I was doing a little shopping in Target the other day for our everyday household items, including pet supplies. One of the things I desperately needed to pick up was either a replacement or a refill for Tabby’s cardboard Cat SuperScratcher+. Instead, I ended up marveling at the array of interactive cat toys they had.
I always think Petsmart has a great selection of in-store pet toys (for both cats and dogs), but I went in there after Target and didn’t find half the neat toys Target had. (For cats at least. They still have a better selection of dog toys, especially the stuffed variety.)
Don’t get me wrong, for carpeted cat condos, cat beds, and cat carriers, Petsmart’s selection is more varied. But Target had relatively inexpensive interactive toys, like a nylon Cat Condo, Large Cat Jungle Gym, Dual Hammock With Animal Print, Cat Wheel Of Fun, Cat Tent, and Cat Scratch and Climb. If I was a cat who could accompany my pet parent to the store and could communicate my desires, I know I would have meowed for one or more of all of them.
And being the sucker I am for kitschy cat toys (refer to The Cat Cottage: Can I Get My Money Back?) I stood there debating between the Cat Tent and Cat Scratch and Climb. (Since Wayne’s indulging my wish to not declaw Tabby, it’s my responsibility to make sure she has appropriate scratching spots besides our dining room chairs.) Both were made of material that reminded me of the chairs so I thought they would make an enticingly suitable scratching alternative for Miss Tabby.
But which to choose? The tent would allow her to sit on her back haunches like she likes to do when she claws the chairs, but the Scratch and Climb would allow her to perch on top of it and claw like how she sits in the chairs and claws too. I ended up going with the Scratch and Climb, because it came with a bell and she could also “hide” underneath it. (Something else she likes to do.)
So I got the thing assembled, was all excited for her to use it, and what does she do? Uses it, yes, but not at all how it was intended. There’s not one scratch mark on its surface, and she does not like being on top of it. (I manually had to put her on it to show her she could do that. She hopped right off.)
She does like where it’s positioned up against the wall. She ducks underneath and crouches down in wait for an unsuspecting brother or sister (a.k.a. Murphy or Mr. Meow) to walk by and then she strikes. Neither of them is particularly happy with me for inadvertently stocking her arsenal with yet another weapon.
Ah well…I tried. Luckily we’re moving so for now my cat toy spending budget is cut. (Maybe I’ll find the perfect gift to give them for a housewarming present for our new house, though!)
Check out the Families.com Deals Section for a slew of great cat scratchers.
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