While most kittens will play with just about anything, many adult cats prefer toys that are realistic in size and appearance to prey they would hunt (think small and quiet). Cats have individual preferences so it's important to try different types to see what gets your cat excited.
Interactive play with a wand toy is highly beneficial for your cat. It's not only a great way to provide exercise, but it gives them an outlet for their predatory drive. When they catch the toy, it's a great boost to their confidence and emotional health. The more you play with your cat, the less likely they are to exhibit behavior issues. Playing every day is a great way to keep your cat healthy and stimulated.
Teasers vs. Wand Toys
A teaser is a wand toy that has a long ribbon attached to it. They come in different sizes and textures. My cats like teasers such as Cat Dancer's Rainbow Charmer and I use them occasionally instead of the wand toy to provide them with a different experience now and then.
I think the wand toy is the top choice. It's a wand, like a fishing pole, and at the end is some type of prey toy. ZeyZoo is one of the brands I use for wands. I like that they give you 2 wands and the worm toys which all of my cats like. I like the long, retractable handle, easy to store when not in use. I love wands that have a clip at the end so I can change out the attachment. It could be wings, a mouse or a even a bug. Cats like novelty and can become bored of the same attachment so it's great to be able to change the attachments.
Use a Variety of Attachments
I like to rotate attachments. When not in use, I keep attachments marinating in catnip or silvervine so when I attach it again, the cats are excited to see and smell it.
When selecting wand toy attachments, see if you can determine what your cat is attracted to: small vs. large; mice vs. flying toys, color preferences. I find many adult cats prefer small attachments but they have individual preferences so sometimes you need to try different toys out to and see what your cat responds to.
With 5 cats, it's interesting to see that each has a preference for which prey toys they are attracted to during play sessions. That being said, they all like the Da Bird attachments and small mice like Ratzo and Meek Mouse from Cat Fishin. The Da Bird feathers really fly like birds and make cool sounds in the air. But, if I use them all the time, the cats get bored. I switch out the attachments every 2 to 3 days depending on level of interest. They also all tend to like very small attachments such as KatFly's Clownfish and Litterboys beetles. Once in a while, I'll take things up a notch by spraying the attachments with From the Field's Catnip spray.
I have 5 cats. They each have a favorite toy different from each other. Josh prefers toys with wings. Maya likes the worms. Lily likes feathers. Luke likes the smallest attachments and Oscar likes lizards. But, they get tired of their favorites and like to see other prey toys too.
Other companies that make great attachments: Litterboys, Katfly, and PetDesignz carries a lot of interesting attachments.
I buy toys, but I also make my own using paper shopping bag handles, Post-Its, straws and ribbon. Making your own is a great way to increase variety and is quite budget friendly.
Safety
With any toys, you should supervise your cat and ensure it's safe since some cats will chew and sometimes ingest toys. I like to put toys away after playtime has ended.
How to Play
Unfortunately, I see people waving toys in front of their cats and the cats respond more in defense than playfulness. You want to bring out the predator in your cat by creating a hunt. Would a mouse or bird dance in front of your cat's face? No. Don't use your toy that way either.
Move the toy away from the cat. You can play around with movements to see what your cat likes. Some cats like slow movements, then stopping altogether before you move again. Others like quick jerky movements. My cat Luke likes when I move the toy in a large circle.
Many cats like the toy to disappear under something like a towel or sheet. Packing paper is great for this too. Dezi Roo's magic carpet (shown above) makes for great fun during playtime. Moving the toy under it is really fun for the cats. It's also great for making small tents during playtime too. The cats like to pop out from under it.
Some cats will leap in the air to grab a toy, others prefer the toy to stay on the ground.
My cat, Josh loves when I change things up. Sometimes he's running around a tunnel, or jumping up on a cat tree for a toy. He even loves to play in the bathtub, and I pull the toy out of his sight behind the shower curtain (warning: do not try this unless you can tolerate holes in your shower curtain).
Here's Luke with a toy mouse he caught. When my cat has the toy in his mouth, I gently drop the wand and let him carry it around. When he drops it, I pick up the wand again and we continue.
Towards the end of the session, I slow things down. Let them enjoy their catch longer. And, then I feed them a meal which is a perfect way to end a play session. They get to eat as if they actually caught prey.
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About the author: Jennifer Van de Kieft, CAFTP, FFCP, PNCC is located in Brooklyn, NY. She is certified in feline behavior and pet nutrition. She owns Cat Advocate, a feline behavior consulting company. She provides cat guardians with the strategies, tools and knowledge needed to address their cat's behavior issues. Jennifer provides virtual consultations throughout the United States.