Is your cat running around all the time? Jumping, biting, and making trouble? We get asked all the time "Do you have anything that will calm my cat down?" Well, if we did have a cat-attracting plant that automatically made cats mellow out, we would be zillionaires, but alas, we do not. There are a few things that you can do though.
Why Is My Cat So Hyperactive?
Cats are predators, yeah they like to lounge around for most of the day, but they have a hunter's instinct, and they need an outlet for it, or else they get bored. If they don't have an outlet for this "predator energy," they might take it out on furniture, other cats, or you! There are plenty of ways to get this energy out and satisfy your kitty.
Satisfying a Hyperactive Cat with The "Hunt, Catch, and Reward" Cycle
The best ways to get this "predator energy" out of your cat is to play with them. Some cat guardians do not want to hear this, but it's a great excuse to get a little exercise yourself and bond with your fur-babies, even though it's not as easy as giving them a pill or a magic herb. After hours of research (watching My Cat from Hell, shoutout to Jackson Galaxy). We learned that the best way to calm down an active kitty is with the "Hunt, Catch, and Reward" cycle.
First, you have to get your cat's attention with a toy, preferably one that is visually stimulating, and may even have a bell or a crinkle paper in it. Make it act like a mouse, squirrel, or bird would act, wave it around in the air or squiggle it on the ground, then bring it to rest far enough from your kitty that they can't just reach out and grab it, you don't even need to be near them, this works if you're across the room. You will see your kitty tune in, get focused on the movements of the toy, and maybe even crouch and hide, like a lion on the savannah, ready to pounce. You may even notice that their pupils are dilated, that means they're in hunting mode.
Next, you will have to induce the chase. We have a few strategies for this. When we shake the toy near an obstacle like a couch or a table, and then slowly make the toy disappear from the cat's view, around a corner or behind an armrest, the cats can't resist and need to follow it to see where it went, especially if they hear it making sounds where they can't see it. Another strategy is to make it look like the toy is crawling or running away from them, when they see something running away from them, they feel the need to chase it. If your fur-baby is older, or maybe just a little lazy today, you can bring the toy across their field of view very fast, they might try to grab it, and if they miss, make it look like the toy is running away, they might continue to chase it.
Then, you have to make them chase it for as long as you can. They already committed to chasing this toy, so this is where you get their energy out and tire them out a little bit. Pretend you are a mouse, or a bird, or a bug, or some combination of all three. Make the toy run along the ground, then crawl up walls, then fly across the room, and come close enough to your kitty so they swipe at it, but pull the toy away at the last second. You know your kitty better than anyone, so you will know how long to let this chase last. Some young kitties can go for a long time, but with older cats, this does not have to go on for too long if they will respond well to the next step.
Finally, you need to give them the satisfaction of the kill. Let your cat catch the toy and dig their claws and teeth into it. Give it some more wiggles when they have it in their grasp, like its a little animal struggling to get free, and finally, let go of the toy and let them have it so that it "plays dead." Now that they have caught the toy, make sure to reward them with their favorite treat, and maybe if you're brave enough, some pets on the back of the head and neck, and some verbal encouragement, telling them how proud you are of them, how much you love them, and how they're a ferocious hunter.
That's it, that's the cycle. With young cats, you may have to repeat it a few times, but eventually, they will get their satisfaction and move on with the rest of their day full of napping, stretching, eating, and cuddling.
Best Cat Toys for Bored, Indoor Cats
If you're not home to play with your cats and imitate prey, you're gonna want to have toys that cats are attracted to even when they're not moving. Our toys are designed to stimulate multiple cat senses, primarily their amazing sense of smell, our premium herbs are meant to give the kitties that "catnip response" that they love. The size and shape of our toys mimic different kinds of prey, the textures of our toys are meant to be groomed, and they dangly tails are meant to entice kitties while they are flipping the toys back and forth in their claws.
We love getting pictures and videos from our satisfied customers with their cats enjoying our herb-filled toys. Our Cosmic Worms can be attached to wands so you can easily flick them around the room and up walls. Our Mini Kickers and Kick Sticks are long enough to hold with your hand and wave their enticing tails near your kitty. Some of our customers play catch with our Magic Triangles.
Cats can tell the difference between big box store toys and our potent herbs, which is why they quickly become cats' new favorite toys! We specialize in catnip-alternatives that are hard to find. Our premium catnip is extremely fragrant, and many kitties love it, but if your cat is one of the 32% of cats who don't respond to catnip, they might like the popular catnip-alternatives silver vine, tatarian honeysuckle, and valerian root.
Even if you don't always see your cat playing with our toys, you may notice that they move around the room when you're not there. Cats only respond to cat-attracting herbs for less than 20 minutes at a time, it's just one part of creating a comfortable, stimulating environment for your kitty.
If you have only one cat in your home, you might consider getting them a brother or sister. Sometimes it feels like it's easier to be a cat guardian when there are multiple cats in the home, because they can entertain each other. Sometimes this looks like fighting, and when cats are first introduced, you need to watch over them carefully, make sure that they each have their own safe space where they can be by themselves, but once cats become comfortable with each other, "play fighting" is common and good for them. Sometime we worry that our little kitty girl gets bullied by our larger boy cat, but we see her instigating fights just as often as he does.
Finally, if none of the above work to keep your cat entertained when you are out of the house or asleep, you might try a toy that can move by itself or is motion activated, but even this is not a guarantee. If your cat seems to be having a bad time and is misbehaving as a result, we recommend you consult the AAFP and ISFM Feline Environmental Needs Guidelines to make sure that your home is one where your kitties can feel safe, secure, and loved.
What About Lasers?
Some people love making their kitties jump up walls with a laser, and it can be really run to watch them run around. This is a great way to tire them out quickly, but unless you give them a treat at the end, chasing an imaginary thing might confuse their little brains and make them feel insecure. Make sure to have a few treats in your hand, so that when your kitty finally "catches" the laser, you can reward them with a snack and some pets, and let them know they are a good little kitty for catching that laser dot!
How Do I Find the Right Cat Toy for My Cat?
If you're looking for toys that you can use to entertain and bond with your cats, look no further! We have a wide variety of toys that you can choose from, but first, we recommend that you find out what your cats favorite herbs are. You can either get one of our sample packs, some of which offer 4 different refillable toys, each containing one of the 4 best known cat herbs; catnip, silver vine, tatarian honeysuckle, and valerian root. We also offer our Complete Cat Herb Blend with a little bit of every herb in it, it's sure to be a crowd pleaser!
When you choose the herbal filling that you want, figure out which toys your cat enjoys. Do they like small toys that they can bat around and carry in their mouths, do they like long toys that they can wrap their entire body around and kick? Try a couple different size toys to see which ones your kitties spend the most time with. Or do you have detachable wand (we recommend the Forever Stick) that you can attach a toy to? Then you should try our Cosmic Worms. Does your cat have a favorite place to lounge? Why not put an herb-filled cat mat there. Or you can just buy a bag of herbs of your choice and sprinkle them on a scratch pad or a cardboard bed to make it that much more attractive to scratch at and lay in.
Whatever path you choose, make sure that you use it as a way to bond with your fur-baby. Playing with them and rewarding them is important in building that bond. It may take some time, but it is a worthwhile investment in your relationship.
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