Interactive Toys for Cats in Lake City, FL
Do you have a cat who is in need of some enrichment in his life? Cats may be able to spend a lot of time on their own, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want something to play with. A bored cat is likely to get into a lot of mischief around the house, so it’s a good idea to make sure you provide plenty of toys for your feline friend.
Interactive toys are some of the best options for your cat’s enrichment needs. Below, you’ll find some information about a few categories of interactive cat toys you might want to consider for your pet.
Kick & Chase Toys
Kick and chase toys are some of the most common interactive toys you can find for cats. Kick toys include any type of toy that is meant to be tossed by a human, then grabbed and bitten or kicked by the cat. These tend to be shaped like mice, but not always.
Chase toys may include wind-ups, laser dot pointers, or wand toys you can use to interactively play with your cat. All of these encourage your cat to run, leap, and chase his “prey” during playtime.
Climbing Toys
Climbing toys are usually designed like traditional cat trees or cat towers, but this may not always be the case. They are often covered in carpet-like fabric that encourages cats to use them for snoozing as well as for playtime, which makes them a beneficial piece of cat furniture for the home.
Climbing toys come in many sizes and shapes, and it’s easy to find one that works well for just about any cat. These toys may also come with scratching posts or hiding tunnels built into them as well, but not always.
Scratching Toys
Scratching toys are any type of toy that is intended to encourage your cat to scratch and claw. Cats naturally scratch when playing, so it’s important to have toys like these around your home for times when your cat feels like scratching. These toys may be portable or may also come in the form of cat furniture.
Most scratching toys look like corrugated cardboard and are meant for cats to stand on or next to them and scratch them. Some may be posts, while others may be smaller toys your cat can pack around the house with him during playtime.
Hiding Toys
Hiding toys are any type of toy that either encourages your cat to hide or encourages him to seek. Toys that give your cat a chance to hide include cat tunnels, which are crinkly tunnels designed for cats to dive into them, lurk inside them, or jump out of them while playing.
Toys for cats who want to seek include hiding mats. These mats have holes cut in them periodically and can be used to hide toys or treats underneath them. The cat must then take time to figure out where the item is, then determine how to get to it through the mat.
Treat Puzzle Toys
Treat puzzle toys for cats are similar to those made for dogs, although the skills required to solve them are different. These toys allow you to hide treats for your cat under some of the pieces, then encourage him to solve the puzzle to find the treats.
There are several different styles of treat puzzle toys you can find for your cat. Some of these are much more complicated than others, so it’s important to start with some of the easier ones until your cat gets the hang of finding his hidden treats.
Food Dispensing Toys
Food dispensing toys are some of the most popular interactive cat toys. They come in many styles, but one of the most common types is disguised as a simple toy ball. When the cat rolls the ball around, however, it dispenses kibble one or two pieces at a time. This is an excellent way to encourage cats to get some exercise and use their brains, too.
Additionally, food dispensing toys work well for cats who may eat too quickly. They can be used as a slow feeder and can provide cats with plenty of food, but at a slower pace that is healthier for their eating habits.
As you can see, there are plenty of options out there when you’re looking for interactive cat toys. These toys come in several categories, and it’s a good idea to try a few of them at a time to find the ones your cat likes best. When you find the right interactive toy style, you can stock up on several different variations to give your cat lots of chances to play.
Don’t forget to spend time playing with your cat as well. This way, you can bond with your pet and still make sure he’s getting the playtime he needs.