Pet Toys
Cats may still tinker with a ball of yarn on occasion, and dogs still seem to caught up in the whole chase-your-own-tail fascination—but these days there are plenty more sophisticated pet toys out there as well for not only cats and dogs but everything from hamsters and gerbils to parakeets and parrots.
Fast Facts
- Pet birds tend to like climbing on ladders, and otherwise enjoy "activity centers" and playpens for exercise
- Favorite dog toys: Rubber bones and other chew toys, balls, frisbees, ropes
- Favorite cat toys: Catnip-equipped balls, fuzzy balls on a vertical spring, scratching posts, toy mice
What Is Catnip, Anyway?
The weed-like Nepeta plant's leaves and stems affect some, but not all cats in a dramatic way. It's a hereditary thing—depending on where the cat is from and its ancestry, it may or may not be affected. But when they are, watch out...as soon as affected cats get a whiff of the weed-like plant they'll roll and paw and meow as if possessed. The effect only lasts a few minutes, however, and the cat needs a few hours before its senses will pick up the scent again.
Categories
