Cat Connection April 2006 Newsletter

Is your cat bored? Feline boredom is often at the root of a variety of behavior problems including aggression with pets as well as people, compulsive grooming, and depression. We all know feline couch potatoes--sedentary cats who tend to be a bit chubby. A daily dose of aerobic exercise is as important for cats as it is for their owners. A couple 10-15-minute play sessions in a day will improve your cat's attitude toward life and will bring him into the land of the fit and trim.

Interacting with your cat in a positive way is healthy and relaxing for you as well. Invest in a couple of well-made fishing pole-type toys and take them out during the scheduled playtimes. (Cats love routine, so try to plan play sessions for the same time every day.) You can sit on the couch while kitty is getting a workout. When kitty is lying on his side and batting at the toy, it's to end the play session and put the toys away. (If these toys are not put behind closed doors, the cat will continue to hunt for them and could get into trouble by chewing the parts, like string or feathers.) Have fun. These play sessions are great times for bonding with your pet.

Some of our favorite interactive wands and poles are:

CatFisher Rod & Reel With a true-to-life casting reel featuring two catnip-scented mouse "lures", the CatFisher Rod & Reel turns cat lovers into cat "fishermen," letting them cast their reels up to 40 feet from the comfort of their own sofa. Rod is collapsible for easy storage and contains a mini "tackle box" in the handle that holds a second, catnip-scented mouse "lure." Mouse "lures" are detachable and work with all CatFisher toys. $29.95
Da Bird Cat Teaser Wand The Da Bird Cat Teaser cat toy is a high quality, interactive toy, aerodynamically designed to mimic the motion of a real bird in flight. Made with a 36" fiberglass rod and braided nylon string, the Da Bird Cat Teaser is one of our best selling products. It will really get you cat going! $6.95
PURRfect Feather Dancer The PURRfect Feather Dancer is a whimsical cat toy on an 18" wand with a 9" cable that creates a fluid movement giving the natural feathers a special bounce. The two sizes of feathers keep your kitty enticed and excited. It has had wild approval by all of our test cats and is purrfect for healthy and safe interactive play. $7.95
Laser Light Interactive Cat Toy The Laser Light Cat Toy is an interactive toy. This tantalizing prey can't be caught. Make the harmless, quick-moving laser dot fly across the room, scale walls, or jump from one surface to another. Rest and relax while providing kitty with plenty of entertainment. The range on this small 2-1/2" toy is an incredible 1/2 mile! Several fun laser tips (designs may vary) and two LR44 button batteries included. Operating voltage 3V. Do not shine directly in eyes. $4.95

More ideas to make your cat's life (and consequently, your life) more fun:

Get a feline companion for your cat--one with a compatible personality.
Schedule at least one 15-minute interactive play session with your cat and a fishing pole or wand-type toy each day.
Cats love to hunt for their toys, so consider getting your cat a Peek-a-Prize Toy Box from SmartCat. Be sure to rotate toys frequently so Kitty doesn't get bored.
Install a window perch with a view of the birdfeeder.
Provide a goldfish bowl or an aquarium to watch when the birds are not at the feeder.
Drop a couple of ping pong balls in the bathtub (feline racquetball).
Provide them with a larger catnip toy, like the Catnip Sock, for some wrestling fun.
Set out something new to explore from time to time like a cardboard box or a paper grocery bag (without handles).
Provide your feline with some cat furniture--something great to climb, perch on, and to scratch.
Get a CatSitter Video made especially for cats featuring all kinds of wildlife.