ENTERTAINING OUR FELINE FRIENDS
Solution-Based Toys for Cats
By Dr. Lynn Bahr, DVM
A Dr. Lynn Bahr founder of Dezi & Roo cat products named for her two feline fur kids.With so many of us working from home having furry friends in the family, there’s a fresh need to entertain these “new children,” which is what pets have become. So when it comes to the psychology of keeping cats engaged and interested in play, we asked one of our favorite veterinarians, Lynn Bahr, whose love of animals led her to create Dezi & Roo, solution-based cat products. “Recognizing that feline behavior problems often lead to abandonment, re-homing, relinquishment to shelters, and even the premature euthanasia of a healthy cat,” she tells Pet Lifestyles Magazine, “led me to find ways to strengthen the partnership between people and their pets. This is where Dezi & Roo came from. (Yes, two of the cats that share my life were staring at me. What else could I name it?)” Dezi & Roo donates a portion of the sale of every product to pet-related charities to help those animals less fortunate than our own (and that actually includes Big Cat Rescue bigcatrescue.org) which you can read more about in this issue.
Hide and Sneak is more than a toy. A safe place for rescue or newly adopted cats, it becomes their home while acclimating to new places.Q. When it comes to cat toys, what would you say is a good investment?
A. I like purchasing toys that are versatile. They don’t have to last long (I advocate for cats destroying their toys but that’s another topic) but I think we all want to be able to entertain our cats in a variety of ways. The Magic Carpet can be used alone on the floor to allow cats to root in it, or as a barrier for hiding toys or treats underneath it. It can be thrown over a chair or table (like we suggest with the Hide and Sneak) or placed in a corner or on a shelf to provide a soft bed. There is a DIY version where owners can make their own kitty tents out of materials they have in their home (read more about DIY in my blog on deziroo.com.) I love taking the Magic Carpet and throwing it over the Hide and Sneak. That turns it into the absolute coolest secret playhouse. Rustle the side of the paper or dangle a toy in front of the curtain and it’s like tantalizing kids camping in a tent. So much fun! Combining toys is a creative way to keep playtime fun, interesting, and entertaining.
Not every cat wants to jump when it comes to playtime. Some like grounded entertainment. Wand toys however satisfy both types of cat athletes.Q. Cats are not dumb bunnies. They are smart. So what keeps them genuinely entertained?
A. I am a HUGE fan of wand toys. It is how I keep my cats entertained best. Dezi & Roo has a Wiggly Wand and seven different wand attachment options. That makes it easy to offer cats a different prey every day. Wand toys benefit cats by giving them the exercise they need. Some cats are runners and like to chase ground prey while others are acrobats and prefer things that fly. Wand toys satisfy all types of athletes since they are so versatile and tap into most cats’ instinct to hunt.
Attachments to the Wiggly Wand (or DIY a wiggly toy on the end of any “wand”) engage cats to chase after them. With variations in size, movement, sound and texture they keep cats’ attention, diverting them from napping or even, destructive behavior. After all, no one wants a bored kitty and keeping our feline friends alert and interested is fun for both, cat and cat parent.
Tapping into your cats natural instinct to hunt is one way to keep them engaged. And it’s good mental and physical exercise too.Q. How do I connect with my cat through play?
A. Not all cats enjoy cuddling or showing physical affection, but all creatures love to play. That is why playing with your cat is one of the best ways to show them your love and affection. Interacting with our kitties strengthens the bond we share with them and keeps us all happier and healthier. Watching cats stalk, chase, pounce, and tussle with their toys is as entertaining for us as it is for them. Who doesn’t smile and laugh every time they witness the classic “butt wiggle” or “chirping chatter” that happens when a cat is stalking prey? Laughter is the best medicine, and cats are expurrts at getting us to laugh.
I use a specific routine to make sure I play with my cats several times every day. It is how I keep them active, engaged, and entertained. And, it makes it easy for us to spend quality time together.
Watching cats stalk, chase, pounce and tussle with their toys is as entertaining for us as it is for them. Wand toys are a great way to engage our feline friends.Q. What if my cat doesn’t like to play?
A. I have never met a cat that didn’t like to play unless it was physically or mentally unable to. What I have seen is people playing incorrectly with their cats, or toys that don’t stimulate cats, or cats’ preferences for play that are misunderstood. The most common mistake I see owners make is dangling toys in a cat’s face. Not only is that annoying, but it would never happen naturally. Birds don’t fly into cat’s faces and mice don’t run up to them either. In order to engage a cat in play, one has to get the toy to move and act like “real” prey. That is why I designed all of ours to tap into a cat’s natural and normal instinct to hunt, hide, smell, and root. Given the right toys that match a cat’s specific play preference will entice them to interact and have fun even if they have not done so in the past. For specific details on how to get your cat to play more check out this blog: https://deziroo.com/blogs/pawsitive-connections/if-your-cat-wont-play-its-probably-your-fault
