Ensuring your junior cats are both entertained and healthy is vital for their overall well-being. Incorporating interactive cat toys into their environment can significantly enhance their quality of life and keep them from demanding your attention. As our kittens have grown, their preferences have changed and we’ve had to keep up. Luckily, there are lots of options available to keep your cats active, hydrated, and comfortable.
Of note, we’ve been able to keep up with their changing dietary needs by working closely with our dear friends at Lizzi and Rocco’s Natural Pet Market, a locally owned store.
Smart Pet Water Fountain
Hydration is crucial for cats, and encouraging them to drink more water can be challenging. We’ve used a stainless steel recirculating fountain and loved the ability to clean it regularly but the filters became a bit of a challenge as our kittens grew and added more fur and fluff. When we saw the Smart Pet Water Fountain, we knew at least one of ourjunior cats would at least be interested. Turns out, it wasn’t the braver of the two!
We placed it next to the old fountain and over time both cats have come to prefer this one, though we leave both available just in case. What we love about it is the ease of clean up. We just use the old water on indoor and outdoor plants.
Key Features:
- Automatic Operation: The fountain ensures a constant supply of water without manual intervention.
- Wireless Design: With no cords in the water tank, it offers safety and easy cleaning. We charged the fountain when we first received it and nearly four months later, haven’t had to recharge it yet!
- Capacity: The ample water reservoir ensures our cats have access to water even when you’re not home. The only catch is if the old water reservoir is full, then the water doesn’t cycle and the water bowl doesn’t refill. It takes us about two to three days for the old water tank to fill.
- No Filter Required: Simplifies maintenance and reduces ongoing costs. Though our other water bowl has reusable and washable filters, the water in our area is particularly hard (even using pre-filtered) and can leave residue that we have to soak off. With the Smart Pet Water Fountain, this isn’t an issue.
Cat Sisal Chair
Providing a comfortable and engaging resting place is essential for your cat’s physical and mental health. The Cat Sisal Chair combines relaxation with functionality, serving as both a lounger and a scratcher. We really hope our cats would take to this and they have, just not in the way we thought they would! We’ve observed both cats sitting in the chair but they have yet to use it as a scratcher. In the last month, we’ve tried moving it around and putting near the furniture they’ve been using to get our attention and added some cat nip and treats. We’re optimistic over time they’ll use it more.
Key Features:
- Adjustable Heights: The chair offers four adjustable heights, accommodating cats of various sizes and preferences. Our cats don’t have a preference, yet. But knowing the ability to adjust the height for the future is a great feature to keep this an interactive cat toy for quite awhile.
- Sisal Mat Surface: The sisal mat is attached to both ends and provides a rounded top for our cat that likes to stretch and scratch at the same time.
- Sturdy Construction: We were surprised at how quickly we could put this together and how sturdy it is. Plus, since one of our cats seems to still be growing (!!!) knowing it is designed to support up to 35 pounds keeps us from being worried about it being quickly outgrown.
Interactive Cat Ball Toy
One of our cats really loves to hunt and we have tried many ways to try to satisfy this innate behavior. We tried introducing this Interactive Cat Toy six months ago but neither was interested at the time. We brought it out again after our laser toy died and they were more interested though not as much as we expected. On the lowest level they occasionally interact with it but often they just leave it alone and watch it move across the floor.
Key Features:
- Chirping Sound: Equipped with a motion-activated chirping sound, this toy emits sounds designed to attract attention and encourage play. Our cats have only ever observed birds from the windows so they really aren’t sure what to make of this noise. But it does get their attention and they watch it from across the room.
- Elastic Mesh Tail: This is what gains the most play both when it is on and in use and when it is off waiting to be played with. I’m optimistic they’ll use it more in the future.
- Durable Construction: Made from sturdy materials, this toy is designed to withstand vigorous play. The silicone coating makes it resistant to sharp claws. While not super simple to remove, it is removable for easy cleaning and charging.
Cat Window Perch: A Cozy Spot for Napping and Bird-Watching
Both of our junior cats LOVE the new Cat Window Perch, which is perfect for cats who love to lounge, watch birds, or nap in the sun.
Key Features:
- Installation Options: Choose between suction cups for a temporary setup on glass or a wall-mounted installation for a more permanent fixture.
- Durable & Comfortable: Features a solid wood frame paired with a removable, washable carpet to ensure lasting comfort and easy maintenance.
Laser Toy: (Almost) Endless Interactive Playtime
We saved the best for last: the Laser Toy, a must-have for any playful cat, like our Ink. He needs much more interactive play that any of our previous cats or Hermione, though she also loves this toy.
Key Features:
- Unpredictable Movement: Its dual motor mechanism creates random laser movements that keep your cat fully engaged in the hunt.
- Built to Last: The dual motor design ensures long-lasting durability, offering hours of play without frequent replacements.
- Sturdy Clamp Design: Securely attaches to desks, shelves, or other surfaces so it stays in place. We have attached it to a bookshelf to give the best range that isn’t too wide or fast.
- Adjustable Angles: Customize the laser direction to add excitement and variety to playtime.
- Rechargeable & Power-Saving: USB rechargeable with a large capacity battery, featuring automatic 10-minute laser cycles for extended play. WE’ve found this lasts about a day and a half before we need to charge it again. We could make sure to shut it off at night, but this is keeping Ink from wanting to play fetch at 3 a.m., so we may just let it keep running!
We are going to keep rotating toys and finding the best way to engage our growing cat’s innate behaviors. Anything that encourages hydration, healthy scratching habits, and active play are wins for us.
Editor’s Note: Here at Dispatches, we are always looking for ways to help our readers do things. For some of our readers, that means helping navigate the working world, for others, it means assisting in the ever challenging question, “what’s for dinner?” For still others, it means figuring out how to balance family life with everything else. In an effort to aid in all of these endeavors, this post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
