There are literally thousands to choose from these days. This article highlights just some of the innovative products aimed at improving your kitten or cat’s welfare and health.
Cat Collars – new snap opens designs
Cat care organisations have advised for a while that traditional collars maybe dangerous. Elastic straps can stretch and move to under the cat’s ‘armpit’ or around the jaw, causing injury. New safety release designs have plastic ‘snap open’ fastenings that release the collar, leaving the cat free from injury if the collar becomes caught on anything.
Although popular to alert birds to predatory cat’s movements, traditional bells are actually not such a good idea either. Similarly, dangling tags on collars can become caught on objects, or the cat can get its claws stuck in them. Collars can be made now with your contact details printed into the collar.
Anti stress innovations
Cats can suffer from stress in some situations – in a multi-cat household, when travelling in a carrier box, when moving into a new home or even if you’re moving furniture around redecorating (basic motto: familiar is good, unfamiliar not so good). Two products aim to make the surroundings more familiar-feeling and reduce stress:
Synthetic Feline Pheromone diffusers: these look more like a ‘plug in’ style air freshener. The diffused liquid should be odourless & undetectable to all except your kitten or cat. Its designed to mimic naturally occurring facial pheromones, the chemical ‘scents’ cats use to denote their territory with.
Synthetic Feline Pheromone sprays: Can be used to spray furniture aiming to deter urine marking, scratching; to make travelling more comfortable and to spray the floor of a cattery or cat-sitting friend’s house while you are on holidays.
Kitten and Cat Toys
o Boingy string toys -a ‘wand’ for you to hold, a length of soft elastic and something for the cat to chase.
– Catnip toys – around 70% of cats react to the aromatic oil nepetalactone contained in catnip, making them blissfully intoxicated for a few minutes. Be aware though, some exhibit aggressive behaviour ‘under the influence’. Avoid catnip products altogether if this is the case.
o Valerian toys – valerian is a herb that specifically acts as a ‘nervine’ for cats and may help cats to relax.
o Cat Tunnels – essentially dinner-plate diameter fabric tubes held open by rings. Cats may like to hide in, ‘hunt’ in, and relax in. Available in many finishes – crinkly, plush, felt, with or without mobiles, with or without a hole to ‘hunt’ through, hidden ‘rustling’ foils…
Automatic toys
– various battery powered designs, generally featuring moving string and/or something for kitty to catch. Check for safety, and do not leave unattended – could be popular but not a ‘kitty babysitter’!
o Cat gyms – usually multi-level, covered in carpet fabric or similar, and designed to encourage the kitten or cat to climb and prevent boredom. The one group of cats these bring to mind is indoor cats – who must get plenty of exercise and stimulation to stay healthy and contended.
o Laser toys – you hold and move it around to spin a laser light around for kitties to chase. Most products carry warnings to not shine directly in the eyes as this can cause permanent damage. Hmm.
Don’t leave your cat unattended with anything with a dangling string or string-like object on it -in case a playful cat becomes painfully/dangerously tangled up in it while you’re out and can’t rescue them.
IMPORTANT: Please note, this article is for general informational purposes only. Therefore, it cannot be a substitute for vetinary advice on kittens or cats health and living needs.
