How to get your felines to play with toys
I often encourage feline fanciers to stimulate play with their felines by making old toys new by either reapplying catnip or putting them away for awhile, so when they reappear they are new.
You should not have to work too hard to get your feline to play with interactional toys. But, if your feline is disinterested in anything you buy and he just does not respond to conventional store bought toys, what can you find for them to play with that will be safe?
Use your imagination and enter your feline's state of mind. If you think about it and watch your feline's behavior, you will come up with some ideas. Don't our felines always want play with something they shouldn't? Our response to their behavior is key. An object is always more interesting if we are saying NO! Now the object is a must-have. Look for creative ways to make the item safe, or only allow access when you can supervise.
I have a feline that always helps me when I put away groceries. There are two things she asks for when this happens. She watches me untwist the ties on the bags from the fruit and vegetable department. She tries to grab them and run away with them. She is even smart enough to know where they are kept. She tries to open the kitchen drawers and cabinets.
She enjoys the twist-ties so much, I allow her to play with them when I have time to watch her to make sure she does not run off and hide the ties for later play. Ultimately, she would chew all the paper off, exposing the wire, if I let her have it for an extended period of time.
If I come home with paper handled shopping bags, her world is complete. The handles are cut off and she proudly claims her prizes by carrying them off and putting them her toy box. Flat handled paper is safer because they do not unravel like twisted handles.
Forget crinkled or fuzzy store-bought toys for my paper obsessed feline. She prefers wadded note paper balls. She will fetch nothing else. She loves the texture and the sound. This is a harmless toy to leave out as long as you check the condition of the paper daily.
She hauls these paper wads around and proudly puts them in her toy box so she does not have to share. The rest of my felines think she is crazy, because they love the expensive toys.
If your feline does not like conventional toys, keep experimenting. You will find something they like that is safe and brings out their inner kitten.
If you want to provide a real special toy and you don't mind the price range, YEOWW brand catnip toys will send even the laziest feline into a playing frenzy. Even my paper-crazed feline plays like a kitten with these toys.
The price range is $6-$8. When your feline gets through playing with YEOWW catnip, make sure you have a super Kitty Kong for them to use to divert their aggression. Yes, they are that crazy with YEOWW. Just sit back and enjoy the show.
Upcoming
Bowling for Buddy, a fundraiser to help support The Buddy Foundation's mission, will be from 1:30-4:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, at Arlington Lanes, 3435 N. Kennicott Ave., in Arlington Heights.
Admission includes two games of bowling, shoe rental, pizza, dessert and soda. Admission in advance is $30 for adults and $15 for children 12 and younger; $35 at the door.
For registration information, visit www.TheBuddyFoundation.org or call (847) 290-5806.
• The Buddy Foundation, 65 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, is a nonprofit 501(c) 3, shelter. Call (847) 290-5806 or visit www.thebuddyfoundation.org.