Rogers Seavey - Cat toys: how to make your home a feline paradise

How to Make Your Home
a Feline Paradise

Lura Rogers

The mission of Storey Communications is to serve our customers
by publishing practical information that encourages personal
independence in harmony with the environment.

Edited by Arden Moore and Nancy Ringer
Cover illustrations by Rick Daskam
Cover design by Carol J. Jessop (Black Trout Design)
Text illustrations by Rick Daskam, except page 27 by Charles Joslin
Text production by Nancy Ringer

Copyright 2000 by Storey Communications, Inc.

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Printed in the United States

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Rogers, Lura.

Cat toys: how to make your home a feline paradise / Lura Rogers.

p. cm. (A Storey country wisdom bulletin; A-251)

ISBN 1-58017-300-4 (pbk. : alk. paper)

1. CatsEquipment and supplies. 2. Handicraft. 3. Toys. I. Title. II. Series.

SF447.3 R65 2000

636.800284dc21

00-056282

Many of us view our cats not only as cute fuzzy additions to our windowsills but also as our playmates, friends, confidants, and dinner companions. Some of us even regard them as our children, and we eagerly accept the responsibility of shaping their lives from helpless kittens to wise adults. Cats rank as important members of many families, and experts confirm what we cat owners have known all along: Cats improve our physical and mental well-being. We are happier, healthier people when we share our lives with feline companions.

Cats are notoriously independent, however, and unless we teach them while they are kittens to be our play partners, some will grow up to become loners. Providing an exciting and stimulating habitat for them strengthens our bond and offers them plenty of happiness. Thats where choosing the right cat toys and furniture comes in. Give a cat a warm, safe place to sleep, carpeted posts to scratch to their hearts delight, and platforms and catwalks to jump and play on, and youll have one happy cat!

A stimulating and exciting environment encourages sociable and loving behavior in your

All creatures have evolved, and cats are no exception. Historical research suggests that cats were most likely first domesticated in Egypt. The Egyptians were fascinated by these proud animals that suffered to be tamed without ever surrendering their independence. They worshiped cats, as is shown in much of the artwork and literature of the time.

As the ancient Greeks and Romans began to explore Egypt, they too became fascinated with cats, and they carried them back with them to the European continent. The first European cats were probably owned only by the wealthy, but in time the cat population grew and all classes saw the value of cats as companions and as a means of rodent control. During a time when rats were carriers of deadly diseases such as the black plague, cats helped their owners stay healthy by killing or scaring away vermin.

Our fascination with cats, both wild and domestic, has continued throughout the ages. At one time, cats were associated with the supernatural and thought to be the companion animals of witches. Although their magical powers are questionable, or at least have yet to be proved, its indisputable that cats are mysterious nocturnal creatures. In the dark hours of night they roam the house, pursuing shadows and staring contemplatively into the dark. They seem to appear out of nowhere at times. And no one can deny that they sometimes possess an uncanny aura that suggests an enlightened and connected state of being. Almost in a meditative state, cats sit unblinking, pondering their surroundings, perhaps even observing us with an air of amusement, as if waiting for us to realize the greater meaning of life that they have already discovered.

All cats, from the Bengal tiger to the brown-striped tabby, are naturally crafty, quick hunters. Swift and agile, they hunt not only of necessity but also for sport. If you have multiple cats and have ever seen them stalking and pouncing upon each other, you already know this. Or perhaps your cat is like mine and brings a still-wiggling mouse into the living room for a torturous game of letting it go, waiting a few seconds, then chasing it down again, over and over again, until youve managed to catch the mouse or grab the cat.

In the wild, cats prefer to perch above the ground, where they can see what is going on below and be safe from predators. House cats tend to do the same. They spend much of their time lounging about on windowsills, dressing bureaus, kitchen cabinets, refrigerators, and china closets. Most cats want to be in the room where the people are, usually the kitchen and living room, but prefer to be well removed from all the action on a perch up high.

Families of cats, including even the big cats, such as lions, are very playful and caring toward one another. Play fighting is important to the development of a kitten. It teaches boundaries, social order, and hunting skills. As the human companions for pet cats, we must understand these basic feline characteristics when we begin to plan a home environment for cats.

Many people feel very strongly about whether or not a cat should be allowed to roam free outside the house. Whatever your opinion, the decision does not greatly affect the nature of in-house furniture and toys. Appropriate furnishings and toys for your cat are important for a cat confined to the house, but good indoor pastimes are also beneficial for the cat that is allowed to go outdoors. Cats need to have a personal space in the house in which they feel secure. They also need exercise as well as stimulating activities that imitate the natural activities of their wild cousins. Toys and structures that promote climbing and chasing are good for both the psyche and the physical health of the domesticated cat.

Whether your cats are indoor-only or are allowed outdoors, they should have their own in-house playthings and sleeping spots, both for their sense of security and happiness and to improve the feline-human bond.

Different cats prefer various types of bedding. Some prefer a flat, firm surface, while others relax more comfortably in a cushioned, bowl-shaped bed. I recommend taking a week or so to observe your cats favorite places to sleep before choosing a bed for her.