World Cat Day: Why Do Cats Ignore Everything We Buy Them?
Tomorrow's World Cat Day, a favourite holiday of ours. But don't run out to get them a gift just yet.
Remember when you bought that cat tower? The one with the little platforms and the rope scratching post and the dangling thing at the top? It lives in the corner of the living room, completely untouched, whilst your cat sleeps in the box it came in.
It's one of those things cat owners just have to make peace with. The expensive toy ignored in favour of the box it came in, the plush bed rejected for the laundry pile… Cats are particular, and their pickiness has very little to do with how much you spent or how much thought went into it. So what does make for a good cat present?
Why cats are so selective about what they engage with
It all comes back to instinct, and instinct is very specific about what counts as interesting.
Take the cat tower. A cat won't use it just because it's there and technically designed for them: they don’t know that. They'll (probably) use it if it gives them a useful vantage point, feels stable, and smells familiar. A new tower plonked in an unfamiliar spot, still smelling of the factory, has to earn its place. How much that takes will depend on the cat, of course. Rubbing a familiar blanket on it or sprinkling a bit of catnip around can speed things along, but ultimately, they'll decide on their own timeline, thank you very much.
Toys follow the same logic, just swap out the territorial instinct for a hunting one. Cats are wired to stalk, chase, and catch, and a toy that doesn't activate that sequence won't hold their attention for long. It needs to move unpredictably, possibly make some kind of sound, and end in them catching it so they can release all of those reward chemicals.
Drop a static toy on the floor, and it’s furniture. A toy that skitters, darts, or flutters convincingly like a small bird? That’s a different story. And if you’ve ever seen a kitten go mental over a dropped receipt, you know that crinkly and rustly beats smooth and silent.
Why do cats always prefer the box?
The cardboard box thing is such a universal cat experience that it's become a bit of a joke, but there's some feline logic behind it. Cats feel safest when they can see out into the world without being fully exposed, so any enclosed space that delivers that combination is immediately appealing, especially if it’s got a vantage point.
A cardboard box offers it for free. Hair ties, plastic bags, a pen rolling off the table: they all get the same treatment, because they skitter and rustle and behave in ways that feel significant to a cat, and they smell lived in, even if they look like household rubbish to everyone else.
The upshot is that cats respond to the quality of an interaction or item far more than its price tag. Something cheap and interesting will always beat something expensive and inert.
What actually gets a cat’s attention?
If you want a toy that actually gets used, wand and teaser toys are your best bet, because you’re in control, and with a bit of effort you can make them behave like convincing prey: creeping slowly, darting, vanishing behind a chair leg and reappearing somewhere unexpected. The key is letting your cat go through the full sequence of spot, stalk, pounce, and catch. Cutting it short by whisking the toy away is deeply unsatisfying. Our blog on satisfying your cat's hunting instincts goes into more detail on toy techniques, if you fancy, as does this article by International Cat Care.
Our eco cat toys all come on or off a wand, and they’re made from jute and natural wool, giving them a rough, crinkly quality for extra interest. Most come pre-stuffed with catnip, and there are all sorts of characters, like Freddy Froglegs (hey, he looks familiar…), Buzz bee, and a myriad of mice.
Does catnip help a cat use something more?
Around 70% of cats carry the gene that gives them that infamously entertaining response to catnip: a burst of excitable (dare we say, rabid) rolling around, followed by a dopey phase that can last up to half an hour. Honestly, sounds like a good afternoon to us! If you want to revitalise a toy that’s going ignored, simply rub a bit of catnip into it, and your cats’ interest will be re-piqued.
What about that other 30%? Well, sadly for them, no amount of sprinkling the good stuff in their direction will phase them. That also goes for kittens under six months old, as the response develops with age.
What if none of this works?
Some cats, particularly older or less active ones, aren't all that fussed about play, full stop. That’s just who they are. But there are other ways to keep them mentally stimulated that don’t involve a chase: hiding small treats around the room, or tucking them into a puzzle feeder, gives them something to sniff out and work for, which scratches that itch without requiring so much effort from either of you.
If you want to give it a go, grab yourself a bag of our Fishy Wishys. They’re small, pungent (which is a good thing in this case, promise!), and easy to tuck away. If you want more of an entryway into the world of feeding enrichment, check out our blog on just that.
Happy World Cat Day
Cats are going to keep sitting in boxes and sleeping on carrier bags regardless of what we buy them, and we wouldn’t change their quirks for the world. But understanding a bit more about what they like will give your wallet some reprieve and help give them more things they actually like.
If you do find a new favourite of theirs, show us on Instagram or Facebook. We love seeing it.