Wind up mouse toy

[chockbic]

Any recs for the best one? Preferably robust so Slasher can't kill it.

[cozietoesie]

I'll confess, chockbic, that I just don't like cat toys that have 'bits' inside them - metal mechanisms, glass eyes with metal stalks all that sort of thing. I've seen the punishment that our boys mete out and I reckon that small soft kid-safe toys - preferbly with big floppy ears - which can be flung about and dipped in food/chewed are by far the best. And can also be washed which is no mean attribute.

I usually get them in the local charity shop toy bin - 20 pence if you're on a lucky streak. Unfortunately, Seniorboy developed a fascination for a particular type of American soft toy and I could only find a job lot of them - at which point he gave up on everything apart from this mother-eared brown and white dog so I have a massive bag of them down in the laundry.

[cozietoesie]

*moth-eared

[chockbic]

I did wonder about the safety aspect. He wouldn't be left unsupervised, but obviously don't want him to be harmed.

Hmm, shall have a think about it. He's got plenty of ordinary mice, of different materials. Doesn't seem that interested in them. Enjoys movement, such as a real life moving shrew

[cozietoesie]

The trouble is, as well, that mechanical toys are pretty predictable after the first 5 seconds - and have an unfortunate habit of stopping dead if they run into something or are flipped on their back.

Maybe someone else can suggest a moving alternative? (You likely just have a real hunter on your hands as well - there's little substitute for real-life prey for them.)

[RubbishMantra]

Someone recommended this Hexbug one a while back.

I was going to get one, but then I got them the Pets at Home electronic squeaky mouse, which they got bored with after a day. What they do like is the 89p ones from the pet shop. Very realistic looking, and they will play fetch with them until my arms fall off.

[Stealthsquiggle]

A laser pointer or an iPad app? Our two are fascinated by both. They do of course both require a willing human to play too...

[chockbic]

I like the Hexbug. Might play with it myself.

He will jump about with a fishing rod toy. Not for long though.

cozie, the hunting is a new thing. Previously, it was the odd insect. Now he loves catching shrews.

[RubbishMantra]

MCat went through a stage of catching anything that moved. He did grow out of it though. He'd catch anything, from partridges to stoats. Waking up to a terrified partridge legging it around your bedroom like Road Runner isn't the gentlest way of being woken from slumber.

You're yet to be presented with a screaming frog.

[shaska]

Mine, the dorks, are frightened by motorised things. I thought it was going to be grand, stuff squiggling around on the floor while the cats amused themselves and I had a nice cuppa.

Nope. They look nervously at the squiggling thing, until it either stops or they realise it's not coming nearer to them and they can ignore it.

Back to the feather pole....

[RubbishMantra]

Feeling your pain shaska. I bought them a thing called a "BadaBeam". Looks like a lime green Dalek that shines a pointy laser dot about, for them to chase. They didn't like it. Then again, I doubt I could learn to love something with a name like "BadaBeam" either, so I don't hold it against them.

[shaska]

arf at 'Badabeam'. I'm sure someone in marketing was very pleased with that.

I've long thought the world could do with a sort of cat library or swap meet, where we could all turn up with our multipacks of no-longer-desirable food, our toys that were ignored, and various other sundries and trade them in.

[chockbic]

Badabeam reminds me of Babadook

He's got a new fluffy mouse, which has a pull string. Not terribly exciting really, but he's given it a few bunny kicks.

[cozietoesie]

Try leaving it in some fairly unpredictable - but reachable - places so that he can 'find' it. They seem to enjoy objets trouvés more than items which are just presented to them.

[chockbic]

OK that seems a good idea. Just have to think of hiding places now

[RubbishMantra]

These are the ones my cats favour. Not wind up, but they squeak when squeezed. They play fetch with them. Cheap as anything too, so it doesn't matter if they stash them in their secret lair.

[chockbic]

Well he's obviously got bored of toys, and brought a real life mouse home instead.

[cozietoesie]

I recall one afternoon many moons ago when Oneago - a douce boy who played happily with his toys - was lying peacefully on his bed when a young starling managed to squeak inside the window which was always kept about 3-4 inches open. Minutes of complete mayhem ensued with cat and starling bouncing off the walls, the floor, the ceiling until I managed to scoop up the cat, get him out into the hall open the window wider and shut the door. (I forget the precise order.) All interlopers had disappeared when I peeked back in.

Until that afternoon, I wouldn't have thought he had a predatory bone in his body. You can now expect a procession of small bodies in strange places. Instinct.

[RubbishMantra]

Oh god, I had similar happen with a Swallow.

He may grow out of it Chock, MCat used to kill everything. We were presented with 4 stoats over 2 days once.

[chockbic]

I fear he may just be getting into his stride...

He was extra pouncy last night. I've got a nice big scratch to show for it.