Reddit mentions: The best cat feather toys

Oh! Oh! If you can't tell by my username, I can help here!

First of all, based on the $85 fee I'm assuming you're adopting adult cats? Thank you so much! Adult cats take forever to find their furever homes. If they're kittens THANK YOU for adopting them in pairs! It's more important than most people think! But no matter what, the one time fee means that you're choosing to adopt instead of supporting a breeder. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this! I foster kittens that are constantly coming and going, so I've gotten a pretty good list of cheap things that work well. Sorry in advance for the wall of text. If you need ANY help at all when it comes to anything cat related, please ask!

• Food - Make sure you give them whatever the shelter gives them even if you plan on transitioning. It's important that you do it slowly. Here is a good article about how to do it. I highly recommend not going cheap here. If you spend money on one thing, a good diet is where to spend it on! I recommend grain free and/or limited ingredient diets, but I'm not a vet so I'd talk to yours about specifics.
  
  • Food bowl: You wouldn't think a little bowl would be so damn expensive, but it is. I have a dozen or so of these bowls for the kittens since I use many at a time, but I'd recommend starting out with 4 and see how you do there. Basically have 4 bowls (two to give to each cat for food, and an extra 2 for when the dirty bowls are in the wash). Almost any bowl will work, including the ones you have, but if you were thinking of buying one of those $73.12 bowls because you think your cat needs it and it has a silicone bottom, don't. They're a huge waste of money.
    
• Litter/box: Skip all the weird stuff/scents to put in your litter box to get rid of the smell. Just get unscented litter and baking soda. Sprinkle the baking soda on the bottom of the box, fill half your litter, sprinkle some more, fill the rest of your litter. You will also want 2 litter boxes at a minimum. The general rule of thumb is a box per cat + an extra one. As for litter box, I love this one, and here looks like a cheaper and similar version. As for litter, I HIGHLY recommend clumping because non clumping is a nightmare (we need to use it for very small kittens since they can ingest the clumping and it can hurt them). I use petco's bulk litter and love it. If you have one near you, you can pick up a big bin and refill it as needed for a lower price. Here is the big bag of it, but I think a refill on a 30lb thing is 10 dollars?
  
• Scratcher: Cats need to scratch, and they'll do it if you provide them with a scratcher or if you provide them with your own furniture. I would recommend at least one of these for each cat, plus maybe a couple extra depending on how big your home is. I have these everywhere because of of my kitties loves using them as beds. Soft fluffy stuff? Not a chance. Hard cardboard? Now we're talking! He's weird, and one of your beauties may be too. This is the best value one I could find, but really any of them would work. I also like this one because it's bed shaped-ish so they can also lay in it.
  
• Vet care: Every year you'll need to get vaccines and preferably a checkup for each one of your cats. I know petco recently started doing a clinic day where they JUST the vaccines for something like 40 bucks or something, but that doesn't come with a checkup which I would recommend. I would ask your shelter about low cost vet clinics in your area, I'm sure they would know! I can't find a link where you can put in your zip code and get a list or I would link it :(
  
• Toys: This is probably the easiest category to overspend in so don't. There's a lot of fancy looking toys that are great, but your cat gets bored of them quickly and even the best ones will get destroyed. I highly recommend buying a few kinds of cheap toys and seeing what your cat likes. Then regularly replacing them so it's new and shiny! For toys that'll fit in a bag, I like to have a catnip bag that I put some catnip in with the toys. Every so often I'll take toys out of the bag and the cats lose their minds. If after they get bored they're still in good condition - back in the bag they go!
  
  • Sparkle balls: These become choking hazards really quick, but cats LOVE THEM. I just bought these and they seem to be holding up well. Just like the food, I wouldn't recommend going cheap on them. The good news though is that even the good ones are still pretty cheap! Your local pet store will usually have good quality ones of these as well. Just don't get those "100 sparkle balls for 2 dollars!" off amazon.
    
  • Multipack: I LOVE this pack because it has a little bit of everything to see what kitty likes. The only downside is that the tunnel is pretty small. That's perfect for my foster kittens, but not so much for an adult cat. If you get it and the tunnel is too small, donate it to your shelter! Something like this also gives you a cheap way to stock up on a variety of toys.
    
  • Cat Dancer: I buy these in bulk they're so amazing. The link I'm giving you currently has the price of $4.20, but on November 2nd another seller will have them back at stock for 2 bucks each. I wouldn't buy them at 4 dollars, but at 2 they're a steal. The company also has a thing where you can hook them onto your wall and cats will play with it while you're gone. I bought it but haven't set it up yet. Another thing I LOVE about this is that you can wrap them around something.
    
  • Fishing pole toy: I call all of these kinds of toys a fishing pole toy. It's essentially a stick with something dangling from it. Cats go CRAZY for them and this is a good and cheap one. I also stick the pole part in couch cushions or between the bed and box spring so it's dangling.
    
• Cat tower: Honestly, some cats love them, some cats don't. I would eventually get a cat tower (at least one), but don't let it stop you from adopting! Your local pet store will have tons, but I've seen some very happy people who got a massive crazy one for cheap off amazon. I have 4 (3 for my cats, one for the kitten room) that all get very loved but I honestly have no idea where I got them from or I'd link it to you!

Let her into your room! She'll be much happier with more space. I highly recommend having a cat tree or two in your place. Give her a box to hide in. Or even try one of these out!

KOJIMA Shark Round House Puppy Bed with Pet Bed Mat, Small to Medium (Gray, Small) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HRXQ90I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_dcINybCJMQWEE

Don't prevent her from hiding, but do challenge her once in a while to be comfortable in different rooms and open spaces.

Try the toy distraction on your 2 year old cat. That's what I meant. If she's showing aggression, it's one of the best ways to distract her from the cat who's more shy.

Make sure the new cat isn't doing anything to provoke your 2 year old cat. If she is, that behavior will need to be adjusted before the 2 year old cat can be comfortable with her.

100% agree on the tuna. If you'd like to learn about cat nutrition, I highly recommend http://www.thecatsite.com for its active forums and articles on feline nutrition (they can also give great input on behaviors)

Here are two nutrition articles to get you started:

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/how-to-choose-the-right-food-for-your-cat

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/grain-free-cat-food-what-does-it-mean

You'll find that grain free high protein wet/raw foods are best for your babies as unlike people and even dogs, cats are obligate carnivores. (Here is some of that science: https://www.waltham.com/document/nutrition/cat/dog/differences-between-cat-and-dog/284/ )
My recommendation is making a small trip to an independent pet food store (not petco, petsmart, or even pet supplies plus) Take a look on yelp for good ones in your area. (Just search for pet food stores) If there are none, try Chewy.com. They sell all sorts of pet foods (you can filter by grain free) The forums on thecatsite are very good in terms of discussion of different commercial and home-made food options. (As you might be able to tell, I've done a lot of my own research!)

But yes. You are correct. Plain tuna does not contain the amount of Taurine (that's just one or the major ones) cats need to thrive. Fish generally is something you should stray from due to high mercury content and addictiveness. (Dry food is also very addictive and contributes most to obesity, digestive issues, UTIs, urinary crystals, and more)

And good! Yes, be creative in your ways to distract her! If she's not enjoying her favorite toy, try a new one. (Cats love Da'Bird and similar long (~3 ft) fishing pole type toys. ) Check out these links.


GoCat Da Bird Rod and Feather Cat Toys, Assorted Colors https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001BOVEU4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_wzINybW7DMFV9

Cats really jump for these types of long fishing pole toys that use feathers or other fur like parts. I do recommend always having a handy supply of strong duct tape to fix minor issues and strengthen the parts of well-used toys. (I had to tightly reinforce the end of the rod that connects to the string so the end piece holding the string wouldn't come off)


Petmate Jackson Galaxy Cat Crawl Solid Tunnel, Green/Orange https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O3GWKHS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_UDINyb34HXAEW

Great space for stalking and hiding during play


Nature In Hand Cat Play House with Catnip and Scratcher (Cat Scratching House) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AJAHOC2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_DFINybC4C5TWA

Triple function hide, stealth play, and cardboard scratcher. I have one that my cat loves! You can sometimes find seasonal looking ones on clearance at local pet stores (I have a gingerbread xmas themed one that I got on clearance for half the price on amazon) Cardboard scratchers, to me, are a must. Whether it's something like this or just by itself.



Nano Robotic Cat Toy (White/Blue) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RWU17KS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_kyINyb5FX7DB2

This one is great if you have hard wood or tile floors. Otherwise, pass.


The idea here is to give them more enrichment, hide space, and ways to play.

That said, having more vertical space is also a really good idea.

You know how cat trees (especially the 6 ft ones) are like 200 dollars at pet stores?
Check this out:

Go Pet Club Cat Tree, 50W x 26L x 72H, Beige https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003WGGWQA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_awINybGSAA2EB


BestPet CT-9073 Cat Tree Scratcher Play House Condo Furniture Toy, 73-Inch, Beige https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NOL7OQU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_-wINybKYYYCDX

You can find more on amazon. Groupon or eBay are also good sources. Your cats will be more comfortable if they can observe their territory from a high place rather than hiding behind a toilet. I really do think it would help give them more confidence. You could even install cat shelves on your walls if you want to. But a cat tree(or two!) goes a long way!

Give them their own favorite places to occupy so that they are better able to share their space.

I totally agree with TheCatGuardian's post. We just adopted our first cat from a shelter and he is 8 months old, and honestly he's still a bit of a handful at times (but that should be expected with any new pet). Try to get one over a year, if not closer to 2 years, as ours is still learning how to play nice and not nipping our ankles to get attention. My husband has always had cats, but this was my first pet and we adopted because I've always wanted one. I did a ton of research and here's what I would suggest as far as supplies:

A high sided litter box with rim - to keep them from kicking litter around and the high walls help keep everything inside. I didn't waste the money on litter liners. They seem gimmicky to me.

Pooper Scooper - It's cheap and gets the job done. Nothing else needs to be said about it.

Stainless Steel Bowl(s) - This one gets good reviews and is the perfect size for their food. You can get two, one for wet and one for dry food. Though I got this one for dry and got a cute oval dish at walmart for ~$2 for his wet. Whatever you want.

Slightly larger bowl for water - Make sure they have plenty for fresh water. I give him new water in the AM and evening after work. I know a lot of people rave about water fountains...but honestly I didn't want to spend the money initially, and my kitty seems to be perfectly fine drinking from the bowl. It'd be worth it to see how your cat feels about the bowl...esp since they will be drinking from bowls at the shelter...they shouldn't be too picky. You can spoil them later on if you decide to, but definitely not necessary.

A safety collar - Make sure it is either a break-away or elastic to ensure the cat doesn't get strangled if it climbs and gets stuck on something and is hanging by its neck. I liked this one because it didn't have an annoying bell, though some like the bell to let you find your cat in the house. The collar also ensure that if the cat gets out anyone who finds him will know he belongs to someone and isn't just a feral cat that they can take for themselves.

Scratching Board - Simple and good reviews. Seems like it will last. You can also get one or two cardboard cheaper ones and see what they prefer to scratch on. My cat doesn't really scratch that much...he uses the scratching posts that are part of his cat tree.

Cat Perch - This is the one we got so he can look out the window. It seems like a good balance of expense and functionality...especially at first. The cat might not even like jumping up on things, so at least this is a safe buy since it's not that tall but still lets them get up off the floor.

Cat bed - This one is highly reviewed and really durable. It's machine washable and will last forever. I really love this bed.

Simple toys at first: Wand Toy, Jingle Balls, Ball Circle Thing, Little Catnip Critter. He also likes paper bags, toilet paper rolls, and his laser pointer. I highly recommend the laser pointer...ours is green.

Greenies Treats

As far as food, you want to ask what they feed at the shelter and get a bag of that at first even if you read online that it isn't "the best." We wanted to get our cat on a mainly wet food diet, so we left his shelter dry food out at night, and gave him half a can of wet food in the morning before work, and half a can at night beofre bed ~9PM, and took the dry food away while the wet food was out. We feed him Friskies Pate...it's actually pretty good for the price. People will get passionate about cat food. Honestly Friskies is fine for us now...they sell it in bulk at Sam's.

Litter - you want to use the kind they use at the shelter so they have comfort in that. You can switch later if you want.

You might also want to get nail clippers and a brush. Our cat is long haired and I like using a comb, but it's really up to you.

As far as gimmicks I would assume that if it seems like a luxury it probably isn't necessary. Cats are very happy with simple things. The vitals are what I listed...a bathroom, food and water (bowls), a few toys, somewhere to scratch, somewhere to get up off the floor, and a safety collar. The bed isn't absolutely vital, but it's nice for them to have somewhere that they feel secure and happy...even if they don't use it at first.

Apologies in advance for the book.

It does sound like she's getting too big to manage herself - I know a cat like this, and getting that stimulation especially where she can't reach it in a spot that is already a sensitive sweet spot for cats probably elicits this overreaction (like she's SUPER overstimulated), and the cat I know has also overgroomed a spot she can reach to a bald patch, but not to the point of bleeding. This isn't so much behavioural as it is a reaction to her own condition, and it seems more physiological than anything else.

First thing is first: when is the last time both cats saw a vet? Do that first. You don't want to be making big changes in her life if she's not in a good place health-wise already. A vet will be able to suggest ways to manage this cat's weight by providing things like an ideal weight for you to strive for, to treat her bleeding and overgroomed areas, and if needed, give her a bath or a groom (or recommend someone who can). Ask about a good way to help her clean herself, like by wiping her down with a warm damp cloth and following it up with a thorough brush. If she has a tummy problem like diarrhea frequently, let them know because it may be something that needs addressing, even if it's as simple as changing her food or adding a probiotic to her diet/routine. Get blood tests done, and check the functionality of her thyroid.

I notice overweight cats tend to get greasier more easily because, as you said, they can't reach parts of themselves. I imagine any litter problems are exacerbated by her inability to groom herself back there too, which can also be quite problematic as they age.

What kind of diet are they on? If they eat a dry food diet, look to transitioning them to a wet food diet. Wet food is higher in moisture, higher in protein, and lower in carbohydrates. Carbs are a huge problem in fat cats because they come from sources like plants that cats aren't built to digest the same way they do meat, so avoid foods like Science Diet since I think all of their foods contain corn as a higher ingredient (meaning the protein it advertises it has comes from plants, so it's in one end and out the other, and the cat comes back hungry all the time). Super cheap brands will contain corn too, and other foods will contain some starches or grains - if you're on a budget, look for something like Sheba, Fancy Feast, Friskies, Authority in pate. Gravies and shredded foods contain more carbs because they need to thicken up the "sauces". You get more bang for your buck with pate, and having the water built right into the food helps satiate a cat's hunger better, as most cats will eat dry food and forgo water until they start feeling crappy. Generally cats don't drink enough water on their own.

For cats who need to lose weight, 18-20 calories per pound is a general guideline I've seen around (some say it's generous - you can ask the vet about this), but it's based on their ideal weight. If you're starting a diet, start at 1lb less than her current weight so it's not a total shock to her body, and then start working your way down to her ideal weight's caloric requirements. Most of the food I've come across, high end dry food is 116-120 calories per ounce and wet food is 28-30 calories per ounce. I have a food scale that helps make it easier to measure, but to give you a general estimate, one of those wide, round soup spoons heaping gives me 1.5 ounces of pate style food.

You can also work on feeding the other cat by himself, like in another room, or in a crawl space the female is too big to fit through. That way he always has the option, but she's limited to the food she gets in the wet meal feedings you give her.

Dashing from the litter box could also have something to do with where the box is set up. If you only have one litter box, get one or two more so the cats have the option to use a box that hasn't been soiled by the other recently, or so one isn't waiting outside or preparing to ambush the other. If something happened to spook her in there once, she could be afraid and may want to get out as fast as she can. When you get another litter box, place it in a different room and see how she takes to that one - keep the same type of litter so she still recognizes it as a litter box.

I don't mean to sound like a jerk saying this, but as someone with long hair, I've seen our cats hoover up a few of my hairs, which is pretty gross but just do your best to keep the place swept and vacuumed to best prevent her from accidentally ingesting long hairs.

When it comes to exercise, do you guys play with her frequently? The upside to working regular day jobs is that cats tend to be more active at night anyway, so she can nap while you're away and you can work her while you're home! Toys aren't fun to cats who are waiting for something to move that they can stalk and chase. Especially if she isn't big on going outside and exploring or chasing whatever's out there, you'll have to fill that gap here.

Laser pointers, Da Bird, other wand toys, and you can even improvise since cats will play with garbage if they think it's fun. I've had great success with small plastic pieces, like the caps holding the wand toys together, and just tossing them. My cat goes NUTS chasing them, making 6 foot leaps in the air just to catch it in her mouth or between her paws, and they do the same for dried out little pieces of black licorice. Straws? Our cats go wild for these Sproket straws that are at Pet Valu because they're woven and very bouncy, so the weave can catch in their claws and what they end up doing while they fling their paws around is tossing it around, so they go chase it again. If we're around, we bunch them up and let them fly for them to chase. Flouncy little springs?

If all else fails, get some healthy treats, even a high end, low-carb kibble that you can break into pieces and throw around the house so she'll have to chase it down if she wants to eat. The food I feed is 13% carbs and 48% protein - grain, soy, gluten, and byproduct free (though the last one isn't a huge deal to me - the others are). Cheap foods can be anywhere around 30-40% carbs. Drop those like rocks and find something better elsewhere.

Here are some links that will be helpful to you, but just a note that the first one tends to push towards raw diets. If your cats have lived on wet or dry all their lives, and especially if you don't have the time or money to dedicate the research towards committing and feeding raw, don't do it. Wet food is a better "biologically appropriate" compromise, which the author also thinks, but her stance is a bit strong towards raw.

http://www.catinfo.org/?link=felineobesity

http://www.catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPublic9-22-12.pdf (a bit outdated, but still a good gauge)

http://fnae.org/carbcalorie.html

Good luck!

Well, I've yet to meet a cat or a dog that can resist a lazer pointer, but I try to avoid using those. The animal tends to get fixated on the floor, obsessively. Instead I prefer toys that allow for a more realistic play - those toys that are a stick with a string/elastic and some sort of toy or feather at the end are the best.

If kitty is more of a jumper and climber, there are great toys with feathers - when they move through the air, it even sounds like a bird's wings flapping. If he's more into scurrying on the ground, they have great chonky little toys that look like mice and kind of thonk as they move.

A long shoelace with a pinecone on one end, tied to some long kitchen utensil might work just as well. You can experiment with dollar-store stuff before you start spending tens of dollars only to find out he prefers the shoelace :)

This is the kind of thing I'm talking about though : https://www.amazon.com/Pet-Fit-Life-Feather-Exerciser/dp/B00LZUCIL8/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?crid=15WBTFSYCT09D&keywords=interactive+cat+toy&qid=1555384469&s=gateway&sprefix=Interactive+&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1

But the interactive feature is the important part - you need to control the play. Get him running, jumping, climbing - he should be panting... When he starts panting, give him a sec to catch his breath, then start playing again. Keep going until he's just wiped out. Laying on the floor panting, kinda batting at the toy, cause he's just too tired to go on... Usually you're looking at 20-30 min. Probably less as you play with him regularly.

If you're willing to invest a little, these are some other great ways to keep kitty stimulated, which will help him be more calm and relaxed -

• There are hammock-type shelves that you suction-cup to a window, great for basking in the sun and watching the world outside.
  
• Another example of 'cat tv' are these fake fish tanks with plastic or digital fish. All the fun of a real tank with none of the maintenance. Unless you're down to get a real fish tank - then you'd be his hero!
  
• There are lots of puzzle toys out there for cats - mental stimulation is great for draining energy, and this doesn't need you to drive the play.
  
• Take about 25% of his daily dry food portion and put it in a feeder toy. There are balls that will dispense a couple of nuggets at a time while kitty plays - a very instinctual way for him to get some of his food. I also like to mix in a few treats.
  
• Cat wheel. Kind of like a kitty treadmill. You can help lead him there with a toy when you're playing, or treats. He'll go on his own after that, and you can make it part of the play sessions. These things are amazing, but they're also about $200.

It sort of depends on the cat. If you go to a shelter that has a foster program, the foster home can tell you a lot about the cat's usual personality. Shelters are great, but animals can act really differently in a shelter setting than they do in a home setting, which is why a foster home would have more information about what is normal for that particular cat, in a home setting.

Some cats settle down after age 2, but I have a 5 year old cat who is still very playful and active (which could be because I have younger cats and dogs who he likes to play with and keep up with. If we had a calmer household he might be calmer himself.)

You can absolutely train a cat to go outside on a harness and leash! It won't be exactly the same as walking a dog, you sort of have to go at the cat's pace and let them get comfortable in their environment. My 5 year old cat was introduced to the harness early on (I let him wear the harness around the house and just got him to play with toys, once he realized he could still run and jump with it on he didn't mind it). Now he knows that wearing the harness means he gets to go outside, and he begs me to put it on him and loves his time in our back yard. My other cats aren't as interested, so again this comes down to the individual cat and their personality. Here's a guide I found on harness training a cat.

My cats wear this particular harness, and it has worked well for us. If you are able to get that brand, I really recommend their solid color harnesses over the ones with cute patterns. The material is softer on the solid colors and conforms to the cat's body better than the patterned material.

If you do get a younger/more active cat, you can also tire them out indoors with active play/ Feather toys like Da Bird are a great way to exercise a cat!

If you can adopt a bonded pair of cats, they can play with each other when you aren't around, and will also keep each other company. I have three cats of my own and they love to play with each other and with my dogs. You can get away with having younger and more active animals if they have each other to play with. As long as you can afford food and vet bills for two cats, it isn't any harder to keep two cats than it is to keep one, and you could have younger and more active cats this way.

Sorry if this is a jumbled mess, it's past my bedtime. I'd be happy to answer any other questions you have or to clarify anything that didn't make sense! I really appreciate that you're doing your research on bringing any kind of animal into your home.

Oh! Excellent!!! You'll be so happy with your kitty. Here are some of my cats' favorite things:

(1) A view out an open window, facing a tree or some kind of natural shrubbery where he can chirp at squirrels or birds (if you have access to such a thing). Even if there's no "wildlife" in the area, cats like to look outside at passersby too.

(2) High places, like cat trees, or window ledge lookouts: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/images/Categoryimages/normal/p-21651-43327-cat.jpg

(3) Multiple sources of water, and preferably a running fountain. Amazon has one for $20 I think. Cats don't have much of a natural thirst drive but (males especially) are prone to urinary crystals. One of the best preventatives is drinking plenty of water, which cats are more likely to do if you give them a running source of it. You'll also find that some cats like to drink out of your own water cups lying around. It may not seem important that they get that much water, but my cat has been hospitalized twice for urinary crystals and that's way more expensive than a fountain.

(4) Scratchy posts and such. Keep them off your furniture!

(5) A litter box, preferably a covered one, in a private area. A rug underneath it will help with your own sanity because they'll kick the litter everywhere. I've turned the closet under the stairs (the Harry Potter closet) into a cat bathroom for my babies with a motion sensor light to give them privacy. I currently use this litter: http://www.amazon.com/Precious-Cat-Premium-Clumping-Litter/dp/B0009X29WK/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1370152220&sr=1-1&keywords=cat+litter I used to use World's Best but it was like they were crapping in crushed diamonds, it was the most expensive thing I was getting for them.

(6) A furry bed or basket with blankets. Cats love that velvety furry texture. Mine seem to love baskets, but really anything with high walls that encloses them. If you are low on $$ then even a cardboard box with some squishies to line it are excellent.

(7) Toys that act like actual prey. My cats love Da Bird and they love this crittery thing even more: http://www.amazon.com/Da-Bird-Catcher-maker-Feather/dp/B000LPOUNW/ref=sr_1_3?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1370151820&sr=1-3&keywords=da+bird, and I find it's more resilient than Da Bird (they yank on it). Toy mice and crinkle balls are also a favorite. Laser pointers, catnip-stuffed anything are also favorites. I've never known cats to really like balls or larger toys much. If it looks or acts like something they'd hunt, they basically go crazy for it. Again, if you're poor, you can easily make crinkle toys out of plastic bags (just watch the kitty during playtime and put the toys away when you're not engaging), or catnip-stuffed socks.

(8) Microchip! Collar! Kitties are good at sneaking through open doors. My cat is also insured and I've saved hundreds on his vet bills, it can be a good decision.

I can't say I'm the best with food recommendations. Sometimes it just really depends on your budget and how your cat likes and responds to food you're feeding him. If he has a glossy coat, minimal shedding, and a healthy weight, it's a good food choice. Hopefully someone else can chime in with what they're feeding their kitties!

Your problem is... you have a kitten.

Honestly, all of this sounds like a normal young cat with a lot of energy who's bored out of her mind. Different cats have different energy levels, and your mom also had multiple cats together. Your kitten is alone, so all of her entertainment comes from you or from finding things to do herself, many of which won't please you. I would check out something like this book, which is a quick, easy read and covers strategies for all of the problems you're having. In brief, here are some things to try:

• Scratching: Offer lots of acceptable scratching surfaces, both vertical and horizontal. Sisal posts and pads as well as cardboard are all great and really cheap. Put them in areas where your kitten likes to scratch. If you see her scratching the carpet, pick her up and gently move her to the scratching toy. If necessary, reward her with a treat the first few times she uses the toys.
  
• Scratching: At the same time, you want to make the carpet less appealing to scratch. Try putting down double-sided tape or tinfoil in the affected areas. Both of these are cheap, easy to remove, and won't hurt the cat or the carpet.
  
• Scratching: Keeping the cat's claws trimmed will also reduce her need to scratch, but keep in mind that scratching is completely healthy and necessary for all cats. (For one, it's how they stretch their back muscles.) If you're totally unable to get the scratching under control with toys, you might also look into getting Softpaws for her, but you probably won't need to.
  
• Activity at night: Cats are most active in the evening by nature; they're technically crepuscular. To help you get your sleep anyway, you'll need to do multiple play sessions in the afternoon and evening. Yes, that takes time, but it's a pretty fun investment in a good night's sleep. Laser pointers, Da Bird-style toys, and this weird thing are all great for high-energy play. Cat playtime should mimic hunting and stalking prey, so avoid just waving a toy in her face (which can get the cat frustrated and more wound up). Hide the toy in various spots around the house, peeking out just a bit, and make her hunt it. Make her run and jump. With my 16-month-old, playtime isn't really done until he actually starts panting. (Be reasonable with this, obviously.)
  
• Meowing: I would revise feeding times. Ideally, you should play with the kitten before bedtime, then feed her. That way she'll be worn out and ready for a long nap when you go to bed. If you're currently free-feeding, consider moving to one or two distinct feeding times. This will allow you to make food a bonding event, and if you play with her before feeding time, you'll also reinforce the sense that she's hunted successfully and can now settle down. Important: Avoid feeding her first thing in the morning, which will encourage her to meow at your door to get you out of bed. My cats eat dinner when I come home from work, then have playtime and treats right before bed. (They eat high-quality dry food for treats, but they're kind of weird.)
  
• Activity at night: Simply speaking, your cat gets bored at night, so offer entertainment that doesn't involve harassing you. There are lots of inexpensive toys she can use by herself, including puzzle toys that dispense treats. Leave her with one or two each night; change it up to keep her interested. A cat tree by a window can be a good way to let her observe nocturnal wildlife and secure her territory, and it can be a good place for her to sleep as well. If you can get her sufficiently worn out before bedtime to make this feasible, I've found that letting my cats sleep in my bedroom actually keeps them calmer and quieter. They take their cues from us settling down and going to sleep, and they feel safe to do the same. My older cat would meow at the door all night when she was young too, and we didn't start getting normal sleep until we let her sleep with us.
  
• Deterrents: You've already figured this out, but punishing cats doesn't really work. They don't understand what's going on and can get anxious and neurotic, and if they're sufficiently bored, even getting water sprayed at them can be a fun way to get attention. The best way to modify cat behavior is usually to offer more fun and interesting alternatives, while making the undesirable behavior less fun and more difficult. In your case, your kitten has figured out that meowing at your door will get you to interact with her for a solid hour and a half. To avoid this, something like the Ssscat may be a good way to keep her away from the door at night without interaction from you. However, you'll have to do this in addition to, not instead of, all the stuff above; otherwise she'll just meow at your door from three feet away.
  
  Good luck!
  
  Edit: I fail at Reddit formatting, apparently. ;_;

My favorite day of adventures and an adorable puppy.

Its your favorite day and she just looks so wonderful there. Full of fun and life and for a memory thats the best, and puppy stage because then you have the full reminder of the lifetime of joy you shared.

Pooka & piddy

Piddy is the black and white, I'm not sure how old she is, because I got her free at a yard sale. I felt so bad for her, she was all crammed into a rabbit, cage, she couldn't even stand up but she was so pretty and friendly. I stuck my fingers in the cage to pet her and she immediately rubbed against them. its hard to see in this angle but she's got this adorable black spot on her nose. She was an adult cat then, but young I think. She's got a lot more white in her black fur now, she drools when she's happy, which is often. Purrs constantly when you just look at her and smile! Loves to play fetch and still run around like she's lost her mind now and then. She also cuddles me when I sleep.

Pooka the calico was the best gift my ex husband ever gave me. She was a valentines gift, the last of a litter and the runt. She was so tiny she fit just one hand. When we first got her, she hid and barely came out, Slowly she did though. It was funny, Piddy took to her pretty fast, and started teaching her how to hunt and play. They cuddle sometimes fight others. Pooka growls and protects me when someone knocks lol. She knows the knocks of friends and family and won't growl but stands by me anyway. She loves to be brushed, and is a ninja.

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.

Gifties for them this or this

Toys of course, they love to chase things and the crinkle balls the noise they've destroyed the last batch i had. They also destroyed hte last toy on a string on a stick. lol It was entertainment for me and them!

I'm a bit limited in my stuff because I have a dog who tries to play with the cat toys, but here are some I have now:

​

https://www.chewy.com/trixie-brain-mover-interactive-cat/dp/146125

https://www.chewy.com/trixie-mad-scientist-turn-around/dp/146119

https://www.chewy.com/cat-amazing-best-cat-toy-ever/dp/132771

https://www.chewy.com/kong-glide-n-seek-cat-toy/dp/101667

https://www.amazon.com/SmartyKat-Hot-Pursuit-Concealed-Motion/dp/B06WP7F8YC/ref=sr_1_7?crid=39T23K4DMHZKL&keywords=cat+toys+interactive+best+sellers&qid=1556484455&s=gateway&sprefix=cat+toy%2Caps%2C195&sr=8-7

​

Basically, my challenge is it can't have anything the dog might eat to her detriment, and/or it has to be used only under my close supervision. For that reason, we don't use the Kong Glide and Seek anymore. The toys have feathers, which she loves, and magnets - which she should not swallow.

​

My cats have also loved Hexbugs toys, but those are dangerous around the dog. They make both cat toys and non-cat-toy versions that are still great toys. They also love feathers on a pole/string. I have basically this: https://www.amazon.com/Feather-Retractable-Assorted-Interactive-Exerciser/dp/B07F45GGPT/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=cat+fishing+pole&qid=1556484617&s=gateway&sr=8-6 , but I found that the end piece wants to come off too readily. I used duct tape for a while, but need to fix it right at some point. As it stands, it's not safe, because the string mine came with is basically fishing line, and I don't want the dog to swallow it. It's fun though when the cats play with it. Mine grabs the feather end sometimes and trots off, trailing the pole behind her, looking for a safe place to eat her prey. But I think she sees the pole as a rival, so she just ends up carrying it from one hidey hole to the next, looking very smuggly satisfied with her catch!

​

If you do not have a good cat tree (something with several perches and such, consider getting one - some have toys affixed to them, and that can become a favorite outlet for energy as well as a place to sleep.

​

Smart cats need lots of stimulation, and if you don't have one, you might consider finding him a playmate, ideally female (male cats get in competition with each other sometimes, and you end up with literal pissing - spraying - contests). A cat who can keep up with him will be the best possible toy! I have two females (sisters) and a male currently. They all play together quite a bit. This does help keep down the crazy. If I had my genius by herself, I'd have to meet ALL her stimulation needs, and that would take probably a few hours a day. The actual amount of stimulation yours needs may be different, and what excites him may be a bit different. But he will need some stuff to do, especially over the next couple years. By the time he's 4 or 5, he'll settle considerably, but some interactive, interesting toys and such will only increase both of your enjoyment.

this may repeat what others have said but this is a fairly exhaustive list of things that have shown really good response from my cats:

• Go Cat mouse teaser - made by the same people who made da bird (next bullet) which is featured a lot on My Cat from Hell and is a very popular toy; my younger cat goes APESHIT for it every time and wants to play with it whenever we let him - he will jump higher and run faster than with any other toy
  
• Go Cat "Da Bird" - simply put, a great cat teaser; it will whistle through the air if you guide it at the right speed (pretty easy to get after practice) and both of my cats love it (and as mentioned above, very very popular)
  
• pom pom balls, fluffy puff balls/"mice", etc. - basically balls that are soft, fuzzy, and can fit happily in cat mouth - my cats bat these around (under couch/table/etc. :/) and carry them around the apartment proudly
  
• mylar balls or other chewy/noisy balls/"mice" - great for making noise to pique their interest and also fun to bat, carry, etc.
  
• random shit filled with catnip - I first bought one of those little animals that you fill with nip, but now I just fill an old sock, tie it off, and it works just as well
  
• laser pointer - I linked the one I use, but obviously doesn't matter which you buy; however, you need to commit to some time with playing with this each session, as I've felt that starting a play session only to stop before your cats are exhausted is asking for trouble, as the laser pointer gets them SO EXCITED that they stay crazed and they have to burn off that extra energy somehow...
  
• BOXES - do you buy things? KEEP THE BOXES - they are probably the most easily/cheaply accessible toy you can get with the most use because cats love playing in, sitting, sleeping, squeezing into, etc boxes like it's nobody's business. also - keep the bubble wrap/air packs because those are also fun to pounce on/attack
  
• straws - I bought a pack for like a dollar and have tons still - not always a hit but are fun to chew and bat
  
  that's about it as far as things that remain interesting... and that fit in nice categories
  
  note the Go Cat toys will become destroyed if you leave them out unattended/after play so keep them somewhere out of reach when not in use

The Molly and Friends tree looks nice but if you're going to spend $350 on a cat tree you could also check out Contempocat: https://www.contempocat.com/
We splurged on our floor to ceiling cat tree for the same reasons Odow mentioned: Our Siberians are rowdy and play rough on it, plus they're around 10 lbs already and they're only 9 months old. If you chose this breed for the hypoallergenic factor then you can get the planks without the carpet material which is nice, and it's all handmade from actual wood so it will last a long time.

For a scratching post we picked up this one: https://smile.amazon.com/Original-Scratch-Lounge-Worlds-Scratcher/dp/B000EIHQU0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1524768417&sr=8-3&keywords=cat+scratch+lounge
They both love it and seem to favor it over the vertical one we bought.

I second the window hammock! We got a similar one: https://www.chewy.com/kh-pet-products-ez-window-mount/dp/128081?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hg&utm_content=K%26H%20Pet%20Products&utm_term=&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8YXXBRDXARIsAMzsQuWlOD6k07ymU2W1LrxLVOBTGIyRTGJw2ZFpeuIx_HDByqyTyraD610aAsCHEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
The girls will often jump from the top of their tree (ceiling height) 4 feet down onto the window hammock and so far it has held up, even with both lounging in it at the same time.

Another thing to check out is an exercise wheel. We don't let our girls outside so they tend to have a lot of pent up energy. We picked up this cat wheel for around $450: http://www.gocatwheel.net/
It was really easy to train and it gets used daily, plus they sleep much better once they've had a run!

Another great "hunting" toy is this fishing pole type retractable wand: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XK34P46/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
They go straight up COOKYDOOKS for this thing! I also picked up a pack of feathers so they could have some variety as well as the inevitable destruction of them: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B06WD2MLMR/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The FURminator works well for one of my girls but not so great for the other one. I found a comb called the Greyhound comb: https://greyhoundcomb.com/cart/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=20
There are lots of "Greyhound Style" combs out there so it's up to you if you want a knockoff. That website also has some nice grooming products. I just picked up the Essentials Travel Kit to try and I gotta say, they looked quite glamorous!

I hope all of those links work, I'm still a bit of a noob when it comes to commenting on Reddit cause I mostly just lurk. Congrats on your new floof, they are SO affectionate and fun!!

Hi there, what a great contest! :)

My Sofie kitty is 2, so not quite a kitten anymore, but she is such a sweetie pie and loves to play!

I found this, and thought it was really cool! Sofie likes to drink fresh water the best (directly from the faucet) and this seems like a neat alternative!

As I said, Sofie loves to play and I know she would love this mouse toy on my For the Kitty wishlist. :)

Thanks so much, I hope you and your kitty have a wonderful Christmas!

I agree with the other posters who advise you to be patient and let her adjust to this big transition before you worry too much. When I moved recently, my cat was so shook up about it that he hid for three or four days and had no interest in even his favorite toy.

One thing you can do is cat-ify (to steal words from Jackson Galaxy) her environment so that she has lots of options to "own" her new space. Perches, cat trees, scratchers, etc. Access to a window where she can watch outside. Don't be too worried if she doesn't use something right away. Simply having plenty of spaces where she is free to be a cat should help her start to feel at home.

Wait for her to "ask" you to play when she's ready. What I mean is: as she grows more confident in your home, she'll start taking an interest in play. She may find your phone cord and start batting it around. Or seem very intrigued with the birds outside the window. Or you'll be petting her and she'll start trying to bite your hands like a toy. Whatever it is, one day you'll see that kitty instinct come out in some way.

When you see it, that's a good time to try to engage her with a toy. She'll be less likely to be fearful of it because she'll be in her hunting mode. It can also help you determine which kind of play she prefers: some cats love the chase, some cats love batting a toy, some cats love to hide and watch a toy move before pouncing..etc. One of my cats absolutely loves to chase toys around as I wave them while the other seems to prefer observe-pounce-run away-repeat.

Finally, as far as treats... don't worry so much. First of all, she may just not be into treats because she's adjusting and (kind of like a human) has other things occupying her attention. But I have found many cats that just aren't as food motivated as others. It seems some cats live to eat and others eat to live. There is nothing wrong with her if she's just not that excited by snacks.

I hope this helps and reassures you that you're doing a great job and she'll grow in confidence over the next few weeks and you'll see her personality start to come out more. As an owner of a treat-picky cat, I have had huge success with these treats. For toys, I haven't met a cat yet who doesn't end up loving [this thing.] (https://www.amazon.com/Go-Cat-Catcher-Teaser-Mouse/dp/B000LPOUNW/ref=sr_1_5?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1527026128&sr=1-5&keywords=cat+wand)

Good luck and congratulations on the new kitty!

Your first mistake is thinking your cat has a master. There are three things that could be happening here. One is that he doesn't like you. One is that he likes you and is playing with you. One is that he likes you and is playing with you but could really use some more toys. Get him some toys. Might be fun to get some of those toys on sticks and play with him since he clearly wants to play with you. But I wouldn't assume this is aggressive. Try filling a sock with catnip and sewing it closed or buying something similar. My cats love kicking and biting those. He just sounds like he's having fun, though. Just get him something he can rabbit kick and bite and direct his attention there. And have fun so he knows you love him and that it's just more fun for everyone to use the toy!


He might do this with you because he thinks you like it, too. But I think he's just being a happy cat and doesn't mean to be aggressive. Try something like this so you can play with him and he gets his kicking and energy out: https://smile.amazon.com/Go-Cat-Piece-Apart-Handmade/dp/B000F9JJJE

Vet student and cat lover here. Undersocialized kittens, kittens separated from their mom too early, and Bengals can all make challenging pets, so I'm not surprised you're having some trouble with that combination!

It sounds like your kitten has play aggression. Basically, he's bored and under-stimulated, and his pent-up energy is being directed towards you. Here's some information about play aggression from the SF SPCA, a well-respected behavior consultant, and VCA hospitals. I hope you'll find it useful!

My cat used to be play-aggressive, and here's what's worked for me:

• Lots and lots of play. Aim for at least two sessions of 10-15 minutes per day of active play, and try to wear him out!
  
  
• Try lots of toys! Kittens will have different preferences and may get bored over time, so switch things up. I'm giving some links of toys that, in my experience, cats go crazy over. They're not affiliate links, I don't work for the companies, and you can find them in pet stores as well: Cat catcher, Cat Charmer, Da Bird, and Cat Crazies A lot of cats also go crazy for foil balls and drinking straws if you throw them around. Try to have a variety of toys- wand toys, sparkle balls, bouncy balls, big catnip toys your kitten can kick, little catnip toys he can carry around, soft toys, plastic toys- you get the idea. If your cat is an ambush hunter, he may also like if you dangle a toy at one end of a cat tunnel so he can run through and grab it.
  
  
• Try to engage in play before you see any signs of playfulness or aggression, and definitely learn to recognize those signs and act on them! I've found that while redirecting with toys is the smart thing to do, at that point, it's usually too late.
  
  
• Cat tend to have a hunt-eat-groom-sleep cycle. Try to feed twice a day at regular times, and play for a bit first. Cats like being on a schedule.
  
  
• More cat trees and build/buy cat shelves if you're able!
  
  
• Wear shoes/boots in the house if you have to. Doing this saved my ankles, and I wonder if part of the reason he attacks you more than your BF is that you react more so it's more fun for him.
  
  
• Food puzzles! Here's a site with a ton of options, including super cheap or free/recycled ones.
  
  
• Look into clicker training! Good way to keep him physically and mentally occupied.
  
  I hope this helps! I realize I've just thrown a ton of info at you, and my main suggestion is to take just a couple little ideas and start incorporating them. Maybe find one toy he loves and use it twice a day, scatter his food over his cat tree or in an ice cube tray, and try to keep yourself covered so he can't hurt you.
  
  Also, definitely take him to the vet! I agree he can probably be neutered now or soon, it's always good to take new pets to the vet, and they may have behavior advice. Best of luck!

I’ve bought my kitten this (I forget how to link on mobile so sorry for the ugly link) and of course it’s the cheapest toy I’ve bought, but he will play with this until he’s panting, go eat, come back and play over and over.

You can also kinda DIY some toys. My older cat (5 years) hates anything and everything I buy for her. I bought a bungee mouse toy you can hang on doors and stuff, and tied a long ribbon through the ring. She will play with that forever. (Also linked)

The one they both agree is with the Yeowww catnip banana. They go absolutely bonkers for it. (Linked)

Some also love little chirpy toys. You can find plenty on strings, or little strong free ones (linked).

Go to town with feathers, bells, and whatnot to figure out what your kitty likes!

Crinkle balls are also a hit with both. They love the sound and it’s their jam. My youngest will play with them for hours. Be careful of which brand you buy of these though, some people have issues with the dye.

If you don’t want’em scratching on anything, try getting a couple scratching posts and place them near where they scratch the walls or whatever else. They also love being up high, so a cat tree is always great! Preferably near windows since most cats enjoy looking outside.

Cheap toy: Cat Dancer 101 Cat Dancer Interactive Cat Toy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006N9I68/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_R7yTBbDYBC4T8

Mouse bungee toy: SmartyKat Bouncy Mouse Cat Toy Bungee Toy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001FK62YM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_2.yTBb1ECB06G

Catnip Banana: Yeowww! Catnip Toy, Yellow... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000AUJFHE?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Crinkle balls: 12 Mylar Crinkle Balls for... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06VVY88VR?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Chirpy toy: Your pet will love this Pet Zone Play-N-Squeak Backyard Squeaking Raccoon Cat Toy: https://app.chewy.com/pEfewDgnJQ

Declawing is the same as surgically removing the last bone from each of your fingertips. Learn to keep the cat's nails trimmed correctly. Too short and if a cat's not used to it, they can't walk, run, or jump without wobbling until they grow back.

Not all cats like scratching posts -- mine prefers cardboard, but not the 'on-edge' cardboard cat scratchers, so my dad helped me add a wooden 'tray' to the top of the post in which I place flat squares of cardboard cut from boxes. She scratches and sleeps there, and sometimes just perches there to watch out the window. Don't get a carpet-covered scratching post or pad unless you want to teach your cat that scratching carpet is a good idea. =P

I have a Booda Dome for a litter box -- she still tracks some litter. I don't think there's a system out there that will keep cats from tracking any. Some litters are better than others. Covered litter boxes are nice for the humans, but not all cats will adapt to the flaps. Some litters are lower 'dust' than others, and this is better for cats' lungs and humans' alike. =)

Not all cats will respond to catnip or all types of toys. My cat is indifferent to laser pointers, and only likes the actual fur-covered realistic mice. She doesn't care for bell toys, but those little plastic springs drive her nuts (when she's in the mood). Her favorite toy is a wooden wobble 'bead' in which you can place catnip. Also a Da Bird Feather Cat Toy which you can make flutter to sound like a real bird. I'd suggest the non-collapsible one, as I'd suspect my cat would pull that apart. =P

Talk to your vet about what food(s) are actually good for your cat. From my research, you want to avoid bone meal products or and 'meal' products as they include ground bone which is hard on your cat's kidneys. Also avoid grains. Turkey is better than chicken; not all fish are terrible, but you have to consider mercury levels. You should consider only feeding your cat wet food, but this is more expensive, and difficult to manage with hurried schedules. Mine loves kibble and hates having to give that up, so I leave that out all the time and supplement with a big scoop of wet food at night. (These are the best quality, least expensive per-serving foods I've found.) A 6-lb. bag of kibble seems to last my cat ~3 months. At four days (servings) per can, the 12-pack of 12.5 oz. cans last about 1.5 months. You'll need two snap-on plastic can lids. My cat adores salmon as you may see. =P

Not all cats will like all types of cat beds.

Mine LOVES water (she literally demands 'cat showers') and she likes to play with the dripping tub faucet, so next I'm going to get a cat drinking fountain. Cats in general prefer 'fresh' or moving water, so mine always wants clean water in her bowl every time.

Because no one cat will like every toy or bed or litter box, you may have to buy more than one. Talk to your vet about what types to try and how to encourage a cat to like what you buy. I put catnip on my cat's things -- that seems to have worked, but not all cats respond to catnip.

First, congrats on deciding to adopt an adult cat! You are awesome and you're going to make this cat happy no matter what you do.

If he's healthy, well fed and safe in his territory, then he's going to be a very happy little cat. For feeding, I do one can of wet food a day, and dry food free fed while I work. Depending on his size, you may want to schedule his meals instead. Fat cats are cute, but not healthy

I am one who is against having a cat outdoors for any reason unless you live on farmland or acres of your own that are protected from outside animals. In the US, your cats life drops from 12-15 years to 2-5 years on average. A cat can be very happy indoors, regardless of if they were once an outdoor cat. Outdoor house cats are also a burden on nature and kill billions of other animals, such as birds, each year.

As for keeping my cat happy, I have a cat tower for my cat which is kind of her own little kingdom when I am gone. Armakat makes cheap and amazing towers.

I have the house littered with toys, most of them she ignores since there are so many. And she ends up just wanting to play with bottle caps over expensive toys anyway. She does love to chase and bat around her stuffed mice though.

I spend about 30 mins to an hour a day just playing with her, using a feather chaser like this one which is probably the biggest contribution to her daily happiness and well being. The interactivity gives her an outlet to expend energy, and it creates a positive bond. It gives her something to hunt as well. Don't just have your cat chase the toy around, let them stalk it as you slowly move it from them. Chasing and killing is only one part of play, the actual stalking is a big part of it as well.

Cats lives are pretty much, sleep -> hunt -> kill -> eat -> groom -> repeat. With a bunch of pooping in between. If you are fulfilling all of those then your cat is probably very satisfied and will hopefully refrain from attempts at smothering you with their paws while you sleep. They'll still probably stick their butthole in your face every chance they get though.

I've bought a ton of toys for our kitten in the last few months, but these are his absolute favorites: Bergan Turbo Scratcher, a crinkle tube like this one, Cat Dancer, and the Go Cat mouse on a string toy. With the Go Cat mouse toy especially, he definitely lets you know he loves that toy. It's the only one he never ignores and the only one he will pick up in his mouth and carry to his "den" like it's real prey.

We also got him a fluffy mouse puppet that he loves to wrestle with. I might just be projecting, but it seems like it kind of makes up for the lack of another furry companion to play with. Bonus points: it lets you play hands-on without getting your hands scratched up.

The bitter apple spray doesn't seem to deter our cat much, but liberal application of Sticky Paws (double sided tape) and taping loose cords to the wall helps keep him away from scratching and biting things he shouldn't be messing with.

Also, if you have house plants, look them up to make sure they aren't toxic to cats. The kitten's interest in chewing on plants may vary, of course, but ours loves chewing and climbing on plants. The ASPCA has the most comprehensive list of plants that are toxic to pets.

Breed: domestic short-hair, a.k.a. moggy.

She looks to be older the 6 weeks as her default blue eyes (almost all kittens, including those of the "big" cats are born with blue eyes) have already turned to green.

Looks like you are giving her Temptations treats; those are good for an occasional treat, but not for feeding real meals. Cats are obligate carnivores; they need meat--check labels on cat food and avoid anything that has fillers like corn.

Good wet food (esp for the price!): https://www.amazon.com/Purina-Fancy-Feast-Flaked-Shrimp/dp/B0012KB466/ref=pd_sim_199_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0012KB466&pd_rd_r=B8MQ2M7BCPCJGWPBQD1N&pd_rd_w=SpSRe&pd_rd_wg=Cwzvx&psc=1&refRID=B8MQ2M7BCPCJGWPBQD1N

Set up a feeding station somewhere quiet, where you have little foot traffic and no noise (like washing machine etc).

Make sure she drinks enough water. The watering station needs to be away from the food station (cats do not like to drink next to food; it's an evolutionary left-over -- in nature water next to killed prey might be contaminated).

Cats like running water (signals "fresh" to them); try leaving a faucet on a slow drip or get a water fountain.

Be sure to get her a break-away collar with contact info in case she gets out. Microchip her as well.

Take her to a vet soonish to check her over and get her spayed (no more kittens!). Do NOT get talked into declawing her.

Get a couple of GOOD scratching posts, one where she can do a full body stretch vertically without tipping over the thing (this one is good: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000634MH8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

Try cardboard scratchers, too. Cats love those!

Most cats love "da bird" to play with (https://www.amazon.com/GoCat-Cat-Feather-Assorted-Colors/dp/B000F9JJJE/ref=sr_1_4?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1504644018&sr=1-4&keywords=da+bird)

Here's a great resource for any cat appreciator: http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/

That's all I can think of right now ... except this: have fun with her. Cats can enrich your life in immeasurable ways!

There are many things you can try, and ultimately it’s just the more responsible cat guardian to do. Most people think cats like to sleep all day, but my 45years of cat parent experience definitely shows otherwise. Cats will sleep if they have nothing else to do, but the two main things your cat is going to need are 1. Stimulation and play and 2. Territory.

Outdoor cats have established territory, it will take a while for your cat to adjust, so be prepared for many attempted jail breaks. A tall baby gate at the door may help, you can get a 48inch gate on amazon.

Secondly, your cat needs attention and distraction- but a couple of cat wands, one with a feather twirly at the end and one with a deer hair mouse - every cat I have ever known love these:

GoCat Da Bird Rod and Feather Cat Toy, Handmade in The USA (1 Bird) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001BOVEU4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_5zHZDb58EY5F7

Go Cat Cat Catcher Teaser Wand with Mouse Cat Toy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000LPOUNW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_LAHZDbYVCB38S

But what ever it’s your cat likes, work towards 10 solid hunting minutes in the morning and again at night. Use the cats favorite toy to distract when they want to go out.

Finally- there is an amazing calming product called “licks”. If your cat starts howling, you squeeze the packet on their front arm, work it into the Fur, they lick it off and it was better for calming my cat than Prozac.

Licks - Cat Zen - Calming Aid and Stress Management- Tryptophan, L-Theanine, Eleuthero Root, and Ashwagandha Root - LiquiPaks - 30 Use https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SLBMLR0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_4CHZDbM1TA9DC

Good luck!!!

My cat did this when he was a baby too. I put him in the bathroom at night after the first few days. He cried for a bit, but was fine and all happy in the clothes basket when I went in to shower in the morning . :)

Cats aren't supposed to like citrus, but nothing has really turned him away from me. Just be careful with Tea Tree oil, it is very toxic to cats! Enjoy your new baby(pictures please :3)! At that age, mine was jumping on me because he wanted to play and I toss and turn under the covers, which makes it like a game to get whats under the covers. My SO sleeps like a rock with the covers pulled up over him. What also might help is getting a toy and playing with him until he is SUPER tired. http://www.amazon.com/GoCat-Apart-Feather-Assorted-Colors/dp/B000F9JJJE this is the ONLY toy that our cats will freak out over(some stores sell it too!). Our fatty will not play unless it's this, he really likes the mouse attachment and will chase it up our hallways. I have never seen my cat jump so high! Wear him out until he won't get up again before bed, give him some food, then he should go to be for a bit and give you some time to sleep. Jackson Galaxy's show is interesting(he does the play/food/sleep thing and it's the only thing that stops our cats from crying at our door at night).

Sorry if this is all unsolicited XD I am a crazy cat lady and I went through some hell with mine for a bit. He is my best little friend through and I wouldn't trade him for the world. :)

Baby Josie is beautiful! I had a Maincoon named Tiki. He lived to be 16! BEST CAT EVAH!!!!

She would love this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006VMN4O

A Mini me for her to snuggle with: http://www.amazon.com/Davey-Maine-Coon-Douglas-Cuddle/dp/B004YSH3Y0

A Kitteh tunnel!!!: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EFMLBW?ie=UTF8&tag=maicoocatnat-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000EFMLBW

Toys: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000PVTLWW?ie=UTF8&tag=maicoocatnat-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000PVTLWW

Toys: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IYSAIW?ie=UTF8&tag=maicoocatnat-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000IYSAIW

Toys: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000M1B7I6?ie=UTF8&tag=maicoocatnat-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000M1B7I6

And more toys: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002DHV16?ie=UTF8&tag=maicoocatnat-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0002DHV16

Maincoons LOVE to play and have that kitten play aspect to them for YEARS!!!Mine loved balls, and a good old laser pointer was the best thing ever. He would get running after that red dot, and couldn't stop well on our hardwood floors and would slide in walls....

Oh and a cat bed on top of the Fridge would be great for your girl. Tiki always slept on top of the fridge :)

Long time cat owner here--I currently live with a nearly 6 year old, 16lb tabby who is about as needy as a cat can possibly get. Two things I would recommend to help your cat "chill":

1. Play Time is CRUCIAL. Cats need a way to channel their energies, and just running around the house is not sufficient for most cats. This is especially important for your cat since he spent the first year of his life as an outside cat. Most cats won't go for leash walks (mine just flops), so it's up to you as the human to help them wear themselves out. I highly recommend a toy called "Da Bird". It's interactive and will help you and the cat form a great bond. http://www.amazon.com/Original-Single-Guinea-Feather-Refills/dp/B000FWAP8A/ref=sr_1_3?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1458154134&sr=1-3&keywords=da+bird
   
   Other toys/gadgets that you could give him are those plastic balls with bells inside of them, little foil poofs, or plastic milk jug rings.
   
   
2. Make sure you are sticking to as much of a routine as you possibly can--cats are creatures of habit and if anything in their daily life gets thrown off, this can manifest itself in them being super clingy, vocal, or even hyper/destructive. Try to feed them at the same time(s) every day. Come up with some rituals when it's bedtime--your cat will figure out the cues of when it's time to settle down and go to sleep. Reward them with treats regularly for playtime, too. My cat and I have a ritual where when he jumps onto a designated surface (Called the "Treat Seat") he gets a handful of treats from me. Any way you can reward the behavior you like will encourage them to continue to do so.
   
   Playtime & Routines, which should be rewarded regularly for "good behavior".
   
   

I don't have a website, but here's my experience:



food - it's pretty basic, but make sure you provide them with clean, fresh water every day. also (and this is just my personal opinion) try not to feed exclusively dry food. it is convenient, but is very high in carbohydrates (not good), whereas wet food has more fat and protein, and of course a lot more moisture! more moisture means less chances of your kitty getting a UTI or blockage, both of which are pretty bad. the very best thing you could do would be to feed only wet food, but that may not be possible as dry food can be more economical. also try to avoid by-products and grain IF possible. many brands will have a recommended feeding guide on their site or on the package so you'll have some idea of how much food your kitty needs.


play - cats have a reputation for being lazy, but they do require stimulation (some more than others)! try to play with them at least once or twice a day, even if it's just with a laser pointer or letting them stalk and chase a toy like this.


litter box - keep it clean, scoop it out at least once a day and dump all the old litter and replace it with fresh litter when it starts to get smelly (for us it's about once every two weeks). this will help prevent litter box avoidance.


affection - depends on the cat. some are super cuddly and want a lot of attention and petting, others not so much. one of my cats will ONLY want affection/cuddles in the morning, and typically ignores me for the rest of the day. the other chirps at me when she wants scritches or to get on my lap. ymmv.


other needs - kitties need to scratch! to save your furniture, get a couple of vertical and/or horizontal scratchers to place around your house. discourage them from scratching on furniture (a firm "NO!" will usually be enough of a deterrent) and if they still do, invest in some sticky tape. cats also like to climb and look down on their ~kingdom~, so a cat tree or at least a small perch is always a good investment.

ugh that was REALLY long, I'm sorry. if you have can, watch "My Cat From Hell" (it's on Netflix!). You'll learn a lot about cat needs and how they operate. Good luck and good for you for considering adoption!

Preface: I am not a vet! I'm just a pre-vet student who has successfully gotten her chubby kitty to lose weight, so take my advice with a grain of salt...

Do you free feed or do you only give the recommended amount per day?

If you free feed, kitty is probably still eating as much as he wants and the weight may never come off. I would recommend switching to a regulated amount per day (I quickly looked up the feeding directions and it looks like you should be aiming for about 2/3rds cup daily; however, you should confirm this with your vet) if you haven't already.

In regards to wet food, try out several brands and see if you can find one he likes. My kitties are mostly fed Weruva or Best Feline Friend, but I've recently had to switch back to Hill's Ideal Balance wet food for just my Siamese because she is super picky.

As for exercise, you should be playing with him several times a day to the point where he starts lightly panting or flops over and refuses to move. I enjoy using the laser to run my kitties up and down the stairs and around the house. My kitties also lose their little minds for Da Bird, so you may want to check out your local pet store for something like this to encourage your kitty to use all his energy going after a toy.

When I was having my kitty lose weight, I would use this to feed her her small daily ration of dry food, so she actually had to work a bit to get her food and couldn't just sit there and gobble it!

Hopefully some of my experiences will be of help for you guys! Chubby kitties are stubborn, but once you find the right balance of food and exercise, the pounds will start coming off! Good luck :)

Have more of a routine with your kitten!
Start by having a long play session(10-20minutes) with a wand toy that you only bring out during this time. Have a variety of like 2 or 3 different wand toys, my favorites are:
Da Bird - this one is great because the wand part is super long so you can sit while still making your cat cover a lot of ground! ,Cat Dancer - For the feline who likes trash like toys but seriously this thing reminds me of a moth if you move it just right, cat charmer - just a great toy very durable great for cats who just like string!

After your long play session give your cat his dinner and he should be good for the night!
Cats natural routine is to hunt, eat, groom, sleep.
If you are still having issues you could try leaving out different types of cat enrichment to keep your cat entertained through the night. HERE is an article about the importance of enriching your cat and a few ideas!

get a covered littler box... and get the arm and hammer double duty cat litter... it's the best I have come across so far to absorb odors...

also, you will probably have to promise her to clean the litter box all the time... if you decide to get multiple cats, you need at least one litter box per cat... plus one more if you get several cats... but that's a little down the line... gotta get the first one in the door first...

what you may have to do is just go out and get one... get a kitten because who the hell can resist their perpetual cuteness... she should fall in love instantly... but, if you don't want to take a chance of having her kill you and want her to be in on it, one thing to know, that I have experienced, when you get a kitten, the person who holds it on the ride home will become it's mom/dad (this may be theory, but it has happened with all our cats) so you may want to have a friend take you so the both of you can be there to play with it on the way home...

whatever you do, DON'T get a cat declawed... it's wrong and mean and needless if you have the proper scratching things for them to... well, scratch on... our cats like those disposable cardboard scratchers you see at the pet store...

you'll probably want a cat tree too... something where it has places to hide and a platform to get up above most of the action... if you have the tools and ability, you can even make your own out of wood and carpeting... cats will even scratch on those...

when you bring them home for the first time, open their carrier and let them come out at their own pace... don't force them out... and if they do bolt out and hide somewhere, let them stay hidden until they come out on their own... but have plenty of toys for them to choose from... I suggest one of these and one of these because our cats love them...

as for food, get the appropriate food for their age... preferably an indoor formula that helps with hairballs... because they WILL hork up hairballs regularly... be ready to clean those too... for water, I suggest one of these since cats love to drink from the faucets... so break that habit before it even starts so you're not here in three to six months asking about cats and drinking from the sink...

umm... that's all I can think of off the top of my head... I am by no means a professional, but just someone who cares about their cats (and I have a girlfriend so I am not a crazy cat guy)

any other questions, just ask... someone will be able to answer what I can't

TL;DR: none. it's a lot to read, but it's good info as far as I understand...

Firstly, it sounds like you are doing a lot right. I would suggest feeding wet food twice a day, supplementing with dry. Cats get a lot of their hydration through food in addition to water in bowls.

As others have mentioned, I would get a tall sisal cat post, tall enough to let her obtain a decent full body stretch. Also, try to set aside 10-15 minutes a couple times a day to play with her using a wand type toy to help satisfy her predatory instinct, which will help with overall behavior. You mentioned biting... never use your fingers, hands or other body parts for playing as you are teaching her to bite you. Don’t let guests do this either as consistency is important for behavior modification. When she bites, immediately distract by using the wand toy, such as DaBird to play instead. Never use punishment, only positive reinforcement when she does things well.

If you are truly interested in learning about your cat and cat behavior, I suggest watching Jackson Galaxy videos. He has tons of great information on his YouTube channel. If you do these simple to implement activities, you will develop a much better relationship with your cat which will benefit both of you.

Jackson Galaxy:

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheCatDaddy66

We have this scratching post and our cats love it and use it.

https://www.chewy.com/smartcat-ultimate-scratching-post/dp/49133

Wand type cat toy:

https://www.amazon.com/Go-Cat-Piece-Apart-Handmade/dp/B000F9JJJE

Bring him home and set him up in one room for a couple days, especially since he's little. Let him explore that room and get comfortable before you let him have free reign of the house, it can be really overwhelming.

One of mine really liked to bite- there are many cat chew toys of rubber/mesh/catnip/whatever at Petco/Petsmart. It doesn't hurt so much when they're kittens and it's cute but their adult teeth are not so cute. Also, he indiscriminately bit everything. Cardboard boxes? Yep. Power cords? Yep. Cushions? Yep. Toes? Yep.

If he is adventurous, once he's really settled in, get him a harness and leash and take him for walks! Much like dogs, cats have a bunch of energy, and walking satiates some of their natural curiosity.

These springs are some of my very favorite toys and they haven't gotten tired of them yet, but they have lost about 15 under the sofa and fridge. This bird wand is also amazing.

Also- start brushing/grooming him now. It's also recommended to brush their teeth, which I was never successful with (have two skittish cats). But at least brushing, so that they get accustomed to it.

Maybe try some new toys?

I've been meaning to make a list of my cats' favorite toys. I have two cats, brother and sister, Millie and Smokey, now about 9 months old.

First, I can't explain it, but this carrot. I bought it on a whim at a pet store because it was on clearance and I thought it kind of looked like the Minecraft carrot and I thought it would be cute to see them playing with it. It comes with separate catnip container and you can fill the carrot with catnip, but I didn't use any. OMG, they go crazy for the thing. They get super possessive of it. If the other cat comes near, they'll growl and run away. Smokey likes to be chased when he has the carrot in his mouth. I lunge like I want to steak his carrot and he runs a few feet away, daring me to try to take it again. Millie will self-play with the carrot, batting it around on our hardwood floors. They've gone through two already. I think it's time to get a third.

Da Bird. It was recommended here and it's awesome. Something about the movement, the twirling, the colors, the noise. They can't ignore this thing. If the feather thing gets destroyed, replacements are available and cheap.

Cat Dancer 101. This is a stiff wire with some cardboard bits on one end. Move it and shake it a bit and I guess it looks like a flying insect. On the plus side, when they catch it, it's fairly easy to get them to release it.

Cat Dancer 301. This is Millie's favorite. She knows where I keep it and "leads" me to it at every opportunity. Like, first thing when I wake up and when I get home from work. It's a short stick with a long strip of fleece material. Wave it as you move in a circle and they're mesmerized. When they catch it, it's a bit difficult to get them to release it.

1. I'm pretty new to the sub, I joined up for the Summer Camp! Haven't been gifted yet but that's a-okay with me, I'm having fun with the camp activities!
   
2. I would love this because my kitty just tore up her last good feather toy, and feathers are her favorite. Or, if you're feeling generous, she would love this bunches!
   
3. I make up a lot of words...one of my favorites is twatnugget which I call people who are generally being butt-heads.

Routine helps. If he knows what to expect, he'll settle down a bit more. Also, wand toys like da bird are wonderful. Playing will help him burn off some pent up energy but it will also be a way to earn his trust. Follow up with super tasty treats (cooked chicken, Temptations, bonito flakes). Two 15-minute play sessions a day are recommended.

If you do decide to try to hold him, wrap him in a towel. Sometimes this helps them to feel more secure. The more you touch him the better, in my experience anyway.

Edit: Also, thanks for taking him in :)

Keeping him indoors is truly the best decision you could make for him. He will live longer, be at a reduced risk for parasites and diseases, and the local wildlife will be safer.

• Make sure your cats are neutered and spayed. Intact animals naturally want to get out and mate.
  
  
• Schedule regular play time when the puppy is out in a secure fenced yard or on a secure tie-out, preferably with another person to supervise. The cat will learn that super fun play time happens inside while the puppy is out. Use a toy like the Da Bird and really wear them out.
  
  
• Harness train the cat and take him for walks when the puppy is out. Or schedule walks while the puppy is in if the cat wants alone time from the dog.
  
  
• Provide a variety of cat trees and perches. Try to turn a room into a cat haven with many lofty perches for them. Ideally they should be able to move all the way around the room without touching the floor. Cat Shelves make a great addition. This will give the cats an enriching environment to keep them occupied.
  
  
• Stay strong and don't give into his pleading.

Here’s some things I view as necessities for MCs:

• Strong cat tree, get a tall one with large perches near the top!
  
  
• scratching posts strategically placed next to furniture you don’t want flayed.
  
  
• large pet carrier (petluv has a great one!)
  
  
• feather wand toy: pet fit brand is awesome. Catnip toys, anything to chase. Laser pointer.
  
  
• large litter box: I highly recommend the Cat-illac system (it’s extra large and great for multiple cats) paired with a litter genie. Super low maintenance. You can use their pellets or use dried beans or feed store dried corn as substrate. Eco friendly and no litter tracking.
  
  
• brush: greyhound style + furminator covers most of the bases.
  
  
• harness + leash. Start yours young and they’ll enjoy it! Gooby brand or one of those Velcro ones that wrap around the torso are pretty secure and comfortable.
  
  
• I wasted money on cat beds but they loved this
  
  
• pet insurance. I use healthy paws. It’s paid for itself many times over in the first year.
  
  
• those super large sticky lint rollers. One for home, one for work, one for your car :)

Keep giving her lots and lots of patience and love, she'll eventually come around. Remember, though, cats all have their own personalities, it's possible she may never be a cuddly "lap cat". We have four cats, and each are different when it comes to how they interact with us. If you don't already, be sure to set aside play time with both cats. Find toys that will hold her interest, that will really get her active and jumping around, such as: https://www.amazon.com/Pet-Fit-Life-Retractable-Feathers/dp/B01ANUU12I/ref=sr_1_7?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1492094563&sr=1-7&keywords=jackson+galaxy+cat+toys
After play time, give some special treats that you know she'll love. After a while, especially when she sees her brother interacting in play time and treat time with you, I think you'll see an improvement. Just be patient and loving (as I'm sure you are!) ;)

This approach may take some time, but my cat eventually learned that if I am in the bedroom with the light off and fan on (its an oscillating one that makes a fairly strong humming sound), I am down for the night and it'll be at least a few hours before I come back. After a few weeks of this routine, he gave up on screaming outside my door. The bedroom is off-limits to him at all times, as well. If I'm in there with the light on, he will meow at me, because he knows I'm likely to come back soon.

Mine's a door-rattler, too - he can fit his paw in the crack under the bedroom door and wrap it around the door. To protect the bottom of the door from his claws, I put some rubber weatherstripping on it. For the floor, consider getting a protective film to put down where she usually scratches. Hardware stores sell them to use during painting / construction, and many of them are affordable and tear-resistant.

It may be inconvenient, but do your best to cat-proof the house so you can ignore her acting out with minimal collateral damage. Keep anything fragile in drawers or cabinets unless you're actively using it. Consider making the bedroom a no-cat zone and putting as many valuables as possible in there. Don't leave food or drinks unattended - if you have to step away, stick them in the fridge or a cabinet while you're gone.

Also consider an electronic toy that moves around or something more interactive that will keep her engaged at night or while you're busy without the need for a human to facilitate playtime. Here are a few ideas::

https://www.amazon.com/SmartyKat-Feather-Whirl-Electronic-Motion/dp/B00KQGRIKI/

https://www.amazon.com/Catit-Design-Senses-Circuit-Original/dp/B001LWRFW2

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06WP7F8YC

https://www.amazon.com/Tower-Tracks-Track-Interactive-Petstages/dp/B00DT2WL26

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0714D3FDT?psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002DJ6XW

https://www.amazon.com/Hex-480-3030-Nano-Assorted-Styles/dp/B01B45AMIO/

Also, if she ignores the scratching post but loves to tear the crap out of your floor, she may prefer a horizontal scratcher. One wasted $30 scratching post later, I figured that out about my cat. Something like these would be worth a try:

https://www.amazon.com/Bergan-Turbo-Scratcher-Colors-vary/dp/B000IYSAIW - doubles as a toy

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009YQ5KJM/ - this one is nice because you can lay it flat on the floor, prop it up at an angle with the cardboard flap, or hang it from a doorknob to see which works best. Also comes with catnip to sprinkle inside it. These have corrugated cardboard surfaces and don't last as long as carpet or sisal rope, but my cat seems more satisfied with something he can actually destroy. He'll jump on it, attack it with his claws, then roll around in the bits he tore off. You will vacuum a lot of cardboard flakes off the floor as it starts to wear out, but for me it's worth the trouble. If you don't like the mess, you can buy this one to test whether horizontal, inclined, or hung against the wall works best, then invest in a similar style of scratcher made from more durable material. That was my plan, but he just loves this stuff so much I order one as an add-on every month when I buy litter.

Ah, make sure you never have the toy in your hands. Get string or toys on sticks, like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LZUCIL8?psc=1&smid=A1D78GG83CI1AS

My cat is very well socialized and loving, but she is NEVER allowed to play with a toy in my hand because she will bite me and scratch me. Vets will tell you never to play with a cat while you're on the floor with them or with toys in your hand. They should be playing chase/fight with the toy, not with you.

As for why he doesn't seem to play the reason your cat probably doesn't seem to like playtime is that you toss a toy and then stop playing. The toy is "dead" at that point, and his instinct kicks in to stop playing. A "live" toy on a stick would give you both some interaction time, as would string. A laser pointer toy is also a great idea! All of these things should cost less than $10 and could greatly improve your relationship with your cat.

And like I said, do it at the same time every day, even if he's hesitant at first. He'll start getting interested if he learns to expect it. Cats love routine.

This is a collage of my pit bull, Angel, and my cat, Suki (:

~I wub my animals~

We're not too sure about Angel's background, since we rescued him off of the streets, but considering the fact that he was scared of literally EVERYTHING for about 2 months, we think he came from an abusive home. He still struggles with anxiety and fear, but he's getting better and better everyday (: He's so sweet, and loves of snuggle!

Suki, our Calico, was also a rescue. We weren't too sure about bringing her into our house, considering the fact that we already have 2 pit bulls there. But Suki is an odd individual. Somehow, she has managed to become the "alpha" of our group of pets!! The dogs know not to mess with her, because she WILL bite back, lol! But she is affectionate and friendly with all people, and doesn't hide under the bed like other cats. She also goes outside every night and hunts for us! It's kind of disgusting, but adorable (:

Lol believe it or not, This toy will thoroughly entertain both Angel and Suki!
Thank you for the contest!

1. Make sure you are feeding good food. Wet food is better than dry, and high protein/minimal grain is best. Check here or search r/cats for the many threads on this subject. Grocery store brands like Friskies, and even brands advertised as "high end' like Science Diet and Purina, are not good foods!
   
   
2. Slowly decrease the amount of food they each get until it is close to the recommended amount, and until their weight is ideal and stabilizes. Be careful not to reduce the amount too drastically as hepatic lipidosis is always a concern. If you're not sure of the ideal weight, check out a weight chart or consult your vet.
   
   
3. Make sure they get enough play time. You should dedicate 15-30 minutes a day to getting them active! Try Da Bird or the Cat Dancer if they aren't very interested in play.
   
   
4. Do not give in to begging!

My cat is a real fatty and isn't into toys that much but he LOVES the Cat Charmer. It will have you and your kitty running around the whole house! Honestly one of the best toys I've ever tried. It's pretty cheap and the reviews are really good, highly recommend.

The first thing to resolve is playtime. It's possible she just loves plastic, but the fact that she doesn't want to play with you at all suggests either a picky cat, or one that doesn't yet trust you. You're the food provider, but playtime is also quality bonding time for a cat. She's already fully grown, so maybe it's a learned thing, but it's something that you should be able to correct to some extent.

There are some motion cat toys that you could try using to get her playing more on her own.

like this

this

this

or this

It's also possible that you aren't playing with her the way she wants to be played with, cats can be very fickle about this. My own cat is very picky about how my SO and I play with her, and she picks one of us based on how she wants to play. She'll pick me when she wants to chase a stick toy, and my SO when she wants to wrestle, that kind of thing.

Have you tried using the straws to play with her? Maybe try hiding a straw under a blanket where she can see it move from wiggling it. You could also try new tactics with the stick toys like this, hide them under things and move them. My cat only likes the stick toys if I alternate between moving them very slowly while in her line of sight, slowly moving out of her line of sight, and then moving it quickly to get her to chase it when she tries to pounce it.

I'd also suggest looking up different playtime techniques for cats online, like on YouTube or what have you, especially related to more wild/feral cats, as they also don't really like playing with humans. I'm not saying she's wild of course, but because she's more standoffish from you it may be along the same lines.

If you can get her to play with you consistently, then you can very easily tire her out and get her on the schedule YOU want her on. The idea is that cats hunt/play and then eat the reward of the hunt, and then sleep.

My own cat used to be very similar with waking us up very early for food, usually by making lots of noise and biting if that didn't work. Once we were able to get her on the hunt/eat/sleep schedule with her timed meals, we basically stopped the bad morning behavior entirely.

Sorry for the long post, hope this helps!

Aww, I love this. My cat was very similar. She got me through some incredibly tough times. She doesn't like to play with much (she's more of a hang out on the bed in the sun kind of chubby kitty, waiting for food and requesting belly rubs) but she LOVESSSS this silly toy and it makes her go crazy. She previously wasn't very interested in wands but this lit a fire in her! Sweet, silly cats.

Another thing I love about animals is how non-judgemental they are in a world full of judgment. They just want you to be well and they know when to support you. It's an amazing form of support because it's pure love.

I ask because aggressive behaviour in cats often stems from a lack of play.

I adopted my cat when she was 7 years old, and at first I thought she didn't like to play either, but it ended up being a matter of figuring out what kind of play she likes. I don't know how many toys I've bought for her but she doesn't care for most of them except Da Bird, which she loves to stalk and pounce on (but she isn't much of a "chaser," as it turns out). If you haven't tried it, I'd suggest giving it a shot - it worked for me, and I've heard similarly about it from a bunch of people on this subreddit. You can find it for pretty cheap. After some googling, I found that Jackson Galaxy wrote a piece on how to play with Da Bird in a most enticing way.

I feel like I should point out that I'm not a shill for either Da Bird or Jackson Galaxy! In particular, I don't think very highly of these "holistic remedies" he sells, but I think his behavioural analysis is great.

I want to be friends with Hanners and Viktor!


HI!!!!1!!!! I'm Gandalf. I know I look lazy lying here in bed, but I'm actually a pretty damn good runner. I want to spend the day with Viktor the Hypnocat! NO, REALLY. I LOVE CATS. They smell wonderful. I bet hes a good runner too, if I chased. I would love anything off my wishlist! (Except maybe those nail trimmers. I hate when Jack wants to do my nails! PFFT, humans!) Viktor, you would love this thing. I mean, just look at those pictures! You're practically going to be flying through the air.


WOOF!

Oh yes definitely petting and holding is good! It's good to get them comfortable with contact for sure. It's just if they get bit-y or scratchy because they are being playful and think they can play with hands, it's important to redirect them to a toy or let them know that biting or scratching will end the interaction.

I've found wand toys are the best for interactive play. My kitty is obsessed with this one and it's nice that the toy is interchangeable because they do get destroyed. I'd recommend removing the eye balls off the worms though because wouldnt want a kitten ingesting those (not sure why they put them on there!)

1.) [Something that is grey.] (http://www.amazon.com/PetFusion-SmartGrip-Litter-Gray-Twist/dp/B007SQFRMU/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=35DW5BWHD972D&coliid=I38TYTP3QO3VYV)

2.) [Something reminiscent of rain.] (http://www.amazon.com/Musical-MP-200-8-Inch-Rainmaker-Shaker/dp/B000CBURPU/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2YFT1UP19UC6T&coliid=I3SD8BF3BVM32F)

3.) [Something food related that is unusual.] (http://www.amazon.com/Nut-Milk-Bag-New-Improved/dp/B00158U8DU/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3S72V8PR4PYO1&coliid=I2AH1R1GSQ52JT)

4.) [Something on your list that is for someone other than yourself. Tell me who it's for and why. (Yes, pets count!)] (http://www.amazon.com/Mommys-Helper-Car-Seat-Shade/dp/B00125NZSQ/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2YFT1UP19UC6T&coliid=I1TXQG28XXBC0I) For my daughter, so she doesn't melt in the car.

5.) [A book I should read! I am an avid reader, so take your best shot and tell me why I need to read it!] (http://www.amazon.com/The-Girl-Left-Behind-ebook/dp/B00BSY6U6K/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=ZJTYBG9S817P&coliid=I13JIN1E80H7G) Well, I haven't read this one yet, but I read her last book, Me Before You, a few months ago and LOVED it.


6.) [An item that is less than a dollar, including shipping... that is not jewelry, nail polish, and or hair related!] (http://www.amazon.com/Home/dp/B002G690B6/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=LVUGPBTDLHFS&coliid=I2V27LFTC98I6K)

7.) [Something related to cats.] (http://www.amazon.com/Da-Bird-Cat-Toy-Store/dp/B000F9JJJE/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=35DW5BWHD972D&coliid=I32WEJ4UV0RR)

8.) [Something that is not useful, but so beautiful you must have it.] (http://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Colorful-Rainbow-Synthetic-Costume/dp/B00966CIAO/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=VF4I3JWXLPHE&coliid=I3J6CNZ64SMNW5)

9.) [A movie everyone should watch at least once in their life. Why?]
(http://www.amazon.com/Pride-Prejudice-Restored-Edition-Colin/dp/B00364K6YW/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=ZJTYBG9S817P&coliid=I2JAGS8BIXE6M9) Because Colin Firth.

10.) [Something that would be useful when the zombies attack. Explain.] (http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-L10SK3-12-Inch-Pre-Seasoned-Skillet/dp/B00006JSUB/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3S72V8PR4PYO1&coliid=I14266M2SVKSXM) Well, if I had to survive on my WL items alone, I would surely die. BUT, I figure this could at least come in handy to cook over open fires and it is the most weapon-like thing on my list.

11.) [Something that would have a profound impact on your life and help you to achieve your current goals.] (http://www.amazon.com/Reebok-Kettlebell-10-Pounds-Lime-Green/dp/B008R5HY54/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=39MD4F4AQ4MXM&coliid=I2XGPU1DE4SJW5&psc=1) Gotta get off the baby weight!

12.) [One of those pesky Add-On items.] (http://www.amazon.com/Kotobuki-Plastic-Egg-Mold-Fish/dp/B002TZ04JG/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=LVUGPBTDLHFS&coliid=I2PHEI57WW2PIY)

13.) [The most expensive thing on your list. Your dream item. Why?] (http://www.amazon.com/Burley-Encore-2013-Bike-Trailer/dp/B00AVUHUEI/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2YFT1UP19UC6T&coliid=I15NA2PJZUXBY4&psc=1) Maybe not my dream item, but the most expensive for sure. My husband and I love biking, but right now I'm sidelined since we have a 1 year old. This would let us all go!

14.) [Something bigger than a bread box.] (http://www.amazon.com/Tree-Condo-Furniture-Scratch-House/dp/B003XLIVZ4/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=35DW5BWHD972D&coliid=I33YA670HLM8GP)

15.) [Something smaller than a golf ball.] (http://www.amazon.com/Yellow-Gold-Peridot-Dangle-Earrings/dp/B001H54K4O/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=24R3M5GIPRKSE&coliid=I25YHXC05Q9VTT)

16.) [Something that smells wonderful.] (http://www.amazon.com/Tea-Forte-Loose-Leaf-Canister/dp/B006TZFOVU/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=28JN11TB2DHP4&coliid=I3P4PBFBU5HWL6)

17.) [A (SFW) toy.] (http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Little-People-Friends-Exclusive/dp/B008ZUGOAW/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2YFT1UP19UC6T&coliid=IIMNWL3OA8808)

18.) [Something that would be helpful for going back to school.] (http://www.amazon.com/Wilton-2109-0309-Ultimate-Professional-Decorating/dp/B008GXE7P2/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=29KYW0DBB8ME2&coliid=INH34JY48VH4F) If you are going to school to become a baker.

19.) [Something related to your current obsession, whatever that may be.] (http://www.amazon.com/Blendtec-40-620-54-Twister-Jar/dp/B0087Q1T1S/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=29KYW0DBB8ME2&coliid=I394DCB2QJ4RAZ) Making my own sprouted nut butters!!

20.) [Something that is just so amazing and awe-inspiring that I simply must see it. Explain why it is so grand.]
(http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Little-People-Friends-Wheelies/dp/B00650F5SG/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2YFT1UP19UC6T&coliid=I3RS9BP4QYQAC7) Because tiny Super Friends in cars are awesome for raising a baby nerd. (On a related note, this question made me realize that I am boring and practical.)


fear cuts deeper than swords

Hmm, well, just like people, individual cats have different preferences and interests. Definitely get some little mice (or similar-sized toys) that he can bat around. I like to look for sales on the multi-packs at PetSmart for some variety. Some cats like longer toys that they can hold with their front paws and kick with their hind legs. I would also get a long "teaser" type of toy (something like this or this), and a laser pointer is usually a safe bet.

Additionally, while not a toy, something for him to scratch is also pretty important. If you don't have room for a scratching post, there are other options like those refillable corrugated cardboard scratchers.

Congrats on your new kitty, and thank you for adopting from a shelter!!

He may be a little freaked out for the first few days. Try to keep the house quiet and calm. Cats hate loud noise, such as vacuum cleaners and blow dryers. They also are skittish around new people. Don't pick him up if you don't have to.

I read that wet food is much better for losing weight than dry food. Dry food has a lot of grain it. Occasionally give him some canned tuna (in water) for humans. My cats loved it much more than cat food. And if you are having a tuna sandwich give him the water. It's the perfect soup for cats.

You might want to buy a cat tree. You don't need it from day one but most cats love them. Make sure it's at least 6 feet tall. They love being high up. Makes them feel secure. They tend to stay at the top and don't use the lower portions much at all.

I recommend this toy:

https://www.amazon.com/Cat-Dancer-301-Charmer-Interactive/dp/B0002DHV16/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

He's young so it'll take a while still I imagine. In order to keep him out of her bowl we would scold him forcibly, physically move him, and occasionally squirt him (though I don't think squirting is very effective on cats in my experience). The key is is simply consistency. He'll still occasionally try to steal her food but he's pretty good about it all in all.


A laser pointer can be fun for the cat but you should use other toys. When playing, cats get satisfaction from both the chase AND the the capture of toys. Since cats can't capture laser pointers it can get frustrating really quickly. All cats are different but my cats are both obsessed with this toy. I try to get both cats interested in it and alternate with them. It can take some practice (my wife sucks at engaging them with it) but I can pretty much always get my cats' attention with it and they always want to play.
http://www.amazon.com/Cat-Catcher-Teaser-Wand-Mouse/dp/B000LPOUNW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417628066&sr=8-1&keywords=go+cat+cat+mouse


Also, while moving definitely helped their relationship it was very stressful on both of them. Before moving I'd recommend you look up some tips about moving with cats and follow them too.

You don't say how old this kitten is. It's important to realize, kittens are not vicious. It's just what you said: "He wants to play." So go get a "DaBird" (http://amzn.to/2x1dpAG) toy and play the heck out of him. Play until he drops. Hunt, catch, kill, eat. That's the instincts of a kitten.

Keep him indoors, give him plenty of play, give him a window perch to get some fresh air and watch the goings on, and make sure not to 'play' with him with your hands. He will grow up thinking they are toys. And as they grow, they gain a lot more strength. If you wear him out with play on a regular basis, he will be a happy cat.

And Please do not scold him or abandon him. He's just being himself ... in other words, a cat. You don't want to give him a complex for doing something natural, you just want to look at his world through his eyes, and make it as happy as possible, while teaching him proper etiquette. :)

If he's slowly warming up to you and improving as time passes, he will hopefully continue this trend. It's only been three weeks. If he starts biting you just say "no" and stop petting him or walk away. Maybe try just sitting next to him for a while without petting him and see if he will come to you. I know you said you play with him, but make sure you are tiring him out during each play session. Wand toys are great for this because your hand is nowhere near the toy part so he will eventually associate the toy with biting and not your hand. This is the absolute best wand toy in my experience.

Your boy needs to RUN.

He's an adolescent (actual maturity is between 2-3 years) and has lots of energy. You're his only outlet, so it's up to you to give him appropriate ways to drain his energy.

Use a distance toy like this to run him until he's panting twice a day.

Then you get to work his brain.

If you're feeding him dry food from a bowl get one of these instead. Also, check his food for added sugar. I usually recommend grain free as well.

Look into clicker training for cats, catification for your home, and a bird feeder for outside a window.

Smart energetic kitties are fun, and he's trying to play with you because he likes you. Stop punishing him for trying to play, it won't work and it's not fair.

Take it from someone with 4 cats who fosters kittens, your boy will calm down some. But he needs to be burning more energy to be tolerable until then.

How often do you play with Finn? Does Finn have any type of routine with you in the evening?

Even though Finn has cat buddies, that doesn't mean he is entirely entertained by them 24/7. I would suggest dedicating a good 30 minutes to play time in the evenings, every day. Cats need to "hunt" every day. Finn sounds like he would really benefit from a cat toy like THIS.


Also, perhaps a different type of "watering hole". Cats like to think that they are drinking fresh water. Think about it like nature... cats in the wild tend to drink from bodies of water that are at least, slightly, moving. Still water breeds sickness. Maybe try THIS.

If those options don't work.. try the vet.

absolutely. However a cat needs more stimulation than once every couple of days. Get a wand toy (like Da' Bird https://amzn.com/B000F9JJJE ), get some treat balls (https://amzn.com/B0018CE8LG ) that you can put treats in for him to find. There is this butterfly toy that is very popular and pretty cheap (https://amzn.com/B01AJJOJGC $9.99 US) that most cats seems to love. Pet him, brush him, just talk to him (read him a book or reddit posts you think are funny or homework or whatever).

He probably don't want to go out but is bored. Cats can do fine inside and live long happy lives. Just find what he likes to do and make sure he gets his favorite activities.

The best cat toy ever is Da Bird.
Refills are available for when the bird gets destroyed and it will.

My dogs love anything but a super nice orthopedic bed would be a great choice for an older dog.
I find the Foster and Smith beds to be really well made and the replacement covers are always available.

I used to get so mad about friends and guests using their hands to play with my kitten. Luckily, when the people she saw most often stopped using their hands entirely, she learned to play with toys that were meant for her instead.

Try big soft toys stuffed with catnip, or this thing. Those are basically the greatest hits among my six cats. Some of my cats like toys that twirl in the air, while others like it when they're dragged along the ground, so try lots of different ways to play. Cardboard scratchers with catnip rubbed in are another much-beloved toy.

As for training the people around you? Remind them that claws won't be cute when your cat is big and strong, and put a toy into their hands. Kittens who are trained to attack people are the same cats who end up in shelters as adults, because their owners are too scared of them! I'm sure your cat will be fine since he has you to look out for him, but things like this do happen.

Good luck!

Make sure he has a good place to hide away. If he's used to cat carriers, you can just have one with a little liner in it. My cats also use the dog crate when it's not being occupied by, you know, a dog =P

I found this grab bag of toys on Amazon and looks good, plus good reviews. Gives you quite a few little toys and you never know what they'll like.

This is another great toy.

Also, an amazing brush and claw cover if you have carpeting.

You can use this product instead of chemical flea killers and it has the added bonus of being good for their coat.

This is my cat Stonewall (yes my reddit name is after her) I adopted her from a shelter 2 years ago & fell in love. [Here](<a href="http://imgur.com/JC3eyt8"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/JC3eyt8.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com"/></a>) she is when I first got her from the shelter in the "get to know you room"
This is a good toy for her or this to help with grooming because she sheds so much!
Since I am a cat person I would want to spend the day with Viktor the Hypnocat. I think a laser would be a great toy for Viktor!
I want to be friends with Hanners and Viktor!

Kristin Wiig doing some pretty awesome impersonations.

Item

Thanks for the contest! Hope you get the news you want! Good luck.

I want to be friends with Hanners and Viktor.

But I'd love to spend a day with Viktor because I'm a sucker for cute little kitty cats, even though I'm a tattooed metalhead with green hair. Love those little cuties <3

Also, here's my kitty. Can't wait to see him again in a few hours after months of being away!

He asked me to put this on here, because he chewed through his a while ago and would love to have another one sometime.

My name is Flynn Rider. I want to be friends with Hanners and Viktor. If I had to choose, I'd love to spend time with Viktor because I need some new cat friends. My mommies are driving me crazy! I can't have any fun ever :( I would love one of these since the one I had before broke.

Here's a toy that I think is the best and you would sure love! I am a simple cat who gets enterained by anything shiny

That cat sounds like he needs play and his own space.

Since you have no option but to live with this cat you could probably fix this behavioral problem yourself. Play the aggression out of him for about 10 to 15 minutes a day. (Play until he's tired.) You could use a laser pointer or something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Go-Cat-Catcher-Teaser-Mouse/dp/B000LPOUNW. (It should go without saying don't use your hands and teach the cat that hands are toys.)

If you can afford it, get some cat furniture near a window. (Or just make a space for him on a shelf near a window.)

Reinforce good things and good vibes whenever he's near you. Carry treats and give them to him. (Don't use your hands at first unless he's played out.) Slowly work up to petting him.

If there are other cats then it could also be anxiety about those cats. In that instance all of these things apply but the importance of establishing a safe territory (either with or without the other cats) becomes important.

Every cat is different as to what they want to play with. Some acts like fast prey, others like to do sneak attacks. Some like air prey like birds and some prefer their toys on the ground, like mice. This toy sends most of my cats into a mad playing frenzy

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cat-Catcher-Mouse-Wand-maker/dp/B000LPOUNW/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1496066031&sr=1-1&keywords=Da+bird

And a lot of people have brilliant success with laser pointers. Treat balls, where you put the treats inside and they have to work out how to get them out, are also a popular one.

Basically, just try lots of different types of toys and you'll find one he likes... and then you'll be stepping on it and retrieving it from under the sofa for all eternity.

So I think not only do you need these socks but you will enjoy them as much as I would.Your poor kitty would love this I know my cat love playing with toys like this.

I'm very glad she is on a diet! Get some cat wand toys (http://amzn.to/1390BRi, http://amzn.to/10O9psF, http://amzn.to/11uazIy) for her to chase around and schedule 20 good minutes of play every day. My cats are indoor cats - it's definitely possible to keep them fit and healthy if they stay inside. Stick to the weight loss though, I guarantee you that she'll be happier and have more confidence once she gets some of that weight off her poor little legs.

Hi, congrats on your new cat. I'm a vet tech student interested in behavior and a cat shelter volunteer so if someone with higher qualifications posts, by all means listen to them. When you take her to the vet to get a UTI ruled out, ask them about this on the behavior end, too.

Is there one specific spot she's peeing in, or does it seem to be more random? Where are the litter boxes located? Does she scratch or otherwise mark things, like by rubbing on them? Make sure you're using an enzymatic cleaner when you clean up the pee spots; it's something you can buy at pretty much any pet store.

As far as her interactions with the other cat, she probably just wants to play and has, obviously, a higher energy level than your 13 year old. Get her some interactive toys, we have one of these and my cats love it. Obviously, different cats like different toys, but from my observations with both the cats at the shelter where I volunteer and my own, a wire instead of a string makes the toy move better. You said she's "adopted" your son, and since he's 6, he's probably old enough that this is something he can do with her.

I also have a kitty that is a BIG boy and struggles a bit with weight due to living in a tiny NYC apartment. He has no interest in lasers at all, but I have had good luck with "dabird" feather toy (http://www.amazon.com/GoCat-Apart-Feather-Assorted-Colors/dp/B000F9JJJE) and mylar cat toys (http://www.amazon.com/MYLAR-Crinkle-Balls-Cat-Toys/dp/B00797NHFC). I switch him to Wellness CORE dry food and it has been wonderful! http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/recipes.aspx?pet=cat&ft=1

1. Showing the cat poop/pee and then placing him the litter box isn't going to make him use the litter box. In cat-brain, what connection would that make? How will he link the poop you're showing him with what you want him to do?
   
   You are simply showing him some poop (yup, that's poop), and then forcing him into an enclosed space against his will. i.e., he will learn to dislike being picked up, and he will associate the litter box with an unpleasant experience.
   
   Put the litter box where he's peeing now and get him used to using it every time. Then move it and him to an enclosed room for a day. Once he's using it regularly, he should remember this new location.
   
   To clean up urine odor: http://about.pricegrabber.com/search_attrib.php/topcat_id=30/form_keyword=Natures%20Miracle
   
   
2. You're teaching your cat to beg food from you while you eat. Your call if this is a behavior you want.
   
   
3. Cats and kittens can differ in their tastes, which can vary between individual cats as well. Try different treats until you find things you cat likes. Don't give too many treats - just like with people and donuts, too many is unhealthy.
   
   
4. I don't think there's an issue with him sleeping in your bed. Some people don't like it, but I don't expect you'll have luck making him sleep in his own bed if doesn't want to. You may be able to get him off your bed through many years of diligent effort.
   
   
5. Whatever toys he likes. Whatever you get, he'll like the packaging more than they toy, as a rule; with one exception: http://www.amazon.com/Bird-Cat-Toy-Easy-Store/dp/B000F9JJJE aka "bird on a stick"
   
   
6. As a cat, he's an obligate carnivore, and cannot taste sugar. He'll want milk, but too much will give him diarrhea.
   
   
7. Any time he touches it, shoo him. Don't spray water around electronics. Don't hit or punish him for being on the keyboard. Don't reward him for moving (i.e. train him to get on the kb when you use it, and then get down for food). Just pick up and move, right away. Don't
   
   
8. IME, make a high pitched whining noise to get the idea through to him that what he's doing hurts. Natural behavior with baby carnivorous animals is to play and play rough, but to freeze if something given an alarm cry/pain cry.
   
   
9. Sour apple tasting spray. Unless your cat like sour apple. Then something else non-toxic he doesn't like.
   
   
   All in all - think like a cat. Don't try and apply human characteristics or logic to him, he's a cat. Make him want to do the things you want him to do through steady, regular and patient rewards.

Window perches are great because then they can see outside and be entertained that way. Kind of like "cat tv". I would try to play with them for at least 20 min to a half hr every day. A variety of toys is always nice and its always good to have two or three sets of toys. Every week or so I gather all the current toys up and rotate them with toys that I keep in a plastic baggie with catnip.

This is, by far, my cats FAVORITE interactive toy. I actually have to put it out of sight when we're not playing because they'll seek it out and destroy the feathers.

https://www.amazon.com/GoCat-Cat-Feather-Assorted-Colors/dp/B000F9JJJE

Okay so I got a running water fountain for my cats, $20, good investment. In the wild still water is usually stagnant so cats want running water, leftover instinct from when they were wild. I got this model, my cats really like it. As for the food thing, maybe check out some of Jackson Galaxy's youtube videos, cats naturally want to follow these steps: hunt, catch, kill (eat) groom, sleep. So playing really vigorously then feeding your cat will stimulate that huntinh instinct and tire it out. There are food dispensing toys that do the same thing. Encourage your cat to play during the daytime, as well. Jackson has some great videos and clips from his show on toys snd how to play with your cat. My babies love this toy, you can replace the feather part as often as it gets destroyed. An older cat might not play as much as mine, who are 1 and 5ish, but every older cat I've ever met got very playful in their old age.

Maybe also try sleeping with the door open, if you're not already. If kitty sees its humans asleep it may come join you.

A few more thoughts:

While she remained wary of us, she still liked to play.

Toys she liked are the Cat Dancer and the Cat Charmer and Da Bird.

She got so focused on the toy, she forgot I was there. Then she'd suddenly realize she was about a foot away from me and she'd panic just a little.

Now when she wants to play she leads me to the closet where we keep those toys.


A catnip blanket might be useful too. We got ours at a craft fair, but they are on ebay and Amazon too. It's a small 12"x18" blanket with catnip inside. This gets her so happy and relaxed. It's part of my plan to get her comfortable on my lap.

Hey! I had this same issue! My cat took up chewing on cords in order to motivate me when I tried to ignore her... so I had to replace several computer mice and headphones :(

I've FINALLY found a solution that prevents them from waking me up at 5am every morning! PLAY!

Seriously, play with your cat (we have great success with this thing) until they're panting right before bed. Then play immediately when you get up at normal time and feed them then.

I usually feed my cats around 7:30 am when I get up for work and again around 6pm when I am home from work. I play with them vigorously before each feeding session, and they've even come to expect it and enjoy it (they bring me the toy, for example).

It took about 10 days for it to REALLY kick in but oh my god it totally worked. It went from being woken up constantly starting around 5am to them sleeping with us soundly until my alarm goes off. It's a miracle.

Try wearing him out by playing with him for 30-60 minutes right before bed time. Cats tend to be a bit more active at night. The only way to really break them of that is either waiting until they get older and less active (can take a few years) or start getting in the habit of playing just before bed time. As a young cat, he's going to have a lot of energy to burn off. Get a wand-type toy (we like the Da Bird toy, but anything like this will do). Really get him running and jumping to burn off steam. He may hit a wall after a bit, but let him rest just a few minutes then get him back at it. Once he's tuckered out, give him a treat or his dinner, then go to bed.

I have seven cats that range in age from 6 months to almost 9 years old. Trust me, this works.

Best investment I ever made was Da Bird and a few different attachments. I had a few things for my cat, but keeping them interested was work. Not so with this thing. First time I ever heard my cats 'chatter' was when I opened this thing up and gave it a few test swings. Definitely worth the investment, and since it's so long, much easier to run them around in circles to tire them out while my lazy butt sits on the couch. Young cats are all about energy management on both sides!

Both of my cats love Da Bird wand toys- I’ve bought both the feather and mouse attachments. One loves leaping after the feathers and the other prefers the mouse so I have two now rather than switching them out constantly. and they love Amazon boxes almost as much!

GoCat Da Bird Rod and Feather Cat Toy, Handmade in The USA (1 Bird) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001BOVEU4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_sIcFDb19TZ2CC

Get a cat feather toy and wear him out with it before you head to bed. Being a young kitten he has lot's of energy he needs to expel, and playing with him will help that, and calm him down so you can sleep at night.

Our kitty used to want to play and meow all night until we set him on a schedule, now everyday at around 5:00 or 6:00 P.M. He gets play time and afterwards dinner. Once dinner is done, he's ready to relax and groom then sleep.

Trust me just spending some time drawing out his energy and you'll have a much more content kitty.

P.S. all this info comes courtesy of Jackson Galaxy, the man is the cat whisper and I learned so much watching his show My Cat From hell. He also has a book called Total Cat Mojo

It's very easy to play with cats without having to touch them. Toys like this, this, and a laser pointer are awesome at entertaining kitties.

Try using more interactive toys and taking time to play with him every night. I recommend Da Bird very highly.

Does he have a window with a good perch to look out of? That's pretty important to have. Cat trees can also really help.

Keep in mind too that cats get the zoomies at night and that is just part of the experience.

We have a very similar situation. After lots of experimenting, we finally settled on:.

• [Surefeed Microchip Pet Feeder] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O0UIPTY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_3BmnDbJJ4VQ2S) for our older, skinny cat so she can continue to free feed throughout the day and the fat cat can't get to the food.
  
  
• Scheduled feedings of wet cat food in separate spots
  
  
• Fat cat's kibble goes in a [FUNKitty Egg] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XTGKCEQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_CEmnDbNYMJTVR) or slow feeding bowl. If he's really hungry and willing to work for it he can get food. But it slows him down and has eliminated boredom eating.
  
  Use a cat calorie calculator online to look up the recommended calories for a cat 1-2 pounds less than him. Then figure out how much canned food, kibble and treats he gets each day to add up to that. Once he's almost at that target weight, look up the calorie level for a pound less and adjust the food accordingly. Repeat until you reach his ideal weight.
  
  Don't just calculate calories for his ideal weight starting now - too rapid of weight loss is harmful to them.
  
  Also, add in some vigorous play time, preferably before each meal since that mimics the natural cat life of hunt-eat--groom-sleep. The exercise will help him get in shape and burn off calories. He may be able to go less than a minute initially, but you should be able to build up. I highly recommend [Da Bird] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001BOVEU4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_KKmnDb31BNCKA). It's far better than other wand toys; I've never met a cat who wasn't excited by it.

Or, for a mere $6, you can get this, which we have dubbed the BEST cat toy ever:
http://smile.amazon.com/Go-Cat-Catcher-Teaser-Mouse/dp/B000LPOUNW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1453833049&sr=8-3&keywords=cat+mouse+toy


I'm not sure what it is about this toy, but I have not seen a single cat able to resist it. Jackson Galaxy uses it very successfully to engage shy/upset cats in play and redirect their energy. All of mine have gone nuts for it (we have 6), and I've given it as gifts to other folks with cats who say the same thing.

I have a puppy named Barney he's about 7 months old and we adopted him about 2 weeks ago. He's adorable and I love him. I also have a cat named Kitty. She will be 4 in July and I actually had her mom (she was hit by a car 2 years ago) Kitty was born in my kitchen. I love her too. :)

I can't decide so you pick. This for Barney or this for kitty. :)

I know I picked this for Barney but I think your doggies would like it too.

My bengal is big on feather toys. Da Bird is hands down his favorite. He loves this thing. He also really likes the Kitty Kopter. We go through them regularly, but he'll toss them about on his own.

I can tell you what's NOT a winner: laser pointers. He's more interested in what's in my hand than the dot on the floor.

Alrighty, there seem to be some people here with the same questions so I will try my best to give a decent answer based my vast experience with cats and cat health care.

First the simple one. If your cat is peeing (not pooping) outside of the box then you need to rule out UTI first. There is no point in reading any further. UTI will make your cat pee outside the box because it starts to associate the pain from peeing with the box.

Now to continue, your cat is pooping outside of the box or all medical problems have been ruled out.
This happens when the cat is in mental distress. Cats can get depression and anxiety just like us human can and one way for them to express that is to take a big steamy smelly shit right in the middle of your sofa, bed, carpet.
If your cat does this, its trying to tell you something and that is that he or she is very unhappy. He/she might look her normal self but underneath that cute face is a ticking timebomb.

So your cat is unhappy, now what? It is still very important to have anything medical ruled out. Just take your cat to the vet for a general check up and mention that he poops outside of the box.
After he/she got a clean bill of health you can start to take action inside your home depending on the cause.

1. Increase the amount of litter boxes, if you normally have open top, try placing a closed top and vice versa. Also experiment with different litter. Your cat is unhappy, she could have suddenly decided to develop a deep hatred for her litter box. Cats are mysterious creatures, don't ask why they hate something, it probably looked at them funny.
   Just because you always had the same litter and box does not mean your cat didn't woke up one day and decided enough was enough and he/she isn't taking it anymore.
   
   
2. Your cat could be in distress because something changed. Maybe you moved, maybe you added a new addition to the family. Maybe instead of yellow roses you bought red ones. Either way something changed and your cat does not like it at all.
   Cats are creatures of habit and like things just the way they are, if you mess with that they might surprise you with a steamy pile of crap.
   Now of course I understand you can not simply return your baby to the baby store. So what to do now?
   A Feliway plug really goes a long way and I would really recommend it to anyone who has cat troubles.
   Unfortunately just plugging in some pheromones in a wall socket is not going to do the trick on its own. It will make things easier but you still have to do the hard work.
   It is very important! that your cat has ways to get high up. Bookshelves, cat tree's, anything that is high so he can look down upon his/her kingdom and feel safe. This will go a very long way in giving back your little princes his or her self esteem back.
   Also, and this really is the magic trick, you will have to play with your cat. Cat are hunters and even though they come in cute little packages now, deep inside of them hides a sadistic little killer. Letting this killer out and have its way with a feather or toy mouse goes a long way in making your tiger feel whole again. I suggest playing with your panther at least 20 minutes a day, active interacting play where you make him/her chase something on full speed and jumping over things. I suggest using something like this http://www.amazon.com/GoCat-Apart-Feather-Assorted-Colors/dp/B000F9JJJE have not met a cat yet that could resist Da Bird!
   
   Step one and 2 are just the basic things to cover and usually when they are followed the problem will resolve itself.
   
   If you have any specific question then just ask way, I am happy to answer them in any way i can.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Sassy and Martu stop fighting!


Congrats on the new kitty! I have two recommendations;

• Make sure they have plenty of play time. I can't say enough great things about this toy. It gets my kitty jumping like nothing else will. An exhausted kitty is a happy kitty.
  
  
• Have lots of different areas for both of your cats to "hide out." Hopefully they'll enjoy some alone time.
  
  
• Other than that, time passing is probably the key. They are still figuring each other out. They will learn each others boundaries and things will eventually settle down.
  
  
  This is a time when my pup Hank drove me up the wall. It's hard to keep him out of trouble. This is my kitty, Nieko. She's obviously a little angel that can do no wrong (yeah right!)
  
  
  Best of luck with your kitty clan. I'm sure things will work themselves out!

My cats love these.

Man's best friend.

My cat is obsessed with this wand toy. I’ve bought several of them, and he never gets tired of it! Pretty sure he loves it because the mouse looks like an actual mouse: https://www.amazon.com/Go-Cat-Catcher-Teaser-Mouse/dp/B000LPOUNW

I foster kittens and having a litter genie has made a big difference for me. Without it, I have a hard time motivating myself to scoop the litterbox (and find a bag to scoop into, and tie it up, and put shoes on, and take it to the outside garbage, etc.), but with the litter genie right there you can scoop it right in and have a clean litterbox and no stink.

The favorite toys of kittens I've had:

a feather on the end of a long, very flexible stick like this

The stupidly named Da Bird

*Laser pointers. I've found it's a better deal to get a high-quality $20 one than the $4 pet store kind because of battery life.

You're in Pennsylvania, too? Hi! We're in the EDT zone. :-P get your zoo on gurl

This cat toy is $6.99 with free shipping (through Amazon Marketplace) or this catnip for $4.99 as an add-on item ($5.99 with free shipping through Amazon Marketplace). If that doesn't work, I do have Pet Sematary on my WL...

I think you need to buy one of two things for your kitten:

1. Pounce treats because it brings back memories of me when I was young trying to eat them when I was pretending to be a cat! And, I always remember my cats loving those things. BONUS: I seem to recall them actually tasting sort of like chicken.
   
2. The Cat Dancer because you can spend endless hours playing with your cat and watching it chase the fabric around the room!
   

We have resolved to play with jack more. He's a machine though. He has a metric shit ton of energy. Right now we mostly use this thing to play with him because he absolutely loves it. We also have one of these but he is hit or miss on it. Do you have any suggestions for interesting fun toys?

I have two cats, and they really love a Cat Dancer type of toy - like this one.

To make it extra fun, I've attached a catnip filled toy to the end of it. The "Yeoww" brand catnip toys are by far the strongest, it's crazy smelly. My cats really like it.

• Check.
  
  
• Check.
  
  
• I have three kitties: Tiny, silky black one named Whisper; her normal-sized son the stripey Siamese with crinkly ears and the heart of a Golden Retriever; and our rescue baby Lupercalia the Egyptian Mau, who has abandonment issues and will do anything to make us laugh. Here is the album from my intro last week.
  
  
• This toy looks fun for kitties.
  
  
• I don't have any dogs.

Since you say she won't come out for treats, the other obvious motivator is toys. Will she play with anything, especially toys she could chase on a string? (something like Da Bird, which I highly recommend, I'm not paid, just cats seem to love it) Often, cats who are shy but still have a strong predatory instinct will sort of forget their fears when they're in hunting mode.

See if you can get her to chase something to come out in the open and play with her until she gets bored or tired. It could be a confidence booster to have her play in the open and if she does it enough, she might start to feel more comfortable when she's not under something.

All 6 of my cats love these :

• http://www.amazon.com/Prevue-Products-Kitty-Power-Natural/dp/B00WO6MFY2/ref=sr_1_55?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1451363516&sr=1-55&keywords=scratching+post
  
  
  
  
  
• http://www.amazon.com/KONG-Wild-Tails-Colors-vary/dp/B00392OS90/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1450844790&sr=8-11&keywords=kong+cat+toy
  
  
  
  
  
• http://www.amazon.com/KONG-Naturals-Incline-Scratcher-Cat/dp/B0018N38P2/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1450844790&sr=8-5&keywords=kong+cat+toy
  
  
  
  
  
• http://www.amazon.com/PETFAVORITES-trade-Original-Mylar-Crinkle/dp/B00797NHFC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450844867&sr=8-1&keywords=mylar+balls
  
  my kittens go crazy for these mylar balls.
  
  
  
  
• http://www.amazon.com/Pet-Fit-Life-Feathers-Exerciser/dp/B00UZKBNLK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1450844997&sr=8-3&keywords=cat+teaser+feather
  
  
  
  
  
• http://www.amazon.com/PetFusion-3-Sided-Vertical-Scratcher-Standard/dp/B00JK0BX2K/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1450845032&sr=8-10&keywords=cardboard+scratcher
  
  
  
  
  
• http://www.amazon.com/OurPets-Original-Play-N-Squeak-MouseHunter-Interactive/dp/B001HWF2W6/ref=pd_sim_199_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=41hI5AjRP1L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=04F02DM93STX1S9ESXET
  
  
  
  
  We have 2 cat trees near a big window with a bird feeder outside in view...it keeps our two 6 month old kittens entertained for hours. I would recommend a cat tree, or a window perch of some sort. :)
  

Prime Time!

My kitty would love this. =)

Thanks for the contest!

Da Bird drives all of my kids nuts. I have an old toy that's similar and the feathers are long gone but they still chase it like crazy. Basically a stick with a string tied to one end and then some feathers on the end of the string. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LZUCIL8?psc=1

I used to play cat rodeo with my old cat. Stand in the center of the room and swing around in a circle and she would chase that thing until she dropped. I miss her, she was a psycho but I loved her dearly.

Philly would LOVE to play with one of these with me! There is other buying options since you don't have prime. And also, I can change my address to a US one. :)

It sounds like he is bored and needs an outlet for all his energy! Do you play with him much? My cats love wand toys (this is the best one we've tried - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LZUCIL8) and they get really tired out after playing and are mellow for the rest of the evening! (Disclaimer: not a cat expert, but have my own furbabies and have watched a lot of Jackson Galaxy/My Cat From Hell) :)

Mildly obsessed with Maine Coons (understatement of the year). Worked at a vet clinic for cats for 9 years, 5 as a vet nurse, and we had some of the top Maine Coon breeders in NZ as our clients. It was the Maine Coon Fan Club whenever I was on reception!

Sounds like your scaredy cat has been abused systematically while in his kittenhood. He's scared of the sudden movements because those were the types of movement that hurt him before - you're fortunate the previous owners didn't stroke him before hurting him, or you'd have a whole new level of terror to deal with.

I can suggest interacting with him in ways that don't always involve his direct focus on you - try [Da Bird Cat Toy] (http://www.amazon.com/Da-Bird-Cat-Toy-Store/dp/B000F9JJJE) as a good way of having him occupied in a positive activity while you're around. It will also begin to desensitise him to your movement, because he's focusing on the toy so much. Start out with very minimal movement of your body for a few 'play sessions', then start moving your arms a bit wider, and a bit quicker, just keeping it within his comfort range. He shouldn't notice your movement too much, because he should be quite intent on the feathers. However, in the background of his mind, he'll realise that you're there and moving around a lot, and quite quickly, and nothing bad is happening. It will take him a while, but he will eventually come to terms with the fact that you are not going to hurt him.

Your other wee boy sounds so damn cute, and he'd probably enjoy Da Bird Cat Toy as well! I've got one for my Maine Coon and she goes positively wild for it!

I bought this thing -

CAT DANCER Cat Toy Cat Charmer Safe Wand Teaser Colorful Fabric Ribbon Safe Flexible Exercise Toy 1 Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DHV16/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_iTaCCbA6HF8ZQ

If my cat starts to get bored with a certain toy, I’ll just put that toy away for a month or two until the toy becomes interesting again.

My cat's favorite toy up until recently was just a simple cat dancer toy - she'd get excited by it and play with it. However, I recently made a 'toy' out of an old sock stuffed with catnip. She'd also get excited and bat that around the room...

The clincher was tying the sock to the end of the cat dancer - it's simply ridiculous. She'll be panting after chasing it for upwards of twenty minutes, and then meow constantly at me if I stop playing with it! Such a cheap and effective toy!

Oof...

This will likely be an annoying process.

It could be a variety of things:

1. Health issue
   
2. cats don’t like brand/kind of litter
   
3. cats don’t like shape, color, etc of litter box
   
4. cats are bored and see it riles you
   
5. cats are intact males and are marking
   
6. cats are altered males who developed the marking habit before being altered
   
7. cats found a scent there once, and now go there out of habit
   
8. cats hate locations of litter boxes
   
9. cats are stressed from something
   
10. Cats want the litter box cleaner
    
11. Cats don’t have a good diet
    
12. They are just unruly and do this for fun / laziness
    
    First and foremost, eliminate health issues, and take them for a vet checkup and do standard blood work to check for abnormalities.
    
    I would recommend renting / buying an upright carpet shampoo machine.
    I bought gf a bissel one for $350 and it works very well.
    
    Then, after shampooing, use an enzymatic cleaner, such as “Natures miracle.”
    
    Then, I would look at the little box. Move the box closer to where they pee, and away from noises, running water, etc.
    
    Then, I’d try new litter.
    Cats can be sensitive to the smell, dust / powder, and even the grain size.
    
    You can also attempt to clean the litter box more, and scoop it every few hours. Me and my gf bought the “Litter Robot,” but a lot of people can’t justify the $425 price tag to have it auto scoop for you.
    
    You can also get a different litter box.
    My cats love our “igloo” style one (also stops our dog from eating the cat droppings).
    
    Then, I’d invest in a cat tree, with 3 levels to it. Chewy has a decent one for $80 delivered that me and gf bought 2 of for our cats.
    
    Some random toys also work well if they are bored, a variety: a catnip infused one, a ball, a spring shaped one, a mouse, a string (this can be controversial as it can encourage the cat to chew long slender objects - such as cords, and shoelaces), and a “ball stuck inside a bowl” kind of toy.
    
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077B9PHKD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_zd6qDb0X9EEDQ
    
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005UMC1SC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_Gg6qDb5YM13YQ
    
    Then, try and get a toy that is some kind of mouse or feather, on a rope with a stick and exercise them for a few minutes every day.
    
    You can also look at their diet, and if they are not getting enough water (which sounds odd, but cats can act out in odd ways when their diet isn’t correct). You can try wet food, if you are t doing that, and adding a little extra water to it to form a small soup. Watch their reaction over time, and if they pee more, this might not be the issue (they may pee a few times with the increased water intake, so watch over a few days if you do this).
    
    If you have an older style basement, with a “French drain,” your basement might be moist, and encourages mold growth, and could be stressing the cats. You can attempt to fix this with a dehumidifier (sealing some ingress points in the basement). This is assuming they pee in the basement that is.
    
    Hopefully this helps. In the end, it might not, and the cats just might be a bit unruly, which does suck :/
    
    Edit: I just noticed, the litter box is on a different floor.
    
    Cats “should” have a litter box PER floor, and realistically one extra per cat (most cats get get away with sharing).

Oh oh oh! By the way! GET ONE OF THESE http://www.amazon.com/GoCat-Apart-Feather-Assorted-Colors/dp/B000F9JJJE

Great for getting some of that spare energy out, and far out it's funny to watch them chase it.

My big Bengal boy loves his scratching post and playing fetch. My girl loves her Da Bird toy, although I wouldn't get one until they are older due to development and such. I think my breeder recommended not encouraging excessive leaping until they are more developed, similar to not running a puppy under a year of age.

Kim Jong Undead.

This thing is my cat's favorite toy. He loses his mind whenever we get it out.

These are his favorite treats. He LOVES them.

The specs keep changing week to week with firmware updates. Here's the current setup:
-5200mAh, good for about 20 minutes of flight time before needing a recharge (battery life keeps increasing with use)
-Here's the remote controller I'm using, surprisingly awesome battery life!
-range: about 20 laps of indoor around the house flying
-motors: 4 individual of unknown make (catdrone found in crawl space)


10/10 would purchase again

Uhm, I nominate /u/Lyd_Euh to receive these cause she's cool af.

I wrote a poem as requested:

>Lyd_Euh Lyd_Euh she is so sweet.
Lyd_Euh Lyd_Euh please warm up her feet.

I'd like this to annoy the shit outta my cat.

Yup! He's got a Da Mouse toy that he absolutely loves and he's surprisingly good at hunting it.

I have a cat that loves to play. Here are some of the things she has: da bird cat toy, circuit , a cat tree (armarkat), and some stuffed toys I made for her

Edit: For the circuit, you can make it as long as you want, and it doesn't have to be in a circle. Also, cats like boxes.

Bubble bath! Best relaxation tool ever.

Get me out of here!

Link

My cat also has an issue with string (to the point that she tries to eat the cat fisher toys and growls if you try to take it away), but in my experience this has been a good compromise: http://www.amazon.com/Cat-Dancer-301-Charmer-Interactive/dp/B0002DHV16/ she's not as enthused about it as string (what could compare?) but she will play, and jump, and run after it, and tug at it when she wants someone to play with her.

Dear cat owners:

Before feeding, require that they catch this twice.

1/4 cup dry food morning & evening goes in here.

1/2 small can of wet food before bed.

This will create a svelte, but not too skinny, very happy cat who will love you for longer, be able to lick its ass and clean itself, and not require insulin shots or crazy shit like that later in life.

Yes!! I have two cats and they go crazy for this stick toy:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000F9JJJE/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?qid=1417226841&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70

I have one very similar and it's very entertaining to hold it just a little bit above them and see them leap for it and paw at it. Plus when you get tired of it, stick the pole somewhere (like sticking out of a drawer) and let the toy dangle so they can play with it like that as well!

Your kitten is very young -- I assume that she has no other kitten companions in your household. The first two-to-three months of a kitten's life should be spent with their mother and litter so that they can properly develop and socialize, as this time is crucial to their development.

That being said, she may still see it as a 'playtime' activity when she grows up. It is not recommended to let her continue doing this, as she'll get stronger and more dangerous as she ages. I would recommend that you train her to not play in that way, since it can be painful.

One suggestion I have is to make a high-pitched noise or shriek when she bites or nibbles your hands. When growing up in a litter, kittens often playfight with their brothers and sisters, but use a high-pitched noise to signal an 'okay, that's enough, it's starting to hurt.' The same can be taught to your cat through you and your family.

Another suggestion is to give her more toys to play with. You don't have to spend a lot of money on toys -- a crumpled paper ball, a big brown paper bag from a grocery store, they're all viable toys. One toy that my cat loves is the Da Bird Cat Catcher ( http://www.amazon.com/Da-Bird-Catcher-Feather-Toys/dp/B000LPOUNW/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1346535251&sr=1-2&keywords=go+cat+mouse ). It's not an expensive toy, but it keeps my cat busy!

there are 2 toys that were listed in Amazon as foolproof for this very thing.

One is Cat Dancer

The other one I can't find. It is a wand with a thin wire that cats cannot see, on the end is the worlds tiniest mouse. And they are both ranked incredibly high for cat interaction and interest.

My experience is that they both actually work. My cat is known for watching me play with her toys too

A toy for my cats

It's about £12 so if that's more than $15 and I'm lucky enough to win then just surprise me - there's a tonne of stuff on my WL :D

I feel ancient today...

Hey, mom, stop posting my face all over the internets.

Oh wait, I can has prize? Okay! Uhm. I want this one because feathers are nom nom. You could get another one for Viktor because I'm sure he'd love it.

I'm timid as hell so I'd rather not spend the day with any other animal.. but if I had to, I'd pick Viktor because seeing a big dog would make me poop myself.

I want to be friends with Hanners and Viktor! (over the internet or with a wall between us)

I've currently got 6 little monsters, and will probably have more soon... yeah I'm a crazy cat lady... Here's a few pics of them, aren't they cute?

I'm sure this toy from my wishlist would get lots of use. I've got several other similar toys, but I've heard lots of people recommend this one and would like to give it a try.

Adora! It kinda rhymes :3





Also this feather toy looks nice 🐈💕

There is something you can do. You can wear them out before before bedtime and there is a good chance they will sleep through the night. Da bird is captivating to cats. THey also make a mouse thing that cats love. My cat is no longer nocturnal.

http://www.amazon.com/GoCat-Apart-Feather-Assorted-Colors/dp/B000F9JJJE

Kitty toy!! I love animals... I couldn't see the picture of Lily though, which might be good if she's a small breed dog because those scare me... but, you know haha. Um... Advice on dealing with a 4 month old puppy... well, when my parent's dog was four months, I wouldn't let her in to my room because she would eat all of my stuff... just mine, no one else's... but it was all of mine.

A Lily by any other name.

If your cat doesn't seem like he likes playing, try Da Bird as a cat toy. I've never seen a cat who doesn't become obsessed with playing with this thing. It's like crack.

Heres my kitties Hammi and Harry

I have these Star Trek cat pins on my wishlist. These Cat toys are on my list as well.

Kitties are the best Valentines because they’ll snuggle with you all day!

We bought some fancy toy for our cat with feathers and all of this other crap and he couldn't stand it. I went on Amazon and bought this for $4.50. He absolutely loves it, #1 cat toy on Amazon for a reason I suppose.

This is what I got for my now 17 week old cat whom I've had for about 4 weeks.
https://www.amazon.com/GDPet-Including-Interactive-Feather-Crinkle/dp/B01MR781UG/ref=sr_1_8?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1506711748&sr=1-8&keywords=cat+toys

The little furry mice are her favorite and she really enjoys chasing and pouncing on them. The crinkle ball and pillow she can take it or leave it. Doesn't really go for the larger balls. For some reason she's afraid of the fishing wand.
But that's just my cat. Other cats may be different.

• Simon loves his new Sunny Seat
  
• In case you missed it, the Pet Cube
  
• Favorite cat toy!

cat trees, perches or shelves will enlarge the cats living area vertically. There are cat wheels out there, for bangles which are a high energy breed. My cats love Da Bird cat toys. Gets them jumping around

I agree that it’s just an age thing and she doesn’t know that she’s hurting you. Let her know by being a bit dramatic and withdrawing from her when she does it

Try getting toys that separate you from play time as well. Don’t use your hands to play with her directly. Toys on long wands are good for this. I recommend Da Bird by gocat. My cats go nuts for this one, and Da Bee by the same brand.
https://www.amazon.com/GoCat-Bird-Feather-Cat-Handmade/dp/B001BOVEU4/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?keywords=gocat&qid=1573958650&sr=8-5

How about this chemistry book at 12.22 hehehe or maybe If you like Frozen at 22.96 you will like Miyizaki at 27.22 of course there is this cat toy at 12.42

/u/quick_quip_whip (as an aside - how are you doing on your snack purge:) I managed a day without them :))

/u/medelle becuase icecream is needed when birthdays are being discussed.

/u/ALiborio because boobs - well no not really but come play!

As others have suggested, this sounds like pent up energy seeking a release. Disciplining him will probably only lead to him getting confused and might even cause him to develop some other undesirable habits since he still ultimately has that energy to get rid of.

Crixus, who's a little over a year old now, gets like that occasionally, but usually directs it at the other cat. Luckily, it doesn't occur frequently enough to be a problem.

Get one of those feather-on-the-end-of-a-string toys for him to chase around, like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Depets-Retractable-Assorted-Interactive-Exerciser/dp/B0791CB2V6/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074TFJ6ZD

You can often find them at your local grocery store. I have yet to come across a cat that doesn't go nuts over those things and it's one of the quickest any easiest ways to wear them out short of a laser pointer. Laser pointers lead to frustration since the glowing red bug can never be caught, tho... and the cat might eventually lose interest. Not so with the feather toy! Let him catch it occasionally, and you'll have him hooked for life. Just put it away when you're done so that it's more of a special-event kinda thing for him.

Not only your cat but you too will be fascinated watching the birds. You might need one-way mirror film on the window behind the feeder so the birds won't see your cat.

For you to play with your cat when you are home, nothing tops Da Bird.

No worries. One last thought...

• if his sleep patterns have changed, he could be waking up to spend more quality time with you. When I lived in a city my ex's cat did this so we'd come home to a hyper friendly cat. It was a sign of loneliness/boredom. We got her some expensive interactive toys that worked for her play pattern and no more cat on head!
  
  Best toy:
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000F9JJJE/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1413409428&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40
  
  Feliway and help insecure cats but it is a bit like drugging the problem away.
  
  If yr cat has been declawed then normal litter hurts.
  
  If older, monitor water drinking for diabetes.
  
  
  Good luck!
  

I would suggest buying a leather glove and teach who is the boss. I'm not saying to hurt him, just a bit rough play to show that you can't be intimidated.

I also recommend this toy:

http://www.amazon.com/Da-Bird-Catcher-maker-Feather/dp/B000LPOUNW/ref=zg_bs_2975303011_3

Disclaimer: I have semi-outdoor cats, so what works for me might not work for you.

Here is something to try. Both of my cats like this one -- and they don't agree on much.

On the other hand, my lazy cat wants to lay on her back, and bat at it in the air above her. But my boy jumps up into the air to get it. He's more active with this than even da bird.

I can tell by your title you know the nature of cats make BIFL toys hard. That said theres a few options that have survived our cats first year of kitten hood (much play)

1. definitely a laser pointer.
   
2. Primary toy we have one of these https://www.amazon.com/Pet-Fit-Life-Retractable-Feathers/dp/B01ANUU12I.
   
   Theres a couple different models, we find this one with the screw connection work the best. While it’s not fully BIFL, the handle has lived up to its sturdy claim and we can easily replace parts that broke or are used up. We have to buy or make replacement attachments because my cats love killing them with bites. I’ve also tied string, ribbon and random garbage on the end. The lobster clasp at the end has been replaced once and I expect to have to replace the string at some point. This was infinitely better than the jackson galaxy models that don’t have replaceable parts. We went through 3 of them before we found this one.
   
   
3. https://www.chewy.com/cat-dancer-original-cat-toy/dp/49382 This one drives our cats crazy. Because its hard to catch, they haven’t really had a chance to destroy the little cardboard bits. Once they do I plan to replace it with cut bag handles or little slivers of cardboard.
   
   
4. Bouncy balls, only 1 of my cats likes these and they like to chase/bat them not chew so I expect to keep them as long as I can find them. I usually discover them under furniture while cleaning.
   
   
5. Things you make. I’ve recycled old shirts into tshirt yarn, cardboard, bits of ribbon and bags and random shit to test out on my cats. They don’t last and most of them aren’t hits and at least I’m not buying them!
   
   Good-luck making your kitties BIFL! The last advice is to have a local cat owners group where you can trade toys. Some of our toys have been such duds with our cats, we pass them around to the cat owners at work and usually there’s a cat who loves it.
   
   Edit: noticed your comment on automated balls. It really depends on your cat. We tried that and a few other automated toys and in general they got bored fast. They never seem fast enough or random enough. We’ve given them away since they just take up space but it might be different for you.

https://www.amazon.com/SmartyKat-Bouncy-Mouse-Cat-Bungee/dp/B001FK62YM This is the closest thing I could find, that one looks way too well loved to identify hahah.

I have always had kitties, and have 3 right now. I wouldn't get her started on live animals, that could make her always wanting live prey, and if she's eating them on a regular basis she will most likely always have worms (that's how they get them). She is playing with you, and you should get her some toys and just wear her out. A laser pointer is a great one, as well as any feather dancer type toy or something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Da-Bird-Catcher-Feather-Toys/dp/B000LPOUNW/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342728269&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=fealther+dancer+toy


My oldest kitty was crazy as a kitten, attacking and biting me even as I slept, and playing with him on a regular basis helped. He mellowed out a lot as a grew older.

I leave out sturdy "interactive" toys that my cats can initiate play with on their own, such as these:


https://www.amazon.com/Petmate-Crazy-Circle-Interactive-Large/dp/B0002AT5AO

https://www.amazon.com/Petstages-317-Tower-Tracks-Chase/dp/B00DT2WL26/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1487151213&sr=1-1&keywords=tower+of+tracks


I put away all the other toys unless it's playtime. Putting normal toys away when it isn't "playtime" also helps keep the cats from getting bored with the toys.


Some other toys my cats love:

https://www.amazon.com/Jackson-Galaxy-Ground-Wand-Rope/dp/B00O3GWKVO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1505441810&sr=8-2&keywords=jackson+galaxy+ground+prey


https://www.amazon.com/Super-Bird-Full-Single-Pole/dp/B0089MQZD2/ref=sr_1_7?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1505441826&sr=1-7&keywords=da+bird


https://www.amazon.com/Go-Cat-Refill-Catcher-Accessory/dp/B000S120H2/ref=sr_1_11?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1505441826&sr=1-11&keywords=da+bird


https://www.amazon.com/BINGPET-Feather-Teaser-Exerciser-Kitten/dp/B00W3BOTII/ref=sr_1_6?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1505441882&sr=1-6&keywords=cat+feather+wand


https://www.amazon.com/Mtlee-Pieces-Wand-Replacement-Interactive/dp/B074SGWQP3/ref=sr_1_50_sspa?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1505441897&sr=1-50-spons&keywords=cat+feather+wand&psc=1

Cats sleep a lot. Most of the time really. Don't stress about a specific cat bed, in my experience they are ignored in favour of the bed/sofa/your chair/a shelf/under the coffee table/in a cupboard/windowsill. Get a scratching post/cat tree/cat gym, something they can scratch and climb on, they will entertain themselves a lot with them. Get a couple if you have the space.

In terms of toys that you can use with them, the one cat toy I have seen that is universally loved is "da bird," my boy goes mental whenever I get it out of the cupboard.

A lot of people will say to get two cats if you can but it really depends on the individual cat. Some really desire socialising, others really prefer to be alone. If you are adopting an adult cat, try to get one that has always been indoors (one elderly owner) as a previously outdoor cat probably will not adapt well to being indoors. My boy came from a breeder and was never an outdoor cat. Whenever I am home for a whole day I get to observe his routine, which mainly consists of snacking and finding a new place to sleep.

You don't need to play with him for very long. Just try to get him panting before a meal at least once a day. Use one of these and it should take like 15 minutes. It's really fun too.

It's called the "Cat Charmer" and is made by a company called Cat Dancer. It's just a super-long (approx 4-5 ft.) rainbow-colored string made of tough felt that's attached to a short plastic wand. We got ours on Amazon: non-affiliate link. Sometimes I tie it around my waist and walk around (doing chores etc), and my kitty "hunts" the string trailing after me 😺