CHICO HOSPITAL FOR CATS COMPASSIONATE HEALTHCARE EXCLUSIVELY FOR CATS 548 W. EAST AVENUE CHICO, CA 95926 530-892-2287

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  • Our Services
    • Annual Exams
    • Boarding
    • Dental
    • Diagnostic Testing
    • Grooming
    • Hyperthyroidism Treatment
    • Laser Therapy
    • Preventive Care Plans
    • Spays/Neuters
    • Phone App/Loyalty Program
    • Petly Pet Portal
  • Our Hospital
    • Contact Info
    • Our History
  • Our Team
    • Veterinarians
    • Technicians
    • Veterinary Assistants
    • Domino, Kitty Ambassador
  • Petly (Pet Portal)
    • Pet Portal (Petly)
  • Educational Resources
  • Blog
  • Hyperthyroidism Treatment
    • Hyperthyroidism Treatment-FAQ
    • Comparison Radioiodine vs Methimazole
    • Hyperthyroidism Information
    • Hyperthyroidism Therapy What to Expect
    • Hyperthyroidism Therapy Contact Form
    • Referral Form
  • Videos
  • Adoptions
  • Covid Updates

The Perfect Cat Toy

12/12/2019

 
Podcast #20 Shownotes​ - Samet & Bre discuss what the best options are out there for our kitties to play with ? What toys are safe to use and which ones can be dangerous? Find out about toys and more in this episode!
  • THE REASONS BEHIND CAT TOYS
 Cats are, by nature, solitary hunters with a special place in their brain providing a need to hunt. It is this natural behavior that toys help to express. It is not associated with eating as cats are inefficient hunters and might exhaust their energy and fail to get enough to eat if they started out hungry.  Acting out the seek, stalk, pounce and kill sequence found in all hunting cats is a critical piece of a great quality of life.

  • GROUP EXERCISE VS INDIVIDUAL PLAY TIME 
Cats don’t tend to like to share. As solitary hunters, they generally prefer their own resources. The big exception to this rule is cats who are littermates and are raised together. Other cats may learn to play in the same space, but it tends not to be their preference.
 
  • TYPES OF TOYS: 
The Tunnel toy
Racing through a tunnel in the brain of a cat mimics charging through an understory in the woods on the heels of a tasty mouse

Automatic Randomized Laser Tower (Available on Amazon)
Cats learn patterns and grow weary of them rather quickly. The random nature of a toy like this or one on the end of a human hand can keep cats engaged longer.

Catnip stuffed toys
Catnip is a genetically acquired preference and is present or absent in about 50% of cats. The cats who don’t care about it will not find it appetizing.  Watch for overstimulation!

Food Puzzle Toys (Earn the treat)
Food puzzles are a great way to engage cats that are food-motivated. It can also help make eating more like seeking prey, the natural form of cat food.

Any toy on wand (to prevent cats playing with your finders/hands)
Many people make the mistake of letting kittens play with fingers and toes.  Teaching them to play with a toy on a wand gives you a chance to play with them but teaches your kitty there is a distance between your hands and feet and the toy. 
 
  • WARNING & DANGERS OF CERTAIN TYPE OF TOYS
      Cats who like to chew should be kept from toys with long skinny parts like tails that could be accidentally swallowed. The same goes for string, yarn, Christmas tree tinsel, thread and anything else that could become a  dangerous foreign body.
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  • PUT TOYS AWAY WHEN DONE TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS

Cat Play

9/22/2015

 
No matter if you live in Chico, CA or anywhere else in the USA, there are perils outdoors for your beloved kitties.  In our urban setting, it’s obvious; cars, neighborhood cats, and feral cats. Out in the countryside, it’s coyotes, other wild animals including mountain lions, and often people with weapons. The problem with living indoors is often there’s nothing to do when you are a natural born hunter. Boredom is boredom no matter what species you are. Having nothing to do is a form of stress that we cat owners must be sure to prevent.

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Contact Us:

By Phone:         530-892-2287
By Email:           [email protected]

 Operating Hours:
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Monday:           8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Tuesday:           8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Wednesday:   8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Thursday:         8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Friday:                8:00 am to 6:00 pm

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Chico Hospital for Cats

548 W. East Avenue
Chico, CA 95926
We strive to provide the most feline-friendly environment possible. We are Chico's ONLY Feline-exclusive veterinary hospital. We are also the ONLY Gold designated AAFP Cat Friendly Practice in Northern California.
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