Cat toys
Playing with cats - similar to cuddling - is one of the most important basic needs of our furry friends and is not only great fun for cats. With the right cat toys, you can provide exercise, relaxation and, above all, variety in your cats' lives. Playing together creates a strong bond with humans and the happiness hormones released in the process ensure the cat's well-being. Playing with cats provides relaxation and contentment and when the cat is happy, so is the human.
The play preferences of our cats are very different, you can almost compare it with the large number of characters. Sometimes it can be a bit challenging to match your cat's taste in play. You will quickly notice, from great enthusiasm to bored disinterest, it's all there.
But how can you make playing with your cat exciting and which cat toy is the most suitable for your cat? We put a lot of thought into the design of our cat toys and specialise in felt cat toys and scented toys. We pay attention to the origin of the wool and it is very important to us that our cat toys are made here in the Hanover region, in small businesses run by women. The design of our cat toys is very diverse, but always visually very appealing. Since cat toys often lie around on the floor, it is very important to us to set visual accents here as well. So you can choose from a variety of vegetables such as carrots, reddiches and radishes, but you will also find flowers and many friends from the animal world. Our approach is to put a smile on your face.
Scented toys - valerian or catnip?
What is so special about scented toys? Catnip gives your cats an experience. The effect is like an opioid, because between five and thirty minutes the substance nepetalactone takes effect and is absorbed through the nose of the four-legged friends.
What happens then? Possible tension is released in the cats, a euphoria spreads and now comes the perfect time to get rid of their energy.
But how is it different from valerian? The sedative meets adrenaline - the effect of valerian triggers relaxation and the urge to move. Sometimes the energy invites you to romp, sometimes the cats go on a quiet, inner journey and are absent. Try both once.
We recommend a dosed application and storage in a suitable box to preserve the aroma for as long as possible.
Put yourself in your cat's place
Take a closer look? How does a cat's natural hunting behaviour actually work and how can this behaviour best be transferred to playing with cat toys?
The cat's senses and especially its body are designed for hunting. They are hunters and also have all the time in the world.
So they sit for hours in front of a mouse hole waiting for the right moment. Even if the mouse has already shown itself and is on the supposedly safe way to the next hiding place, the cat waits a little longer to increase its own hunting chances.
The cat is also a master of camouflage. It lies flat on its belly and also uses bushes, grass or tree trunks. In the flat, this can be e.g. blankets, cushions or cardboard boxes. It then lies very patiently, almost motionless, watching its prey - in this case the cat toy - until the right moment has come to attack and kill the victim.
A cat's prey animals are rather small when compared to the cat's body size. They include, for example, birds, mice, insects and fish.
If you now take all the above factors into account, nothing stands in the way of a real game of cat and mouse.
Cats therefore prefer to be able to camouflage themselves and hide when playing. It is therefore advisable not to play in a large empty room, but perhaps to build smaller camouflage stations from objects in your home, for example with a stool and blanket. Tunnels, cardboard boxes or scratching furniture that may already be available are also particularly suitable. The hunt can begin.
The best cat toy is easy to find
Ideally, the cat toys should be as similar as possible in shape and weight to the natural prey. These can be toys about the size of a mouse or smaller. The toys should be well made, because the cat does not care about the material. If you already know your cat better and have observed it more often, you may already discover small preferences, such as watching birds fly by or felt strings disappearing under a blanket. Things that disappear before the cat's eyes are usually particularly interesting. A door, a crack in the door are excellent for playing. You in front of the door and the cat on the other side.
Or do your cats like to catch flies? You can tell wonderfully from your cats' preferences which cat toys can go down well with them.
Normally, exciting toys don't need bells or other artificial noises, because a real prey also tends to behave quietly.
A mouse would also not make any extra noises when the cat approaches it.
And now it's your turn
Now think about how a real prey would behave. A bird glides through the air and occasionally lands on a tree or a surface to peck at something or to drink. All of a sudden, the bird flies off again. A mouse likes to run along a wall and not so much across a large area in clear view. It stops again and again and tries to smell danger. As quickly as it came, it disappears again into a hole. Beetles crawl over tree trunks or in the grass, even through rustling leaves.
Use your cat toy as a natural prey would behave. Let the cat rod fly and then land briefly on the cat tree, only to fly off again shortly afterwards. The cat rod disappears around the corner or under the sofa and the little bug crawls under the paper, especially nice when it crackles.
Use cardboard boxes, cushions, blankets lying around and other objects and include them in the joint game with your cat. Always move your cat rod away from the cat, because only a moving prey triggers the hunting instinct in him. A feather fishing rod as a cat toy should also move flying through the air and not dance in front of the cat's nose. This is more of a deterrent and cats tend to lose interest because the game seems boring and unrealistic to them.
Don't forget the hunting successes!
What is the cat's real goal in a hunt? To make prey, of course! Be sure to give your cats the opportunity in between to catch the cat toy or to carry it away in their mouths. If this causes them to become inattentive for a moment, the little bird will of course quickly take to the air again or the mouse will hide from the cat under the chair. It is important to give your cat a sense of achievement, because each of these is incredibly fun. You will quickly realise how motivated and proud she is afterwards.
Laser pointers are less recommended as toys because they are not haptic prey and the sense of achievement is missing. This can cause frustration.
Cats also love variety
It is definitely beneficial to add variety to your cat's play. If you find that your cat suddenly dislikes the once beloved felt ball, simply put it aside for a while and then bring it back later. In most cases, the interest in it will be quickly rekindled. In the wild, cats have many new experiences every day.
Since cats are so-called hunters, they have infinite patience and can observe for hours and hours before they become active and get into the act. Pay attention to when your cat wants to end the game. They like to be the one to decide, they'll know it when they back off. As long as they are watching the game with interest, they are in play mode.
Do not let your cat play without supervision
If you have cat fishing rods, cat toys with ribbons, strings, felt strings or felt balls in use, always supervise your cat well.
Cats may chew off and even swallow parts of their felt toys. They can also strangle themselves on longer strings.
For these reasons, put the cat toys in a drawer or storage basket where they are safe from cats.
Cat toys that lie around all day are to be regarded as dead prey and are absolutely uninteresting for cats. Besides the risk of injury, play fishing rods lying around are theoretically "dead prey" and therefore uninteresting to cats. Small cat toys such as balls or play mice can be hidden, provided they cannot be bitten. The cat will be happy to discover a supposed prey while you are away.
How often does my cat want to play with me?
How often you play with your cat depends largely on the age of your cat. Generally speaking, young and active cats like to have several play sessions per day, while 1-2 play sessions per day are sufficient for older cats.
It also depends on the breed of cat your pet belongs to. Bengal cats often have a greater need for play and activity and require more activity, while other breeds, such as Carthusian cats, tend to be more leisurely.
What time should I play with my cats?
Pay attention to the times when your cat likes to be active. Usually this is in the morning and evening hours. It is then much easier to motivate them than to pull them out of sleep. Cats like fixed structures and rituals. So if you can manage to play with them in the morning before work and in the evening after dinner, it is very easy to encourage cats to play because it feels like a ritual. If you play rather irregularly or hardly at all, it becomes more and more difficult to encourage them to play at all and they get bored all the more.
If the cat is happy, the human is happy - playing makes happy
Playing has many positive aspects and is good against frustration and boredom. There are plenty of cat toys available, try scented toys made of valerian or catnip. In the long run, playing ensures balance and well-being and strengthens the bond between you and your pet.
Cat toy advice at stylecats®
You would like to buy a cat toy from our collection online, but are still unsure which is the ideal toy for your cat? Feel free to contact us by phone or email, we are always on hand to offer advice. If you would like to visit us, you can also pick up your order at our Brand Store in Hanover. We look forward to seeing you.
Close window Cat toys
Playing with cats - similar to cuddling - is one of the most important basic needs of our furry friends and is not only great fun for cats. With the right cat toys, you can provide exercise, relaxation and, above all, variety in your cats' lives. Playing together creates a strong bond with humans and the happiness hormones released in the process ensure the cat's well-being. Playing with cats provides relaxation and contentment and when the cat is happy, so is the human.
The play preferences of our cats are very different, you can almost compare it with the large number of characters. Sometimes it can be a bit challenging to match your cat's taste in play. You will quickly notice, from great enthusiasm to bored disinterest, it's all there.
But how can you make playing with your cat exciting and which cat toy is the most suitable for your cat? We put a lot of thought into the design of our cat toys and specialise in felt cat toys and scented toys. We pay attention to the origin of the wool and it is very important to us that our cat toys are made here in the Hanover region, in small businesses run by women. The design of our cat toys is very diverse, but always visually very appealing. Since cat toys often lie around on the floor, it is very important to us to set visual accents here as well. So you can choose from a variety of vegetables such as carrots, reddiches and radishes, but you will also find flowers and many friends from the animal world. Our approach is to put a smile on your face.
Scented toys - valerian or catnip?
What is so special about scented toys? Catnip gives your cats an experience. The effect is like an opioid, because between five and thirty minutes the substance nepetalactone takes effect and is absorbed through the nose of the four-legged friends.
What happens then? Possible tension is released in the cats, a euphoria spreads and now comes the perfect time to get rid of their energy.
But how is it different from valerian? The sedative meets adrenaline - the effect of valerian triggers relaxation and the urge to move. Sometimes the energy invites you to romp, sometimes the cats go on a quiet, inner journey and are absent. Try both once.
We recommend a dosed application and storage in a suitable box to preserve the aroma for as long as possible.
Put yourself in your cat's place
Take a closer look? How does a cat's natural hunting behaviour actually work and how can this behaviour best be transferred to playing with cat toys?
The cat's senses and especially its body are designed for hunting. They are hunters and also have all the time in the world.
So they sit for hours in front of a mouse hole waiting for the right moment. Even if the mouse has already shown itself and is on the supposedly safe way to the next hiding place, the cat waits a little longer to increase its own hunting chances.
The cat is also a master of camouflage. It lies flat on its belly and also uses bushes, grass or tree trunks. In the flat, this can be e.g. blankets, cushions or cardboard boxes. It then lies very patiently, almost motionless, watching its prey - in this case the cat toy - until the right moment has come to attack and kill the victim.
A cat's prey animals are rather small when compared to the cat's body size. They include, for example, birds, mice, insects and fish.
If you now take all the above factors into account, nothing stands in the way of a real game of cat and mouse.
Cats therefore prefer to be able to camouflage themselves and hide when playing. It is therefore advisable not to play in a large empty room, but perhaps to build smaller camouflage stations from objects in your home, for example with a stool and blanket. Tunnels, cardboard boxes or scratching furniture that may already be available are also particularly suitable. The hunt can begin.
The best cat toy is easy to find
Ideally, the cat toys should be as similar as possible in shape and weight to the natural prey. These can be toys about the size of a mouse or smaller. The toys should be well made, because the cat does not care about the material. If you already know your cat better and have observed it more often, you may already discover small preferences, such as watching birds fly by or felt strings disappearing under a blanket. Things that disappear before the cat's eyes are usually particularly interesting. A door, a crack in the door are excellent for playing. You in front of the door and the cat on the other side.
Or do your cats like to catch flies? You can tell wonderfully from your cats' preferences which cat toys can go down well with them.
Normally, exciting toys don't need bells or other artificial noises, because a real prey also tends to behave quietly.
A mouse would also not make any extra noises when the cat approaches it.
And now it's your turn
Now think about how a real prey would behave. A bird glides through the air and occasionally lands on a tree or a surface to peck at something or to drink. All of a sudden, the bird flies off again. A mouse likes to run along a wall and not so much across a large area in clear view. It stops again and again and tries to smell danger. As quickly as it came, it disappears again into a hole. Beetles crawl over tree trunks or in the grass, even through rustling leaves.
Use your cat toy as a natural prey would behave. Let the cat rod fly and then land briefly on the cat tree, only to fly off again shortly afterwards. The cat rod disappears around the corner or under the sofa and the little bug crawls under the paper, especially nice when it crackles.
Use cardboard boxes, cushions, blankets lying around and other objects and include them in the joint game with your cat. Always move your cat rod away from the cat, because only a moving prey triggers the hunting instinct in him. A feather fishing rod as a cat toy should also move flying through the air and not dance in front of the cat's nose. This is more of a deterrent and cats tend to lose interest because the game seems boring and unrealistic to them.
Don't forget the hunting successes!
What is the cat's real goal in a hunt? To make prey, of course! Be sure to give your cats the opportunity in between to catch the cat toy or to carry it away in their mouths. If this causes them to become inattentive for a moment, the little bird will of course quickly take to the air again or the mouse will hide from the cat under the chair. It is important to give your cat a sense of achievement, because each of these is incredibly fun. You will quickly realise how motivated and proud she is afterwards.
Laser pointers are less recommended as toys because they are not haptic prey and the sense of achievement is missing. This can cause frustration.
Cats also love variety
It is definitely beneficial to add variety to your cat's play. If you find that your cat suddenly dislikes the once beloved felt ball, simply put it aside for a while and then bring it back later. In most cases, the interest in it will be quickly rekindled. In the wild, cats have many new experiences every day.
Since cats are so-called hunters, they have infinite patience and can observe for hours and hours before they become active and get into the act. Pay attention to when your cat wants to end the game. They like to be the one to decide, they'll know it when they back off. As long as they are watching the game with interest, they are in play mode.
Do not let your cat play without supervision
If you have cat fishing rods, cat toys with ribbons, strings, felt strings or felt balls in use, always supervise your cat well.
Cats may chew off and even swallow parts of their felt toys. They can also strangle themselves on longer strings.
For these reasons, put the cat toys in a drawer or storage basket where they are safe from cats.
Cat toys that lie around all day are to be regarded as dead prey and are absolutely uninteresting for cats. Besides the risk of injury, play fishing rods lying around are theoretically "dead prey" and therefore uninteresting to cats. Small cat toys such as balls or play mice can be hidden, provided they cannot be bitten. The cat will be happy to discover a supposed prey while you are away.
How often does my cat want to play with me?
How often you play with your cat depends largely on the age of your cat. Generally speaking, young and active cats like to have several play sessions per day, while 1-2 play sessions per day are sufficient for older cats.
It also depends on the breed of cat your pet belongs to. Bengal cats often have a greater need for play and activity and require more activity, while other breeds, such as Carthusian cats, tend to be more leisurely.
What time should I play with my cats?
Pay attention to the times when your cat likes to be active. Usually this is in the morning and evening hours. It is then much easier to motivate them than to pull them out of sleep. Cats like fixed structures and rituals. So if you can manage to play with them in the morning before work and in the evening after dinner, it is very easy to encourage cats to play because it feels like a ritual. If you play rather irregularly or hardly at all, it becomes more and more difficult to encourage them to play at all and they get bored all the more.
If the cat is happy, the human is happy - playing makes happy
Playing has many positive aspects and is good against frustration and boredom. There are plenty of cat toys available, try scented toys made of valerian or catnip. In the long run, playing ensures balance and well-being and strengthens the bond between you and your pet.
Cat toy advice at stylecats®
You would like to buy a cat toy from our collection online, but are still unsure which is the ideal toy for your cat? Feel free to contact us by phone or email, we are always on hand to offer advice. If you would like to visit us, you can also pick up your order at our Brand Store in Hanover. We look forward to seeing you.
