Expert QA

I adopted a 2-year-old male cat last month, and I’m having trouble finding toys he’s interested in, especially toys he can play with on his own. Any ideas?

From the Editors of The Daily Cat

Congratulations on adopting an adult cat. Adult felines often make the best housemates, and yet they are so often overlooked at shelters and rescue facilities. One reason felines make such good pets is that they are smart -- often too smart for most cat toys. Cats are very in tune with their senses, so if something doesn't smell, look and sound natural and interesting, they generally ignore it. Toys filled with good, strong catnip might grab your feline's attention every so often. If catnip does nothing for your pet, try toys stuffed with dried honeysuckle. Frisky cats might chase any mechanical mouse or similar toy, but I've found that many of these toys make a horrible motor sound when they move, scaring some felines to death. The best toys of this type move in an unpredictable manner and keep going even when they hit an obstacle. Cat toys most popular with felines require owner participation. If you're interested in a toy, your cat will likely investigate it too. Perennial favorites include classics like Da Bird, Kitten Mitten, the Cat Dancer and laser toys. Manufacturers are now making similar products (like Panic Mouse) that are attached to a motor so the pole toy jerks around by itself. You might consider such a toy to keep your cat busy when you are at work or asleep. I also recommend looking at Web sites of major pet stores. Most allow readers to rate individual toys, so you can see which toys were a hit with other cats.