Sometimes our felines need our attention to play
Do you have a pile of cat toys that your feline simply ignores?
Perhaps the missing ingredient is your company. Even in a multi-cat household where the animals have each other to play with, they still expect our interaction at playtime. I often tell my pride of felines to play together, but often they just ignore my advice and start bringing me toys instead.
Playtime is just so much more fun with a human audience. Certain toys, like wand toys, really do not lend themselves to only feline play.
If you have toys that your cat has not played with, sometimes how you store their toys piques their curiosity to show renewed interest in a toy. Try keeping toys in a small cat condo with only one opening. If one feline goes in to take a toy out, another cat will follow to see what is so interesting.
My felines look in their condo to see what toys are left that they haven’t scattered around the house and if Mom has added any new ones. The task of taking toys out of a container-like object really seems to be amusing for them.
If you do not have a small condo and aren’t thrilled with the idea of purchasing an item they may not use, try putting the toys in an overly large shoe box. The concept is the same.
I recently learned what my felines’ favorite shoe box is by accident. Boxes most running shoes come in are vented on the sides at the bottom. This translates to two holes, one on each side, that our cats can push their paws through to try to get at the toys.
This conduct is entertaining for us, too, especially if two felines approach the box from each side at the same time and they end up playing with the box.
Removing the hair from the toys and renewing the catnip scent with some organic catnip spray also creates new interest. Sometimes it is necessary to go through the toy inventory and pitch the old toys to prevent injury.
Exercise is important to our felines’ continued good health. If they won’t play without us, as responsible pet owners we have to make time to encourage our cats to play. Sometimes we have to acknowledge that our felines can be like stubborn toddlers and refuse to play without our interaction and audience. When this happens, we have to insist on playtime so we can keep our cats fit and trim.
When playtime is clearly over because of exhaustion or lack of interest, do not forget to put away the wand toys and any potentially harmful toys that might be chewed on or ingested.
AdoptablesKirsten is a dilute, ticked, smoke calico that is about 2 years old. This girl is a rare combination of looks and personality. She is one of the rarest calico colors I have encountered since the shelter opened. Parts of an animal#146;s fur has a ticked pattern that can best be described as a color gradation from lighter to darker on each single hair. The pattern is subtle and elegant.Kirsten is an easygoing, friendly feline who loves to greet anyone who enters her room.Miss Kitty is a petite, blue and white feline that is a year young. She allowed her rescuer to merely pick her up and bring her to us. Her rescuer informed us that Miss Kitty can do well with a small dog since Miss Kitty wanted to play with her dog.Miss Kitty is also an overly friendly and affectionate feline. She likes to play and roll. Her favorite location is the top of a carpeted cat tree watching the birds and squirrels. If you adopt Miss Kitty, you may have to purchase a cat tree, too.Bowling for BuddyWe will be bowling from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, at AMF Rolling Meadows Lanes, 3245 Kirchoff Road.Tickets for adults are $30 in advance or $35 at the door; $15 for children 12 and younger. This donation includes three games, shoe rental and Moretti#146;s Italian buffet.You can raise additional funds for Buddy if you get sponsors to fill out a pledge sheet. You can stop by the shelter or call us with your credit card number. You can also help by providing a raffle prize or sponsoring a lane. Building NeedsWe are always running out of clumping litter, even though we buy it in 40-pound bags. We are housing quite a few felines and they go through it rapidly. We also always have a canned food shortage, especially kitten food, both can and dry. Please help.Ÿ Contact The Buddy Foundation at (847) 290-5806; visit us at 65 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, or online at thebuddyfoundation.org. 36492433Miss Kitty