OMG kitty! \oO/

[Meister]

Well, long as we're waiting for the pictures - and I am sorry for the delay - , let's hear it about cat toys. Brian's article does help quite a bit, although I do by default have enough presence of mind to avoid the noisier toys right away. Or I'd like to think so.

The thing is, we're clearly looking at an intelligent cat here. You remember that plushy rattling ball I told you about? With a string and a rod? Let's just say he figured it out and now goes straight for the rod whenever I bring it out. (And incidentally, since I'm a born worrier, I keep worrying about him getting tangled up in the string, even though I've seen him get out of it multiple times. Is that in general something to look out for?)

I think I'm just gonna go and get him some good old plush mice. No mechanisms, no strings attached (BWUHAHA I KILL ME), few parts to chew off and swallow (which he has done with another toy... didn't seem to do any harm though), the works. Any other ideas for toys and games?
I totally gotta reread this thread for that, too.

[Skyshot]

Kleenex makes a good toy. Use it like string, and you don't have to worry about any health issues.

I doubt getting tangled in string is a problem, as he's a cat. If he can't get himself out of string...

[Mashirosen]

The only thing to really worry about as far as string goes is making sure he doesn't eat it -- apparently it can get tangled up with their intestines and do massive damage. If you're worried about him accidentally strangling himself or something with the string, though, just make sure you're always there to supervise when he plays with that toy and put it somewhere secure when you can't be.

Crumpled-up paper balls are good for some cheap thrills, as are paper grocery bags -- I don't know any cat who doesn't like scuttling inside to lurk and wait for innocent ankles to go by. Same with cardboard boxes -- the smaller the box and the fatter the cat's ass, the more they'll like it. Stuffing the toe of an old sock with loose catnip and tying it in a knot sounds like a good idea, but all that happens is you get a nasty old sock with the toe stained a vile green from catnip soaked in cat slobber. Old shoelaces are always fun, though -- you know how Maceo felt about Mouse and String. Kurt likes playing fetch with plastic bottlecaps, but he doesn't try to put the whole thing in his mouth -- if you think the cat might end up choking itself, it's better just to use paper balls. Pretty much any toy you can make from crap lying around the house is the toy they'll love the best -- sometimes it seems like they turn their noses up at store-bought toys just to be perverse.

Store-bought toys our monsters have loved anyway: a little burlap sack stuffed with catnip (good for biting and kicking), a laser pointer keychain (they LOVE these, even chasing a regular flashlight beam is a good time to them), a plastic ball weighted to make it roll unpredictably, one of these things, one of these, a big fluffy marabou feather on the end of a springy plastic rod, and of course little plush mice.

Pretty much everything is a game for kittens. :)

[Skyshot]

The only thing to really worry about as far as string goes is making sure he doesn't eat it -- apparently it can get tangled up with their intestines and do massive damage.

Ahh, yes. My kitty has about a third of her intestines gone for that reason.

Basically, they play with things because of hunting instincts. It moves, they chase. So you just have to cater to those instincts. If by chance you can get a cat-friendly dog (easier if the dog is in the house first), wagging tails make good toys. As do the dogs themselves.

[BitVyper]

The only thing to really worry about as far as string goes is making sure he doesn't eat it -- apparently it can get tangled up with their intestines and do massive damage.

They have the same problem with kittens and clumping, clay cat litter. It gets stuck in their paws, they lick it out, and it clumps in their stomachs. It's not common or anything, but it can happen.

Edit: Oh, and the noisy toys aren't such a big deal if you take them away when you don't want to hear them. The chirping microchip toys are actually among the quieter ones.

As far as regular toy mice go, there's a good one called the Wooly Bully. It's a fat little thing, made from sheep's wool. Apparently, it washes fairly well once it gets ratty.

[Gyran]

Okay here's some advice: (by the way, I didn't read all the replies so some of this may have been said already =P)

1 - NEVER declaw your cat!! This causes them permanent pain in their paws.

2 - Don't ever physically discipline your cat. They'll hate you forever.

3 - If your cat is going insane, try picking it up by it's scruff. I do this with my cat and he gets a dreamy expression on his face and freezes up.

4 - If your cat scratches you just pick it up by the scruff and shake it or something, don't hit it. lol

5 - Try to give it a lot of attention (if it wants it...)

6 - If your cat wantsta go outside after a few months, let him. We did and my cat always comes back in every so often.. Unless you want an indoor cat =P


We've done these things with our cat (about 2 year old russian blue male) and he's awesome. Never scratches or bites and lets you pick him up whenever. Sometimes he digs his claws into you for support, but that's the extent of his damage.

Hope this helps,

-Gyran

[Meister]

It took longer than anticipated, but here are finally some pictures of the kat.



Stalking me in front of my very own game systems. I've caught him lurking behind them numerous times as well.



Something caught his attention. Probably a plush mouse or a human hand he can claw and bite.



Awww.

Did I mention we ended up naming him after the Trigun cat, more or less? His 'official' name is Kuroneko, but everyone just calls him Neko.

[BitVyper]

He has really nice, blue eyes.

[Mashirosen]

What a little cutie! I see he has that little white "locket" on his chest like so many black cats have -- Kurt has it too. Love the last picture -- you can just tell he flopped over right on the spot, all worn out from causing trouble. Adorable! I hope you and your family have many happy years with the little guy.

[Nique]

Man, that is totally the Trigun cat. COMPLETELY.

Our family has two cats. The first is like, 10 years old or just about. She used to be really skiddish and scared of everything all the time. In her old age she has finally learned that she doesn't have a lot to be afraid of though. She's brownish with lots of grays and black strips (Very pretty fur). I read in this thread about overstimulation when the cats are purring... very true. She LOVES to be petted, and scratched on the chin. If I do this long enough she flips over in, what I am convnced is, a totally unintended reflex. Why? She falls off the couch when she does it. It NEVER GETS OLD.

The other one is a big orange fluff ball that, aside from being the biggest cat EVER, sheds constantly. He is also dumb as a brick. One of those cats that will trip you, and then look at you like "huh?". He's a sweet cat though, and always always always knows when I am not feeling good - he always comes up and snuggles. He also likes to bite. I'm not sure where he picked it up from, but everytime I get out of the shower, he waits to come up and bit my legs. Not just lick the water off, but bite it off. If I kick him enough, he stops, but man-alive... he is persistent.

Both of them seem to not be able to stop chewing on plastic things (ribbons, bags etc.) not sure what the appeal is there... they do the same thing with grass when they are let outside.