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Choosing Appropriate Toys for Your Kitten
Apart from being fun, toys are an important part of a cat’s life. Especially while they’re young, toys teach kittens how to explore, problem solve, and entertain themselves.
With so many options available, choosing the right toy for your cat can be quite overwhelming!
What to consider when choosing a toy for your kitten
Size
Choose a toy that is an appropriate size and weight for your kitten. A toy that is too big and heavy to play with is no fun and on the flipside, a toy that is too small or with small parts poses the risk of being ingested!
Purpose
Not all toys need to serve a specific purpose of course! But if you are planning to get a toy to give your kitten an outlet for scratching or to entertain them while you are away, that is something to consider while browsing. Look for scratchers or puzzle toys that have treat dispensing features.
Texture and Sound
Different textures and sounds are great for stimulating your kitten’s senses and encouraging them to play and explore. Most cats appreciate variety when it comes to texture, smell and sound so look out for toys that are multi-sensory.
Age
Toys that are hard or have smaller or delicate pieces may not be suitable for young kittens as they can detached (or chewed off!). While they’re young, choose toys that gives your kitten an outlet to exercise their natural instincts, such as wand toys, tunnels and toys filled with catnip. As your kitten grows, to continue to mentally stimulate them, you’ll also need to replace and change the types of toys you give them. Try more complicated puzzle toys or hiding some of their favourite toys around the house to challenge them mentally to hunt!
Finally, be mindful of giving your kitten children’s toys as they may contain small parts and materials that could be toxic to cats. Most cat toys have been created especially for cats and are therefore sturdier and made of natural materials. Always look for toys from reliable manufacturers and always supervise your kitten when you first give them a new toy.
Does your kitten like wands for a more interactive play or do they prefer to play independently? Are they instinctively hunters or are they more chilled out and just have no interest? Now is the best time to explore their likes and personalities!
No matter how old they are, your cats will always need toys that will encourage their instincts and mental health. Don't forget to Keep things interesting by rotating their toys often or freshening them up with catnip spray so they always have something different to play with!
