get a regulation grocery paper bag and open it up, leave it on the
floor. Stand back!

HTH

--Karen D.

Reply to this Message

Lynne - 10 Feb 2007 03:07 GMT

> Attach the toy to a door jam and let it dangle there. 24/7 playtime!

Please do not do this. Cats can and do get tangled in the string and can
be seriously hurt.

Signature

Lynne

Reply to this Message

Barry - 10 Feb 2007 03:14 GMT

> Please do not do this. Cats can and do get tangled in the string and can
> be seriously hurt.

She said put the toy at the jamb, where did you get all this string
from?

Just itching to bake someone aintcha!

BAKE THIS

Reply to this Message

22brix - 10 Feb 2007 06:37 GMT

> on Sat, 10 Feb 2007 02:17:00 GMT, "Veloise" <galena3066@mypacks.net>
> wrote:
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Please do not do this. Cats can and do get tangled in the string and can
> be seriously hurt.

I agree with Lynne. I've been lucky that none of my troop have tangled too
badly but I have a couple of cats that will chew on the string and it would
be really bad news if they swallowed it. I have "Da Bird" which they love
but I have to put it away when we're not playing because they will chew and
swallow the string and also the feathers. Some of the feathers are fairly
stiff and I doubt it does them any good if they swallow.

Bonnie

Reply to this Message