FAQ: Toys for cats

Many cats play alone with balls, kickers or food puzzles, but that does not replace play with a person. A wand in your hand creates real prey movement, which is what a cat needs most.

A cat left alone does well with safe toys for solo play: ball tracks, kickers and food puzzles with dry food. Strings, wands and small toys are best put away during that time.

Yes. Cats often play together, but not always equally actively, and some do not play together at all. Each cat benefits from some one-to-one play time with the owner too.

Start with small, slow movements away from the cat, for example slowly hiding the end of a wand under a blanket or behind a corner. Try a catnip toy as well. Be patient, as shelter or adult cats sometimes only start playing after a few weeks.

Often the toy simply does not move like prey, or the cat does not yet feel safe in a new environment. If a previously playful cat suddenly stops playing, talk to a vet, as pain or illness can be the cause.

Yes, temperament varies: Bengals, Abyssinians and Siamese are usually very active and curious, while Persians and British Shorthairs are often calmer. Still, every cat is an individual, so watch your own.

Active cats need plenty of physical and mental exercise: long wand sessions, food puzzles, tunnels, tall cat trees and, for some, an exercise wheel. Some Bengals like to fetch toys or play with water.

A wand is a stick with a string or elastic wire and a feather, fabric or fur toy attached at the end. The owner uses it to mimic prey movements, which makes it one of the most useful toys for playing together with a cat.

Move the toy like prey: let it move away from the cat, hide behind furniture, pause and move again. Don't wave it right in front of the cat's nose, and let her catch it now and then.

A cat may chew and swallow the string, and a swallowed length of string can injure the intestines and needs urgent veterinary care. A cat can also get tangled in it. Keep wands in a closed cupboard or box.

A longer wand lets you move the toy further from your hands, so the cat does not go for you and it is easier to mimic prey. A short wand is handy in small spaces or with a kitten, but your hands are then closer to the claws.

A string lets the toy drop freely, slide along the floor and hide, while an elastic wire makes the toy bounce and flutter in the air. Many cats enjoy both, so it is worth trying each and seeing which your cat prefers.

Many wands have interchangeable attachments: feathers, mice, fabric strips or insect imitations. Changing them makes the same toy interesting again, and a worn attachment can be replaced without buying a whole new wand.

This usually happens when the toy moves too close or too fast and the cat cannot catch it, so she attacks whatever is within reach. Move the toy further away and more slowly, and hold the stick higher and angled away from the cat.

A laser excites many cats, but a cat can never catch the dot of light. So end laser play with a physical toy or a treat the cat can catch, otherwise she may be left frustrated and restless.

Yes, a laser should never be pointed into the eyes of a cat or a person. Use only low-power lasers intended for pets and shine them onto the floor or walls.

Shine it only on floors and walls, never into the eyes, and avoid leading the dot onto stairs or slippery surfaces where the cat could get hurt. Keep sessions short and let the cat catch a real toy at the end.

They can keep a cat busy for a while but share the drawback of a hand-held laser: the prey can never be caught. Use them under supervision, with a timer, and offer a real toy or a treat afterwards.

Feathers are very attractive to many cats, but a cat can bite them off and swallow them. Use feather toys under supervision, and throw out frayed or torn ones in good time.

The cat treats it like real prey and starts plucking. A small amount usually passes naturally, but it is risky, so give such a cat feather toys only during joint play and put them away afterwards. If the cat vomits or stops eating, see a vet.