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Welcome Crazy Cat People
When we first get a new kitten or cat we want to spoil them and buy them lots of new gifts and toys and it’s natural to wonder ”Do cats like stuffed toys”?
I did some of my own research, examined a few forums and used my knowledge of cats to answer your question.
In general, cats enjoy the feel of cuddly toys. To the cat, their toy feels like another mammal and cats will often use them as prey and carry them around in their mouths. Filling a toy with catnip can not only attract the cat to the toy but provide much-needed stimulation and exercise.
Cats are ruled by scent as you may already know so smell is very important to them, catnip will attract your cats to their new toys but so will making sure the toy smells familiar to them before you hand it over by rubbing the toy over yourself to fill it with your scent, maybe around your neck.
You may also fill the toy with your cat’s scent by wrapping it in one of your cats favourite blankets for an hour or two.
Do some scent marking for the cat so they associate their cuddly toy with their home and familiar territory from day one.
In the rest of this article, we look at the types of toys that cats like, what to look out for in terms of safety and as always there will be lots of cute cat pics along the way for my fellow crazy cat people.
What type of toys do cats like?
So when it comes to stuffed toys there is so much variety out there to choose from.
There are little mice shaped toys and then you have the much larger teddy bears, but which stuffed toy is right for your cat?
Look at this super cute LIFE-SIZE RAGDOLL CAT on Amazon! – This is uber cute! (You may end up liking it more than your cat?)
Another great option for toys is a clone of your little Kitty! Check out – Cuddle Clones – Custom plush replicas of your pet! Shop Now!
What toy your cat likes depends on the stage of life your cat is currently at.
Some people say kittens prefer bigger stuffed toys that they may see as a maternal figure or a replacement mummy while older cats may prefer a little mouse that they can play hunt with and stalk as their prey!
Generally, for older cats, you want to make sure that the toy is maybe around the same size as their head so they can carry around the toy easily from room to room!
You want the toy to be soft and cuddly too, not only will it look really cute when laid next to your cat but your cat will see the toy as a fellow mammal to either eat or cuddle up to!
Your cat I am sure will decide whether the toy is a friend or a fo in no time!
Apart from stuffed toys what other types of toys do cats like?
Cats love all types of toys but mine enjoy laser pen toys. These really can provide so much fun for your cats and also provide a very good laugh for humans watching them run around like crazy following the little laser beam everywhere!
One of my cats often comes over to beg me to get the laser out!
The one below is the laser toy that I use and it keeps my cats entertained for hours! It isn’t that noisy compared to others and it will auto shut off after 15 mins so your cat doesn’t get too tired!
Watch the cats in this funny compilation by ”funny and cute kitten cat” if you have never seen a cats reaction to laser pens.
Another toy they enjoy is anything with a fishing pole. Little mice toys on the end make for an entertaining play!
Cats are very fussy though and not all cats enjoy all toys but most cats will love the cardboard that the toy arrived in!
Just cut holes in the sides of the box, place a blanket inside and you have yourself a new bed, play centre and sometimes even a scratching post!
What kind of toys are unsafe for cats?
Not all cat toys are safe for your Kitty and the last thing you want is to be taking an emergency trip to the vets!
Often toys that are the most attractive to cats can pose the greatest dangers, so we must be very aware of what we give our cats to play with.
That lovely big rat toy with feathers coming off of it and plastic eyes could be more trouble than it’s worth!
What I like to say is that generally if a toy states that it is safe for a child under 3 years of age then it is safe for your cat in most cases.
The things to watch out for that may pose a threat –
- Ribbons and yarn – If swallowed then this could mean an immediate vet trip
- Rubber bands
- Plastic eyes and nose on stuffed toys
- Little tiny bells
- Feathers
- Leaving fishing pole type toys out that contain string
- Fillings such has beads, beans and nutshells
I am sure there are other potential risks but the more we try and reduce the risks the more chance we have of a healthy happy little Puuur-baby!
Can I give my kitten a stuffed animal?
In general, stuffed toys are fine for a kitten and most will enjoy them as toys. You must make sure that there are no small parts such as plastic eyes and instead opt for eyes and ears made out of material instead. Make sure the stuffing does not contain beads that could get lodged in the kitten’s throat.
So these are more or less the same things that we need to watch out for with adult cats too.
If a cat gets something lodged in its oesophagus then your cat may need an operation which can involve instruments going into their throat or they may even need surgery and antibiotics if your cat’s oesophagus is badly damaged – (PetMD)
This can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand!
So it’s better to be safe than sorry!
How to make catnip filled toys?
Catnip is one herb that my cats love, What better way to attract your cat to their new toy!
If you want to find out more about catnip and how much catnip to put in your toy then see my blog post ”How much catnip to put in a toy’‘ – There are also some cool imaginative ideas on using catnip so take a look!
One thing you need to remember though is not all cats enjoy catnip or respond to it so you need to make sure you do a little test with your cat first to make sure they like it before you go tearing apart their little toys!
According to PetMD – ”Not all cats will respond to the active compound in catnip. Veterinary studies suggest that about 60% of cats will have a behavioural reaction to catnip.”
How to make the catnip toy
- Choose either a brand new toy or a used toy that your cat loves to play with.
- With scissors cut open a little flap on the side of the toy that can be securely and safely sewn back together again, make sure the flap is a small little square.
- Use some old cloth or fabric to sow a square pocket that resembles a tea bag leaving one end open.
- Fill the open end with a tablespoon of catnip and then sow the makeshift teabag up at the end so none of the catnip can get out.
- Place the catnip teabag inside the stuffed toy and then sow back together very securely the stuffed toy.
- Give your toy back to your cat and watch them scratch the toy, roll around on it and throw it around the room.
It’s as simple as that!
Just remember that cats will only stay stimulated from the catnip for 15 minutes or so before they get nasal fatigue and become non-responsive, don’t worry though they will be able to detect the catnip again in a couple of hours!
Conclusion: Do cats like stuffed toys?
I hope you have found my post helpful and it has answered your questions regarding stuffed toys!
We all like to make sure our cats are well looked after and happy and enjoy an active and fun life but we must also make sure our cats are safe too and in this article, we looked at what not to give your cats when it comes to toys and what to look out for!
Unfortunately, a lot of cat toys are not designed safely and we must be on the lookout!
If you have not tried catnip this is something you need to at least try with your cats as a little bit of the good old cat herb can spice up a toy that Kitty is no longer interested in!
As always take care of yourself and your little Puur-babies!
Mark (The crazy cat man)
