Right before I got the two cats I went around the stores looking for balls, string toys and other types of toys that would interest them. What I ended up with was a basket of toys that the cats would ignore. The only thing I bought that caught their attention were the plastic balls with little bells in them. The rest of the time they hunt around the house for things that they claimed as their own even without my permission:
twist ties that they just push around and chase ribbons which they wrestle with (although this is not recommended because they could eat it and it could get tangled up in their stomach) - I did give ribbons to them in ball form to push around with a tail dangling. boxes when they can hide OR be pushed around in trash cans and other containers that they can dig through (especially if it only has paper) bookmarks blankets paper clips, hair clips shower curtain covers of drains plastic bags When I got the two dogs, I went on my little shopping spree again but I learned from the two cats and did not buy as much. Good thing because they fell in love with other things: plastic ball of the cats - with the bell inside it empty toilet paper and paper towel rolls old leggings and pillow cases tied up in knots for tug of war yarn tied up in knots to chew on What amazes me is the creativity that comes out of them when they decide they like something. Bimbim would ask us to tap the bottom of the trash can and she would push it around chasing our feet. You cannot imagine how many bruises I got on my shin whenever we played this game. Sumo had me on my hands and knees pushing a box he was riding in. He in turn chased things through the holes in the box as it moved. Sumo learned to open doors when hunting for his balled up ribbons. Since I was not home much when Charis was young she learned to entertain herself by tossing around her favorite toy Blue around. Of course my personal stuff is free game for them. Keegan fell in love with my cell phone case which he chewed even if the cell phone was inside. Bimbim considered certain trash cans hers, if I threw paper in it or anything else it would end up on the floor when she sees it. Keegan tried to lay claim to my crocs sandals too. Let them have their fun at home, let them choose their toys and be amazed at their creativity.
1 Comment
AnimalInAHumansBodyLol
4/22/2013 07:54:30 pm
this comment is extremely late but I was actually looking through the website after a friend asked about dog trainers. i just had to comment on this post about buying toys that pets ignore and seeing them play with empty tissue rolls and stuff. so true and i find all posts so refreshing for their honesty and insights. the last entry is dated mid-2012 :( hopefully updates will come soon but in the meantime i will read back to all the posts :)
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AuthorJoy has had 17-20 dogs, four cats, at least a dozen rabbits, three to four chickens and one turkey in her lifetime. She was close to her brother's bear cat and the snake, who she rescued from the attic. While in Canada she decided to get a cat and ended up with two. Since she lived alone she had to find ways and means to develop a harmonious peaceful relationship with her cats by "training" them. Eventually she decided to get formal training and invited dogs to join her family. Archives
May 2012
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