While I agree there is really no need for a giant Croc cat bed, a denim dress or indeed a collar that lights up when your cat purrs, the one that actually made me feel the need to write this blog was number 7 \u2013 the \u201cwhack a mole game.\u201d The line following it is the reason: \u201cBecause it\u2019s 2013 and fingers under a blanket just won\u2019t cut it any more.\u201d<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s why; teaching a cat from any age that parts of the body are something to play with is a bad idea, especially from kittenhood because it sets precedence that feet attacks are acceptable. However, your kitten or cat won\u2019t discriminate between whether the foot is moving because you\u2019re purposely doing so under your duvet for their entertainment or because you happen to be walking to your refrigerator and are moving past them. Your cat or kitten won\u2019t see how you reaching to pick something up is in any way separate from you moving your hands in front of them to give them \u201cprey\u201d to catch. And this usually means they won\u2019t manage to see the difference if a child does things near them either.<\/p>\n
Basically, this teaches a cat that it\u2019s acceptable to attack moving human body parts. If this is something of little concern to you, and you\u2019re happy to be permanently sporting scratches and war wounds from your cat play time then it\u2019s not really an issue, but if \u00a0you\u2019d rather your cat recognised the difference between humans \u00a0and actual toys, then it will very much become one.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a wide range of wonderful toys available for cats today; toys that encourage mental stimulation, mimic the hunting experience, even toys made specifically to be \u201chugged\u201d by your cat and kicked mercilessly by their back legs. A lot of the toys you could probably make for a fraction of the cost from things in your home or out and about.<\/p>\n
The point to the blog is this; fingers under a blanket should never really \u201ccut it\u201d for cat play time. Unless you relish the prospect of a fully grown cat at some point latching on to your arm and kicking it an awful lot. The articles flippant comment illustrated to me how so many cats come to be perceived as unpredictable, volatile animals when in fact they\u2019re acting purely on what they were taught is acceptable in their home. It\u2019s important to remember, a large step to living in harmony with your cat is learning to understand why they do something.<\/p>\n
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