Mouse toys for cats - which are best???

[Deleted User]

Hi, my friend in America sent our kittens a couple of furry mouse toys... they look like they are made with real fur and have a faint (not unpleasant) smell. As soon as we gave them the toys they went CRAZY! One of them growls while she's playing and her mousing-instinct comes out like never before

Now, we've tried them on a whole variety of catnip, mouse shaped toys from Pets at Home, but nothing else has had this effect. This the first time I've ever seen the kitties be so excited by anything.

So I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions for similar toys, and where to buy them? I checked the Pets at Home website, but the toys are pretty much feather/rope related, or made from fabric.

We have to keep a close eye on them while they are playing with these new meeses, and hide them after half an hour or so! I'm frightened they'll rip them to shreds and choke! LOL.

spookylukey

This mouse toy isn't actually designed for the mouse to be off the pole but I let my cats play with the mouse on it's own and they love it - they throw it into the air skidding after it and when they 'catch' it they growl their little heads off!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DA-MOUSE-CAT-CATCHER-interactive-toy-made-Da-Bird-/300539302536?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Cats&hash=item45f989d288

You can buy replacement mice separately but as it's only £1.50 extra for the one including the pole it makes sense to get it on the pole for mouse leaping action! It's quite small and made out of a weird brush like material but they go absolutely crazy for it

Edit: If it's the actual fur they like on the mice you've got then this is from the same range (doesn't go on the pole), it's not a mouse but it's made from fur so may be good for them http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DA-FUR-THING-cat-toy-catnip-fur-feather-Da-Bird-/300539306584?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Cats&hash=item45f989e258

[Deleted User]

Oh my! Catnip, fur and feathers all together!!! Thanks for the links, spookylukey, I'm going to go ahead and order one or other (or both!). The little mouse looks similar to the ones my friend sent....but it might be the fur that sends them crazy, as you say

the_devil_made_me_do_it

I buy my mouse toys (& other cat related toys) from a lady who sells for a cat charity on ebay.

She crochets & knits cat nip toys, her ebay addy is: sarah0018.

I totally recommend buying from her & it's an added bonus that the proceeds go to cat charity.

Caroline_a

I've bought a couple of these http://www.petsathome.com/shop/dangle-mouse-teaser-squeaking-cat-toy-by-play-n-squeak-15116

There is also one on a small stand, but my cat just loves them, and is all ears at the sound they make!

[Deleted User]

Many thanks for the suggestions . I have a horrible suspicion that I'm just training them to fill the house up with real meeses (once they get outside!).

One of our kittens makes a continuous low down growl when she's 'playing' with the mice toy... I've never heard her do that before... she's very possessive of it...!

I've just found these, which look very similar. The description says they are made of rabbit fur... http://www.catsnus.com/fur-mouse-cat-toy.htm

Mayflower10cat

Like you I'm lucky to have US cat loving friends who send us cat toys... I swear the American 'nip is way, way more powerful than ours!!! MY friend sent us a 'boogie mat' which ALL our cats adored; it's a flat mat basically filled with superstrong catnip with a pretty pattern on the outside. The brand, if I recall correctly was 'zoom around the room'.... We've also had mousies (made of rabbit fur) which they practically eat!

KiKi

These are simply AMAZING. I have never seen my cats go quite so utterly crazy. They use real, fresh catnip herb (not catnip 'spray'), and are just gobsmacking! My cats growl, rub their heads all over them, go for me if I try to take them away and generally behave like crazy creatures.

http://www.pet-supermarket.co.uk/products-Zebedee-Catnip-Filled-Mice_NC4698.htm

I could only ever find these in my local pet store at £1.70 each. This is for a board of 12, and well worth it IMO! They last. My cats are always horribly disappointed by any other kind of toy mouse.

I won't use ones made of real animal fur, I'm afraid, so I can't advise on that.
KiKi

cjmumto2

http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/shop/best-cat-toys/cat-toys-catnip-etc

newleaf

I bought a bag of catnip off ebay from a USA seller and use it to refill my cat's toy 'chipmunk', which has a velcro fastener on it's tummy (also courtesy of ebay). I agree with Mayflower, it's the US catnip that makes the difference, it's much stronger. My cat doesn't show sustained interest in any other toys, and I can always tell when his chipmunk needs refreshing with new nip, as he will stop bothering with it.

morg_monster

Another herb that some cats go bonkers for is valerian, but from what I've heard that smell could never be described as "faint" - recommended to keep it in a ziplock bag, apparently!