Making the most of your cat's goodies
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Firstly, thanks so much for showing such an interest in the toys I've popped into your gift set. Each one has been thoughtfully selected to stimulate and enrich you cat's mind and body. A lot of thought, heart and soul went into the book too, so I really hope that you've both enjoyed and learned from what you've read so far. I thought you might like to know that I have a tonne more information filed away in my little vet brain about the topics in my book - plus so much more that I didn't have room for!
When I was head-hunted by DK to write the book, I was busily preparing for the imminent arrival of baby #2 and working on distilling all that I know about cats into my long overdue online cat care courses. I put my course-writing plans on pawse and channelled my energy into writing my book which I juggled with nurturing two of the world's youngest cat lovers and helping my three cats adapt to the new norm.
I'm now really excited to be back working on my academy of online cat care courses and I'd just love you to join me by being in the special first intake of students. By hopping over onto my email list, you can sign up to hear all the updates on this and other exciting projects I am working on to improve cat health and wellbeing. You can also find me and my cat fan club on social media if you're that way inclined using the handle at @thecatvet.
I really look forward to seeing you again soon!
Jo x
I'm now really excited to be back working on my academy of online cat care courses and I'd just love you to join me by being in the special first intake of students. By hopping over onto my email list, you can sign up to hear all the updates on this and other exciting projects I am working on to improve cat health and wellbeing. You can also find me and my cat fan club on social media if you're that way inclined using the handle at @thecatvet.
I really look forward to seeing you again soon!
Jo x
Now let me start telling you all about the bits and pieces that have been included by clicking on the tabs below:
Toys
In your gift set, I've included three toys that I have found the majority of cats appreciate. Of course, every individual is different but these are a great selection of hunt-inducing faux prey for them to practice their instincts on.
On first appearance you may not think too much about why cats like them, but if you look at page 70-71 of my book What's My Cat Thinking?, you'll see that there are various stages that cats move through when hunting, whether the prey they have their sights on is real or simply a toy. Oh, and don't forget to marinate all of these for that extra me-wow factor!
On first appearance you may not think too much about why cats like them, but if you look at page 70-71 of my book What's My Cat Thinking?, you'll see that there are various stages that cats move through when hunting, whether the prey they have their sights on is real or simply a toy. Oh, and don't forget to marinate all of these for that extra me-wow factor!
The big kickers
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These are the largest toys in the box and they're that size for a reason - to simulate the size of larger prey like rats, rabbits or squirrels. True, the stereotypical cat prey is mouse-sized, however many cats with outdoor access have a preference for hunting larger prey.
You'll probably notice once your cat takes a shine to these, that the reason they're called kickers is because of the manoeuvre that cats use to manipulate these bigger prey. Watch closely and you'll see them use their hind legs to "bunny kick" or rake the faux prey which we think is them trying to test for signs of life or perhaps reposition the prey to make the final killing bite. |
If you have a 100% indoor kitty that never catches anything and hasn't shown any interest in interacting with the toys you've purchased in the past, it may simply be that all your previous purchases have been small-sized toys. It may explain exactly why they love to wail at 4am with a large soft toy in their mouth or a pair of rolled up socks. Definitely worth giving larger-sized toys a try!
Two of the kickers also have little pouches that allow you to put a pinch of your cats favourite botanicals in to entice them to investigate the strange new toy and hopefully enhance their enjoyment of it. The kangaroo kicker has a joey in its pouch which once you've cut the tag will be able to be removed. This simulates the hunting phase where cats pull apart their prey.
The third kicker toy does not have any pouch but it's still just as much fun because the hemp fabric on the lower half is great for scratching back claws on and enhances both the fun factor and allows them to let off steam and leave their scent behind! And of course like any toy you can always pop it in the plastic marinating bag with a pinch or two of their favourite botanicals.
The third kicker toy does not have any pouch but it's still just as much fun because the hemp fabric on the lower half is great for scratching back claws on and enhances both the fun factor and allows them to let off steam and leave their scent behind! And of course like any toy you can always pop it in the plastic marinating bag with a pinch or two of their favourite botanicals.
Pull apart toys
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Some of you may have received a toy that's designed to be pulled apart and easily reconstructed (often using velcro). These sorts of toys can really make playtime seem much more like an authentic hunt. They offer your cat the opportunity to deploy the same skills they'd use when plucking feathers from birds with their teeth before eating the flesh below. And I'm pretty sure you'll agree that reaching under your bed and finding one of these toys is far less gruesome than the alternative!
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Squeaky mice
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These cute little mice both have the benefit of having little appendages like felt ears, paws, a dangling tail or whiskers and are the perfect size to be picked up and carried in their mouth. The fact that they also emit audible micro-squeaks just takes the fun to whole new level.
We know that cats have very sensitive ultrasonic hearing and these little toys really tap into that. The high pitched mock rodent chatter really seems to add extra value to the toy for many cats. Just be sure to pull out the plastic tab at the back of the toy and dispose of it safely before use. |
Vegan fur ball
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Cats love toys that best mimic the real deal and this time the focus is on texture. I've sourced the most realistic vegan fur balls and they are soooo soft that you may have to resist the urge to stroke it when in your hands.
Like any toy ball they can offer plenty of entertainment simply by being batted around the floor, and are great for the 'hook and fling' manoeuvre - where one claw and and a swift flick sends the ball airborne. Even better, with these furry balls, once they've caught it again, the fur is soft and realistic enough that they can sink their teeth in and carry it off to their favourite cache until they next fancy some fun. Some cats really seem to enjoy retrieving things a bit like, dare I say it, a D.O.G. So these little furry balls make a great interactive and heart pumping game of fetch. Or maybe your cat simply loves to make that grand entrance into your bedroom in the wee hours yowling proudly with their fur ball "victim" clenched in their jaws. |
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Meaty Treats
These fantastic treats have been included in my Cat Lover Gift Set as they've been a staple in my vet toolkit for a very long time and that's quite simply because cats L.O.V.E them! In my experience I'd say 9 out of 10 cats that I've visited at home seem to think they're the cat's whiskers as the saying goes - and yes, I've seen a lot of cats!
So what's the appeal? It's probably got something to do with the fact that they are very stinky (yes, you've been warned)! I feel that they are a good, healthy choice (as far as treats go) when used in small amounts, because they are semi-moist, have a very high meat content (95%) and contain only two ingredients : human-grade meat and minerals. Even cats that don't usually 'do' treats usually like these so absolutely give them a go!
Their popularity with cats makes them like gold for training sessions and hiding medication, which is the main reason I've included them in your gift pack. Working out what treats your cat values the most is critical. It can really reduce your own anxiety levels too - the ones that we all have when tackling all those things cats hate - if you know that you have some tricks and treats up your sleeve (metaphorically, please don't really stick those stinky things up your jumper!) that will tap into their curiosity and distract them long enough to step outside their comfort zone a little. Whether or not it's these particular treats or some other variety, I can't emphasise enough that finding out what tickles their fancy can be a lifeline for you as their carer just like they can be for me as a vet.
So, hopefully your cat is like 9/10 cats I've seen that likes them! Don't forget however, that they also come in a couple of other varieties so don't give up on them if your cat does the old "sniff and walk away" routine. If they snub the poultry flavour, maybe they'd prefer the fish? They're available from lots of different outlets so should be relatively easy to get hold of too, although I will say that they do seem to be undergoing a bit of a rebrand, so the pack may look completely different from the one you received. Fingers crossed they won't be altering the formula, just the packaging!
Storage wise I would say keep them in the resealable bag they came in and pop this inside another resealable bag with as much of the air expelled a possible. They can dry out very easily if left open - one of the downsides (like the stink factor) of being a semi-moist type of treat.
How to use the treats
Once you know your cat likes them, then with the right technique they make premium rewards for so many different situations where you might want modify your cat's behaviour. Treats can really help cats develop more positive associations with the things that they previously didn't enjoy - such as people, objects or experiences.
Below are some examples of common scenarios along with references for the pages in my book to guide you further.
What treats are definitely not, is a substitute for proper training, which I might add is easy once you understand and know how how. I'm not talking about cute tricks like getting your cat to sit or high five on cue but helping them to learn alternative responses to their current defaults! Let me introduce you to another fantastic book that I really think you'll find helpful called The Trainable Cat). Teaching an old cat, or even a young one for that matter, new "tricks" definitely takes persistence on your part, but as tenacity is something cats have bucket loads of, why not step up to the plate and commit to being more cat-like and see where you end up? It's far better than blindly throwing treats their way and hoping they 'feel well-loved' and see the 'error of their ways' because you want them to - that's not going to help either of you overcome your challenges.
So what's the appeal? It's probably got something to do with the fact that they are very stinky (yes, you've been warned)! I feel that they are a good, healthy choice (as far as treats go) when used in small amounts, because they are semi-moist, have a very high meat content (95%) and contain only two ingredients : human-grade meat and minerals. Even cats that don't usually 'do' treats usually like these so absolutely give them a go!
Their popularity with cats makes them like gold for training sessions and hiding medication, which is the main reason I've included them in your gift pack. Working out what treats your cat values the most is critical. It can really reduce your own anxiety levels too - the ones that we all have when tackling all those things cats hate - if you know that you have some tricks and treats up your sleeve (metaphorically, please don't really stick those stinky things up your jumper!) that will tap into their curiosity and distract them long enough to step outside their comfort zone a little. Whether or not it's these particular treats or some other variety, I can't emphasise enough that finding out what tickles their fancy can be a lifeline for you as their carer just like they can be for me as a vet.
So, hopefully your cat is like 9/10 cats I've seen that likes them! Don't forget however, that they also come in a couple of other varieties so don't give up on them if your cat does the old "sniff and walk away" routine. If they snub the poultry flavour, maybe they'd prefer the fish? They're available from lots of different outlets so should be relatively easy to get hold of too, although I will say that they do seem to be undergoing a bit of a rebrand, so the pack may look completely different from the one you received. Fingers crossed they won't be altering the formula, just the packaging!
Storage wise I would say keep them in the resealable bag they came in and pop this inside another resealable bag with as much of the air expelled a possible. They can dry out very easily if left open - one of the downsides (like the stink factor) of being a semi-moist type of treat.
How to use the treats
Once you know your cat likes them, then with the right technique they make premium rewards for so many different situations where you might want modify your cat's behaviour. Treats can really help cats develop more positive associations with the things that they previously didn't enjoy - such as people, objects or experiences.
Below are some examples of common scenarios along with references for the pages in my book to guide you further.
- Cat carrier anxiety - treats are a great accompaniment for training cats to be less anxious around and in their cat carrier when it's being left out longterm to reduce the stress of visiting the vet (see pp 150-151). Simply throwing treats at an already caged, anxious cat isn't going to achieve much and is actually rewarding them for being stressed which isn't great psychology - it's akin to shovelling sweets into a child mid-meltdown. Far better to identify the steps needed to encourage more positive behaviour (like leaving a cat carrier out and and use treats to reward them when they're calmly, inquisitively investigating it in their own time or when they're resting or playing in it.
- Piquing interest and luring a cat to investigate and maybe even use (!) that new cat bed (see pp 56-57), a cosy window seat (see pp 54-55) or vantage point away from your desktop (see pp 84-85) or kitchen countertop (see pp 136-137)!
- They're also great as a distraction while carrying out all those necessary care routines like applying flea spot-ons (see pp 124-125) and for rewarding a calm response when you need to groom them (see pp 170-171) or in the presence of new people or objects in their home (see pp 168-169).
- They're brilliant for inspiring curiosity over that new food that they may not be taking to straight away (see pp 158-159)
What treats are definitely not, is a substitute for proper training, which I might add is easy once you understand and know how how. I'm not talking about cute tricks like getting your cat to sit or high five on cue but helping them to learn alternative responses to their current defaults! Let me introduce you to another fantastic book that I really think you'll find helpful called The Trainable Cat). Teaching an old cat, or even a young one for that matter, new "tricks" definitely takes persistence on your part, but as tenacity is something cats have bucket loads of, why not step up to the plate and commit to being more cat-like and see where you end up? It's far better than blindly throwing treats their way and hoping they 'feel well-loved' and see the 'error of their ways' because you want them to - that's not going to help either of you overcome your challenges.
Botanicals
An exclusive selection of three life-enriching aromatic botanicals from a range that I am about to launch. These are a special dried selection of three of the most scented, cat-attractant herbs that are mentioned in my book. These are invaluable for infusing your cat's toys with an extra fun factor, either by using them to marinate any toys in a bag or by popping a pinch into a pouch present in some toys.
They also have many other benefits for enriching your cat's world. You can find out all about them here in my dedicated blog post. Not all cats carry the genes that make them responders to each of these herbs but nearly all cats will respond to one of them at least. Once you've read the included instructions and have decided to give them a try, I'd love it if you could let me know which ones your cat prefers you to 'pimp their prey' with.
They also have many other benefits for enriching your cat's world. You can find out all about them here in my dedicated blog post. Not all cats carry the genes that make them responders to each of these herbs but nearly all cats will respond to one of them at least. Once you've read the included instructions and have decided to give them a try, I'd love it if you could let me know which ones your cat prefers you to 'pimp their prey' with.
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An important safety message...
- Please remove all tags/cable ties from any toys before use and inspect for manufacturing flaws.
- Always supervise cats (and especially kittens) with any toys or treats you may offer.
- Some cats really let out all their pent up frustrations on the poor toy critters, so do look for signs of wear and tear before and after each play session as they are not designed to last forever.
- Do check the ingredients on the treats to make sure they are not going to upset any pre-existing intolerances or allergies.
- Please read the information that accompanies the botanicals before you try them on your cat(s). If your cat is off colour, has allergies/asthma, is being treated for a serious heart or neurological condition or hasn't seen a vet in the last 6 months, then please consult them before use, just to be extra cautious.
