Interactive toys to entertain an extremely high energy foster kitten
September 17, 2023 9:49 AM Subscribe
I am currently fostering a single kitten and she is by far the highest energy kitten I've ever met. Looking for some toy ideas to help her get some energy out as a single kitten.
I know that having more than one kitten would be an easy solution to this so they could play together and entertain each other. However, sometimes I get kittens that need to be fostered individually for various reasons (quarantines, recovering from injuries, etc).
I try to play with her as much as possible with a variety of different toys to try to get that hunting energy out, but I think she needs more stimulation than I can provide during the work day.
I'm interested in seeing if anyone has suggestions (preferably first-hand recommendations) for interactive toys that a kitten (12ish weeks) could play with alone that would help get some aggressive energy out. Currently, the kitten has toy mice, several cat dancers, laser pointer, cardboard boxes, tennis balls, ping pong balls, little jingle balls, crumpled up pieces of paper. She is not particularly food motivated, so a food puzzle is unlikely to hold her interest.
She plays with all of these toys, but if I'm not available to play with her she resorts to attacking my feet or other more destructive behaviors we'd like to try to discourage. The reality is this kitten seems to need way more interactive play than other kittens I have fostered.
I know that having more than one kitten would be an easy solution to this so they could play together and entertain each other. However, sometimes I get kittens that need to be fostered individually for various reasons (quarantines, recovering from injuries, etc).
I try to play with her as much as possible with a variety of different toys to try to get that hunting energy out, but I think she needs more stimulation than I can provide during the work day.
I'm interested in seeing if anyone has suggestions (preferably first-hand recommendations) for interactive toys that a kitten (12ish weeks) could play with alone that would help get some aggressive energy out. Currently, the kitten has toy mice, several cat dancers, laser pointer, cardboard boxes, tennis balls, ping pong balls, little jingle balls, crumpled up pieces of paper. She is not particularly food motivated, so a food puzzle is unlikely to hold her interest.
She plays with all of these toys, but if I'm not available to play with her she resorts to attacking my feet or other more destructive behaviors we'd like to try to discourage. The reality is this kitten seems to need way more interactive play than other kittens I have fostered.
This spinning butterfly toy was interesting to the very active cat of which I'm the godparent for a while, initially she was super fascinated. Combined with paper bags for locations to hide and pounce from behind. She did lose interest though, but probably could have prolonged by not keeping on for too long. And she still likes the butterfly attachments so it does still get used.
posted by lookoutbelow at 10:46 AM on September 17, 2023
posted by lookoutbelow at 10:46 AM on September 17, 2023
This style of cat toy with balls + levels might work - she can keep it going herself (if it interests her).
posted by BlahLaLa at 11:27 AM on September 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by BlahLaLa at 11:27 AM on September 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
Variety helps, so put toys away, get different toys out every day. Hang a small item from a door knob, a feather, bottle cap, anything that can be batted at.
posted by theora55 at 12:22 PM on September 17, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by theora55 at 12:22 PM on September 17, 2023 [3 favorites]
I've had success with this roller circuit in the past.
posted by mkdirusername at 12:40 PM on September 17, 2023
posted by mkdirusername at 12:40 PM on September 17, 2023
She needs an exercise wheel, but I think they're expensive.
posted by meemzi at 2:01 PM on September 17, 2023
posted by meemzi at 2:01 PM on September 17, 2023
Can you take her outside on a harness? Nothing calms my wild cat down more than roaming around my backyard for a bit.
posted by coffeecat at 2:57 PM on September 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by coffeecat at 2:57 PM on September 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
Oh gosh these silly flappy fish: https://www.amazon.ca/Interactive-Realistic-Catnip-Electronic-Exercise/dp/B091792HLT/ref=sr_1_9?crid=1B0G97X1PX7G7&keywords=cat%2Bfish%2Btoy&qid=1695019431&sprefix=cat%2Bfish%2Caps%2C78&sr=8-9&th=1 but put them far away from the bedroom or turn them off at night.
posted by meepmeow at 11:45 PM on September 17, 2023
posted by meepmeow at 11:45 PM on September 17, 2023
Response by poster: I got the kitten a Cheerble Ball - a USB-charged toy that zooms around. So far she loves it and plays with it for hours. It looks like this company makes a bunch of neat interactive cat and dog toys.
posted by forkisbetter at 1:35 PM on September 24, 2023
posted by forkisbetter at 1:35 PM on September 24, 2023
From what I've seen on YouTube, a roomba is a a cat toy par excellence for those who can afford one.
posted by y2karl at 8:17 AM on September 25, 2023
posted by y2karl at 8:17 AM on September 25, 2023
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posted by tiny frying pan at 10:21 AM on September 17, 2023 [1 favorite]