‘Tis the Season
-Helen Morrison, Board President
I don’t know about you…but I can definitely get into the excitement of toys during the Holidays, especially for my cats. And I can spend a bundle on those toys…balls with bells in them, catnip mice, electrical swirling gizmos with feathery things on the end, toys that squeak, climbing towers with toys in cubbies and landings. It can definitely get out of hand.
But when you get right down to it, after all is said and done, cats basically like the simple ”toys”: boxes, paper bags, and balled up paper. Nothing to break the bank, after all. And there are those twisties from bread bags or there are paper clips or bottle caps. The simple things, indeed.
I queried various of our volunteers…and it was totally fun to get their stories of their pets and their toys.
-Helen Morrison, Board President
I don’t know about you…but I can definitely get into the excitement of toys during the Holidays, especially for my cats. And I can spend a bundle on those toys…balls with bells in them, catnip mice, electrical swirling gizmos with feathery things on the end, toys that squeak, climbing towers with toys in cubbies and landings. It can definitely get out of hand.
But when you get right down to it, after all is said and done, cats basically like the simple ”toys”: boxes, paper bags, and balled up paper. Nothing to break the bank, after all. And there are those twisties from bread bags or there are paper clips or bottle caps. The simple things, indeed.
I queried various of our volunteers…and it was totally fun to get their stories of their pets and their toys.
Aurora Gilbert
A toy that one of our cats (Aggie, short for Agate) actually does play with- beans. If she can find a bean, like a dry black bean or something, she will bat it around. When she's done with it, she will store it in my dad's slipper.
A toy that one of our cats (Aggie, short for Agate) actually does play with- beans. If she can find a bean, like a dry black bean or something, she will bat it around. When she's done with it, she will store it in my dad's slipper.
Brooke Smith
This is a picture of Bagheera with his banana toy that he really enjoys.
This is a picture of Bagheera with his banana toy that he really enjoys.
Christine Fournier
Toys that Shimmer
One of my cat’s favorite toys is what I call “shimmer on a stick”. It’s a very basic structure, just small pieces of shiny strips of paper that crinkle on the end of a stick. This is a favorite for all my cats, the shy one, the fat one and the high energy adventure one. When they hear this crinkle, they all come running! It is great to use when I need to lure a cat out of the room to another area or if I want to tire them out before bedtime. I highly recommend the shimmer stick!
As a volunteer at KAS the toy I find is consistently popular among a variety of cats is the “mouse wand toy”. Cats love the hunt and chase movement of this toy. It can be moved slowly or quickly, to high spaces or low spaces, it can encourage shy cats to play, heavier cats to move and provide an outlet for really active cats to burn off energy. It is one of the first toys I go to when starting to bond to a new arrival. I highly recommend the mouse wand toy for everyone!
Toys that Shimmer
One of my cat’s favorite toys is what I call “shimmer on a stick”. It’s a very basic structure, just small pieces of shiny strips of paper that crinkle on the end of a stick. This is a favorite for all my cats, the shy one, the fat one and the high energy adventure one. When they hear this crinkle, they all come running! It is great to use when I need to lure a cat out of the room to another area or if I want to tire them out before bedtime. I highly recommend the shimmer stick!
As a volunteer at KAS the toy I find is consistently popular among a variety of cats is the “mouse wand toy”. Cats love the hunt and chase movement of this toy. It can be moved slowly or quickly, to high spaces or low spaces, it can encourage shy cats to play, heavier cats to move and provide an outlet for really active cats to burn off energy. It is one of the first toys I go to when starting to bond to a new arrival. I highly recommend the mouse wand toy for everyone!
My cat Mickey in her newest box
Fran Hickey
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Mickey rolling around in catnip
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My grandson taking a walk with his next door neighbor named Pancake
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Judy Hughes
This is my Munchie with her little gray mouse which she lugs around the house. I might find the mouse lounging on the couch or snoozing on the bed or reclining in a chair, even on top of Munchie’s scratching box, just waiting for Munchie’s next adventure. Munchie’s had this mouse for well over four years and I’m sure the mouse has seen better days but Munchie loves him so he’s part of the family.
Merry Christmas Everyone and in our house there is a mouse stirring on Christmas Eve!
Judy Hughes
Kathy Bouffard
A story for you...
My cat, Sammy, who is a big boy and black, loves paper bags and boxes especially in the winter months. He will shred a paper bag by taking a bite and spitting it out, same with a box, then spends his time sleeping on the bag. He especially likes paper boxes, like the ones you get copy paper in. He will chew down one whole side of the box. What a mess, but it keeps him entertained.
A story for you...
My cat, Sammy, who is a big boy and black, loves paper bags and boxes especially in the winter months. He will shred a paper bag by taking a bite and spitting it out, same with a box, then spends his time sleeping on the bag. He especially likes paper boxes, like the ones you get copy paper in. He will chew down one whole side of the box. What a mess, but it keeps him entertained.
The Tucker Family
For our house with fosters and our family cats alike the favorite has been golf ball sized pom poms. Especially the sparkling variety. They are great for playing fetch and batting around the floors. Another favorite has been the disc type of scratching pad with the ball track edge. Otherwise Wart tends to play with our socks grabbing at them as we try to fold the laundry as well as when we are wearing them. And of course cats always enjoy the wrapping paper and boxes any presents come in more than the gifts inside. Happy Holidays from the Tucker family!
For our house with fosters and our family cats alike the favorite has been golf ball sized pom poms. Especially the sparkling variety. They are great for playing fetch and batting around the floors. Another favorite has been the disc type of scratching pad with the ball track edge. Otherwise Wart tends to play with our socks grabbing at them as we try to fold the laundry as well as when we are wearing them. And of course cats always enjoy the wrapping paper and boxes any presents come in more than the gifts inside. Happy Holidays from the Tucker family!
Jill Kelleher
I tried to get an action photo but it was all a blur! This shows them with their newest wand toy. Fannie and Callee all tuckered out. It's the first toy we've had that they will play with together.
I tried to get an action photo but it was all a blur! This shows them with their newest wand toy. Fannie and Callee all tuckered out. It's the first toy we've had that they will play with together.
Christine Nockels
Skipping over the mice; Horace is from a litter I rescued from Brooklyn in 2020. He loves to go outside and pick out a piece of straw and bring it in to play with.
Skipping over the mice; Horace is from a litter I rescued from Brooklyn in 2020. He loves to go outside and pick out a piece of straw and bring it in to play with.
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Sally Schlueter
Cisco is shy to photograph playing except with food! His best trick is engaging the anxiety of our dog Ebony by playing while he’s out…Ebony has some trigger of anxiety with the way the cage door sounds so Cisco plays and watches her reaction by pulling his door closed with a loud bang and it bounces back open so he can keep repeating the action and watch the reaction. We wish this play wasn’t so loud or obnoxious!! It’s definitely a learned play behavior and Cisco’s attempt to interact with his fellow housemates! So, in the end, Ebony is his toy!! Drives us parents nuts !! |
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And…of course….the best toy of all is the Christmas Tree. At least, Sage thinks so!
Happy Holidays from all of us at Kingdom Animal Shelter…volunteers and kitties, alike.
Happy Holidays from all of us at Kingdom Animal Shelter…volunteers and kitties, alike.