Entertaining cats while I'm gone

[nlkiser198343]

I've tried getting many different toys. A $40 cat tree. A flopping fish with catnip, a scratch pad, a few different interactive toys and he doesn't play with anything. Anybody have any ideas to keep him entertained when I'm not home?

 

[Alldara]

Great ideas so far. Some cats prefer if your rotate toys. If you put those away for awhile, they might become "new" again in a few months.

A spinner toy like this occupies ours. It has a 20 minute shut off. Petlinks® Mystery Motion™ Concealed Electronic Motion Cat Toy | cat Interactive & Electronic | PetSmart

Any kind of food enrichment is good too.

Catnip or silvervine.

What types of scratchers did you buy? Most cats have a preference. Mine like cardboard and carpet but not those fluffy ones. Sisal will do in a pinch!

Bird feeder outside a window view if you can.

Mine really like recycled fur toys from Etsy, or Dharma cat toys. A woollen dryer ball is actually a big hit (unscented from Nelly's). I put some catnip on it some times.

A few boxes and a bunch of tissue paper or craft paper is a blast!

 

[nlkiser198343]

He has lots of windows to look out and plays in my attic. I got him one of those toys to and he just doesn't seem to play with anything much. it a z board scratch pad you pour catnip on. He likes laser pointers. I play with one with him when I'm home. I tried an interactive laser but it dies pretty quickly.

Wow I just got wool dryer balls for the first time. I think it could also be because he's not neutered yet. I think he's more interested in looking for a mate or a place to hide and pee. I already have an appointment set for him next week. I hope I didn't wait to long and he will stop spraying all over my house. I love him. can't get rid of him.

I'll try some of these. I was also looking at outdoor catios that attach to the window not when I'm away of course while I'm home. There so expensive tho. I was wondering if people think I can build one with c&c grids panel. I have some for building guinea pig cages. I bet I can get the equipment to build one for around $30

When I first got him I had a toy rat I would hang from my bed frame and that would keep him entertained for days and as he got older he just wasn't interested anymore. I think it might be his sexual frustrations. I might try a treat puzzle toy next or one of those balls that roll around on there own. I throw paper balls around and he has a few little fuzzy mice. Usually finds something to play with on his own when he wants but spends a lot of time marking his territory

 

[Alldara]

Getting him neutered will help I'm sure. It will stop him spraying! You're right, he does seem rather pre-occupied with in-tact cat things. I've not felt with having an intact cat older than a few months. I got my boys from a rescue and they were already neutered. The last neuter I had done was 17 years ago!

I would wait until after you get him fixed to give him a box with paper in it. I cat-sat an intact male and he peed all in it. My neices were very upset at they had decorated the "cat castle" quite beautifully.

 

[nlkiser198343]

I just found a box with styrofoam peanuts and threw some on my floor. I tried putting him in the box and he was hissing and clinging to me. 4 more days. I just bought a window hammock that suction cups to the window for $20. He never seemed to like houses with small openings much. He has a cat tree thats listed for $85 now made by amerkat. It has a big wood box house with fleece carpeting. I thought hed love it but he never goes in it. I think he has enough climbing spots in my house anyway. The shelves and null posts he jumps across are higher than most cat trees

 

[nlkiser198343]

I have enough c&c grid panels to make him an outdoor cat enclosure. I saw a picture online where somebody had the enclosure coming down there window and then a connecting tunnel all around the house. You can get 33 of these 14x14 inch grid panels on Amazon for about $35. Enough to build a big one. I'm kind of worried tho once he gets the taste of outdoors he'll start trying to escape. I wish I can build one going out my window onto my roof but I wouldn't trust myself with that.

 

[Alldara]

It's best to let the cat explore the items in their own time.

Many cats don't like places with only one exit/entrance. They prefer two, but if it's quite small they still might not sleep there. My cats don't used the little squares or any enclosed bed.

It may be safest to take the packing peanuts away. They will not be good if he eats them. Paper is much safer if he accidentally eats a bit.

I just leave the box out on the floor and put some paper inside and then maybe a toy or two. Mostly they like to crunch down all the paper and then later I fluff it back up.

Maybe some videos will help give inspiration. Remembe, you won't be able to do the same thing every day and expect that it will keep him busy. You'll have to rotate activities:

 

[Cat McCannon]

How do you know he's not playing with any of his toys when you're not around? I keep finding toys Belle "doesn't play with" in the oddest places. Including my dirty socks!

 

[nlkiser198343]

I guess he could be. He has a lot now. I think I'm gonna get a bunch of big boxes and connect them with 12 pack soda case tunnels. He likes running through those

 

[nlkiser198343]

So should I just crumple up paper?

 

[Kobe’s Mom]

I've tried getting many different toys. A $40 cat tree. A flopping fish with catnip, a scratch pad, a few different interactive toys and he doesn't play with anything. Anybody have any ideas to keep him entertained when I'm not home?

Go on YouTube they have videos that go 10 hours with birds and all kinds of animals and it keeps mine occupied for a long time. They come and go to it

 

[mxphs]

I've tried getting many different toys. A $40 cat tree. A flopping fish with catnip, a scratch pad, a few different interactive toys and he doesn't play with anything. Anybody have any ideas to keep him entertained when I'm not home?

I've been in the same boat as you. Some cats just want their owners to be involved in the play all the time. I've just given in to playing with him for 30-40 minutes a day now. Some days after work i'm so wiped and I still do it just because it serves me also in the long run

 

[nlkiser198343]

I've been in the same boat as you. Some cats just want their owners to be involved in the play all the time. I've just given in to playing with him for 30-40 minutes a day now. Some days after work i'm so wiped and I still do it just because it serves me also in the long run

And I have to guinea pigs to keep entertained after working 8 hours a day. It's a lot. I'm always devising ways to make there lives better

 

[nlkiser198343]

And I have to guinea pigs to keep entertained after working 8 hours a day. It's a lot. I'm always devising ways to make there lives better

 

[nlkiser198343]

I just ordered 18 different cat toys extremely cheap from temu. I got a smart ball for $5 that amazon had listed $35. I got a collapsible 3 door pet house for $6. A bunch of small cat toys for between 50 cents and $2 each. They have free shipping for next few hours. I payed $45 for 18 items.

 

[nlkiser198343]

I researched temu since I never heard of it. It seems legit

 

[nlkiser198343]

I just canceled and added more so I can get $40 off a $100 order. I added a $47 scratch post and a $10 interactive snake for $20 extra

 

[nlkiser198343]

I hope all this stuff is good and I have room for it lol.

 

[Alldara]

So should I just crumple up paper?

Yep! You can. Our boys have some small I shaped floor scratchers so I always put them over that.

 

[nlkiser198343]

The scratching post I ordered went out of stock and refunded unfortunately so I'm taking the money and trying out that smarcat scratcher for $50. Anybody recommend this or am I wasting my money?