(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best cat feather toys

Your questions aren't silly! It's great that you're thinking about how you can make you both comfortable before you dive into a new situation. Always set yourself up for success! :)

> do I buy a litter box/food/scratch-post before I plan to bring a cat home?

That's generally a good idea, yes. Means less stress for both of you as you're scrambling to get everything ready for him. You might ask the shelter what food the cat has been eating, as cats can get an upset tummy when switching brands/types. Not a big deal, but he will have poops that are a bit stinkier/liquidier than normal poops. That should alleviate within the week. You can lessen the tummy troubles by doing a more gradual change, mixing the food he is currently on with the food he will be on more and more, until he is eating what you want him on. But you can honestly just do the change, too, and just deal with the sadpoops for a little while.

I suggest a couple of different scratching posts, if you have the space! Cats like having options, like a horizontal post and a vertical one. Cats also like being high up, so if you can swing a tall post with platforms, he will probably like that.

Get two litter boxes! A lot of people don't realize it, but the rule of thumb for number of litters you should have is NumberOfCats + 1. So, 1 cat + 1 = 2 boxes. Clean them often. Cats are very clean creatures (especially compared to dogs) and are MUCH more likely to have accidents when they feel they do not have a better option than peeing in your bed. That's not their fault. You wouldn't want to step on your own pee/poop either! If you have problems with litter getting kicked out of the box, a litter mat can be helpful.

> Do I need to buy a carrier for the cat?

Yep. You'll eventually need to take him to a vet in all likelihood, and a carrier will make that so much easier, as most cats despise the car. I recommend a hard carrier. The softer ones seem nicer in general, but the hard carriers are easier to clean out, and you never know how a cat will be in the car until... well. They're in it. One of our cats poops and pees every. single. time. So he always gets the hard carrier.

> Should I contact a vet before I get the cat?

The shelter might require you to have a vet already, so I'd probably at least pick one out from google search. They might require you to go get a checkup, but probably not. That's more of a rescue thing, I think. Most shelters have their own in-house vet, so it's not really necessary. Don't be afraid to contact the shelter if he seems to be coughing and wheezing. Upper respiratory infections are very common in shelter environments due to the crowded nature of them, but they are also very treatable, and the shelter will be able to give you medication for him.

> How do I train a cat?

Someone mentioned Jackson Galaxy, who I generally agree is pretty good for training if you have some problems. But most of the time, cats are pretty out-of-the-box ready pets. That is to say, if you have an environment that is good for cats (where you let them have some space, where you don't make a huge amount of loud noise, where they aren't prodded and poked at constantly), they generally don't need training. We've fostered tiny kittens that automatically knew how to use the litter box. We also have boy cats who were not fixed until well into adulthood and have never had problems spraying.
It's instinct to go in the box, especially once they're fixed and don't need to mark territory really.

> For those of you who own a cat/cats, any advice for this first-timer?

Give both of you time to get to know each other. Don't force it. He will come to you, given time and space, and you'll be able to cultivate a better relationship built on trust and mutual respect if he knows that you won't force him to do things that he doesn't want to do (especially at first--think about it like building a friendship with a person; you would trust your friends to do things that you would never trust a stranger to do, and it's the same for him).

Cooing and gentle words are generally pretty good for coaxing, as is letting him smell your hand/something that smells like you before you approach for pets. Think about it like introducing yourself. You wouldn't go up to someone you didn't know well and just touch them without at least saying hi.

Every cat I have ever known, male or female, fixed or not, will pee in a pile of anything if it is left long enough. They see it as 'trash,' and I think it just registers as litter. So, if you are the type to leave clothes on the floor... I would try to stop that.

Keep nails trimmed. Scratching posts are for sharpening nails, which is an instinct that they have to fulfill, and you're giving them an outlet for. Some people think it's for 'filing' the nails down, but it's not. It's for keeping them sharp enough to get prey. You'll have to trim them.

And this is just my own personal opinion, but... young--but not kitten--boy cats are best for first timers. I have one girl, and I absolutely adore her, but she is very high maintenance/prissy/touchy, whereas my three boys are all pretty chill. Each cat is different though, so obviously your mileage may vary! It's just something I've noticed in general in my time of owning and fostering cats, that boys are more laid back/forgiving than girls (and thus I think a little easier for a first timer). Young adults are also great for first timers because you have less accidents (though that's generally not a big concern anyway) and they're more able to be on their own for longer periods of time. Older adults/seniors are great too if you want a really, really chill, more stand-offish cat, or if you want a cat that you'll have for <10 years, but if you want a little more energy and time, a cat that's about 1-2 years old is a GREAT way to go.

Some toys that are great for cats include the classic laser pointer, the feather toy, catnip toys, and crinkle balls.

Cats prefer to drink away from where they eat, so place his food bowl and his water bowl apart from one another! Some cats also prefer running water to still water, so if you notice your cat likes drinking out of the faucet (or if you just want to spoil your cat like I spoil mine...) you can get a water fountain for him!

Finally, if it's not working out for some reason, like your personalities just don't mesh well... take him back. I know it sounds hard, but it's best for him if he is in an environment where he is understood and his needs are met. There's no sense in forcing both of you to be miserable. Some shelters let you do a foster-to-adopt sort of thing, where you sort of try each other out for a bit. I like this option, because you hope for the best, but it feels a little bit easier to tap out if you need to. Either way, there's no shame in tapping out. Sometimes things just don't work the way you thought they would.

Sorry for the novel, but I wanted to be as thorough as I could. My parents recently got their first cat, and it's been... an ordeal for them, getting used to it.
It's great that you have some experience with cats though, so I think you'll be fine! Seriously, cats are sort of the next level up from a goldfish as far as easiness. Should be fine.

I hope you and your new furbaby are super, super happy together! :)

Ah I didn't know you had birds. I thought you meant the ones outside for some reason.

Try (all can be found on amazon)

Nano Robotic Cat Toy (White/Blue) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RWU17KS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_BpaOyb5AGDYAW

• approved by my cat
  
  Company of Animals Nina Ottosson Dog Brick Interactive Game https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001KZ4WJE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fpaOybTPCKNTJ
  
  
  
• great treat puzzler meant for dogs, but it works fine for intelligent cats too!
  
  The Natural Pet Company Feather Wand Cat Toy (Includes 3x Feather Refills), these Natural Feathers are Guaranteed to Drive Your Cat Wild https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EPGZQNQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_xtaOyb3AC0YD2
  
  
• physically playing with them with a fishing pole type toy like this I think is a great idea and really important. The ones with the longer poles/strings are the ones they actually jump for!
  
  
  Catit Senses 2.0 Food Tree https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D3NI31Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_-waOybNRGP826
  
  
• Nice puzzle feeder
  
  SmartyKat Crackle Chute Collapsible Cat and Dog Tunnel https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001B41TOK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_xyaOybH6FKHBP
  
  
• my cat loves stalking while playing in this thing!
  
  Grey Shark Bed for Small Cat Dog Cave Bed Removable Cushion,waterproof Bottom Most Lovely Pet House Gift for Pet https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DZITYGU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_QAaOyb8XZ6HMP
  
  
• just for fun haha
  
  
  
  The new cat hasn't been spraying outside the litter box has he? If so, it may be worthwhile to give any problem areas a really good clean up.

I have two Siberian cats who are now 1.5 years old. Here are the things we liked the most:

I would highly recommend a scratching post. Our cats love it and still use the same one we bought for them as kittens. They have not scratched on the furniture. They also like any of the cardboard scratchy pads they sell at pet stores.

I would recommend purchasing a litter box large enough for an adult cat, as they grow really quickly.

Siberians really like hanging out in high places and both of ours love the cat tree we purchased, but I don't think it is absolutely necessary.

In terms of toys, every cat is different, but ours love anything with a feather on it. If it does not have a feather, they do not play with it for longer than five minutes. We also had a tunnel for them when they were little, which they really liked as well.

Their favorite toy in the entire world is this one: https://www.amazon.com/Pet-Fit-Life-Teaser-Exerciser/dp/B06Y458SG3/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1541533035&sr=8-10-spons&keywords=squiggly+worm&psc=1. Like they cannot even handle themselves when we pull it out. We have brought it over to friend's houses and their cats love it too. You can also buy lots of different toys to go on the wand, which is nice.

My cats don't like cat beds, blankets, etc. so I have no recommendations on that.

Allergies are not a huge concern in our house, but we bathe our cats once every three months or so with Burt's Bees Kitten Shampoo. It gets them nice and clean but rinses out easily. We just bathe them so they smell nice. One of our cats tolerates the bath, one of them absolutely hates it.

​

1 the best one I think I have used so far 😂 ... Actually the wartenberg wheel wasn't shit compared to this thing. It's a lighter tickle feeling but even using it on my own back gives me goosebumps/chills immediately, it works ;)

https://www.amazon.com/Body-Stroke-Tickler-Massager-Therapy/dp/B00AZXFQ38/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&ref_=yo_ii_img

2 This is a cat toy that looks like a super girly fairy wand and has feathers, beads, and a little fuzzy soft ball on the end so when you drag it around there are a couple different sensations from it depending which part is touching the skin.

https://www.amazon.com/MEWTOGO-Bright-Interactive-Feather-Catcher/dp/B078TJK27P/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&ref=yo_pop_d_yo_pop_d_pd_t2

3 Dreamcatcher-style necklace. They have lots and lots of different types of necklace made to look like a dream catcher or have a Native American look... I wear this and if I'm leaning over my lee close enough it drags on their body as I move while both hands are still free ;)

https://www.amazon.com/MagiDeal-Statement-Dreamcatcher-Tassels-Necklace/dp/B079ZMK59X/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&ref=yo_pop_d_yo_pop_d_pd_t2

Wub my animals
My cat would love this, he broke all his toys.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Petbliss-Cat-toy-Feather-Teaser/dp/B000OM1BSO/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1370858940&sr=8-5&keywords=cat+toy

My cat is special to me because he has been the rock that holds me in place during all of the hard times. When I feel friends abandon me or just won;t understand, I feel my cat does in someway and he comes and shows me affection when I need it...somehow knowing.

He sleeps with me most nights and keeps me safe from the things that go bump in the night.

He deserves a cat palace or toys and treats,but this would do him fine as he loves weird looking things to play with.

His name is Loki , a rescue cat and here is a picture of him :3

http://s3.roosterteeth.com/images/hobbitboy495fa06b990a4.jpg

I'll admit, I'm too lazy to see if anyone else has mentioned this but also maybe try a variety of toys. The one your kitty was fetching seemed like one of the tight wrap around hard plastic ball? But if they like it, that's cool! We have one cat that only likes to fetch or play soccer with himself with the [soft plush balls]https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003C5LNZG/ref=twister_B00ZRH9PSE?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1) with the "flutter" part removed (it pops on and off) or some plastic balls with plastic bells but never the plastic balls with slots but a metal bell. Apparently their jingle doesn't interest him! Cats are so silly. Have fun!!

get some toys that move by them self, like these:
https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Bolt-Interactive-Laser-Cat/dp/B0021L8W6K/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=auto+cat+laser&qid=1550416273&s=gateway&sr=8-6

or

https://www.amazon.com/Zenes-Butterfly-Cat-Toy-Replacement/dp/B07B4XGY1Z/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=cat+butterfly+toy&qid=1550416295&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1


also, continue giving the cat treats and petting her or kissing her once in a while so she knows that you still love her :)

My cats play about 15-20 minutes before getting tired and losing interest. This is their favorite toy...

www.amazon.com/dp/B07HRV7HKM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_6IZyDbAN0ZHXG

Maybe get something like this if you don’t have a wand toy already. Super effective at exerting extra kitty energy.

My cats have a ton of toys too, these are the only ones they really like now and still play with:

https://www.chewy.com/yeowww-catnip-pollock-fish-cat-toy/dp/130278 (I was skeptical my cat would play with this but they all went INSANE with it - kicking up a storm and wrestling with it)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006N9I68/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (this one you have to play with them. I'd say it mimics flying insects and my cats NEVER get tired of it)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JANUEQ8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (a wand toy. Mine get bored with wands after awhile but for some reason really like this one)

A laser pointer is always good for exercise and fun also.

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.

https://www.amazon.com/Interactive-Cat-Toys-Training-Automatic/dp/B07XMC781X/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=pop+n+play+cat+toy&qid=1572000814&s=pet-supplies&sprefix=pop+n+play&sr=1-3

Pop n Play interactive cat toy
It's not so expensive and easy to handle.
Needs 4 big batteries and turns itself off after 15 minutes.

But be aware! The "birdsound" are nothing like birdssounds and go's in to a 15 minute loop.
And the machine makes a lot of sound but if your not bothered by it than it is a good toy.

If there will be a V2.0 in the future that has either better and less frequent birdsounds or the machinery has been updated i would buy it

Favourite day of adventures, cause you said it yourself, it was your favourite day. and the puppy picture.

Way i see it, it spans your time together, form puppy to your favourite time.

I'm ever so sorry for your loss. Really.

This is my girl her name is babycakes, but we call her bubby most of the time. She is my everything and more. I got her just as I started into my downward spiral mentally, and she is just my everything. Shes an indoor only cat, you'd swear she was a person by the way she goes on. She "talks" to me, to tell me what I'm forgetting, her food or her tray etc. but its usually just her being fussy. She sleeps on me in the morning if I'm late getting up, so she knows when I'm awake and can annoy me for food. Shes just... I love her. thats it.

either this or this they're attachments for her favourite toy, and she tears through them in no time! she actually sits where we keep the toy and paws and it and meows to play with it, she really loves the thing.

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

These are my boys, Gulliver and Reginald. Gulliver is the one giving the bath, Reginald is the one putting up with it for a little bit. They are Maine Coons. Gulliver is 2 and Reginald is 1. They've loved each other since the moment I introduced them! Aren't they cute?

This is on my wishlist "For Gulliver and Reginald". I have a Da Bird wand toy they love playing with, but I try to give them a similar type toy when I put it away so they feel like they "caught" it.

Congratulations on your new baby :)

This feather toy was all of my cats' absolute favorite toy of all time. When you whip it through the air, it flits around kind of like a bird. Seriously, they've never gone so nutty over a toy. That meant lots of great exercise, until they killed it. I'm going to have to get another one soon.

The Pop N Play, here’s a clean Amazon link:


https://www.amazon.com/Allstar-Innovations-Play-Interactive-Motion/dp/B07R1Z8BB9

Edit: This one has better reviews and seems functionally similar. Plus it’s INTERACTIVE:

https://www.amazon.com/PetFusion-INTERACTIVE-electronic-nighttime-batteries/dp/B07F391BX2

Yup yup! This is the one. I warn you though, the stick is really brittle and breaks--ours has a much shorter stick now, but the cats still love it!

Usually you just need the alpha numeric id for the product somewhere near the start, the rest seems useless.

Like for this long ass address I copied from the address bar: https://www.amazon.com/Pet-Craft-Supply-Mewnicorn-Boredom/dp/B07JMGKVD1/ref=sxin_5_pb?keywords=cat+toys&pd_rd_i=B07JMGKVD1&pd_rd_r=98eb7f1b-dc8d-4be8-8ecd-a3d684c77222&pd_rd_w=MuJXT&pd_rd_wg=vAxyB&pf_rd_p=471566b3-2454-4c77-b9e2-5715d3250806&pf_rd_r=P5797JCQFZVKBW2VK90B&qid=1565179036&s=gateway&sprefix=Cat+

All you actually need is the B07JMGKVD1 bit. So you can paste that into amazon's search to pull up the same product and it'll find it.

Or you can delete all the junk except that i'd and the "/dp/" bit and it works as a link to the page: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JMGKVD1/

I wish they just made it easy to copy like that though.

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.

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

Meow... raffle phrase works cause it's something for Cali the kitty.

I plan to get this for our 3 kitties

PetFusion AMBUSH INTERACTIVE Cat Toy with electronic rotating feather. (Smart modes, nighttime light, batteries included) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F391BX2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_R5h1DbJ4PE4QC

You need the exact one?

Here's a similar one

and here's another

Here's a whole sort of kit with different combos