https://www.catsinterrupted.com/blog daily 0.75 2024-03-10 https://www.catsinterrupted.com/blog/cheap-cat-toys monthly 0.5 2023-03-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62436abc5f456c62da5ddf12/3ba7f560-e7b8-49ef-b227-52e575ee4c90/da+bird+3.jpeg Blog - The 3 BEST Cheap Cat Toys - Go Cat’s “Da Bird” Rod Toy priced $8.90 to $10.99 This one has more up front cost than the other entries on this list, but the value is why it deserves a spot here. Go Cat’s Da Bird comes with a very long, sturdy, thin wand and string, finished with a classic feather bunch attachment. The wand is the best I’ve ever used in a cat toy. It’s durable. It’s thin and black, a profile that isn’t distracting to the cat while they hunt the toy attachment. The length means you can sit in one spot and lure your cat all over the room without moving an inch, which is especially helpful when playing with scared or undersocialized cats who would like to keep a comfortable distance from you (or when you’re feeling lazy). Here’s the kicker - the attachment is replaceable. A clasp at the end of the string makes it easy to replace the attachment at any time. Cats get bored of toys. It’s best to rotate them out every week or two (or when you notice they get disinterested) to keep things fresh and exciting. The attachments don’t need to be Go Cat brand, although they have many appealing options for around the $5 apiece mark. You can easily buy a cheaper bulk pack of attachments to swap out on a single wand, like this one on Chewy. As long as the toy has some kind of loop for the clasp to attach to, you’re good to go. Many Petco stores now carry the wand with feather attachment to start, but you can also buy them at Amazon and OnlyNaturalPet.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62436abc5f456c62da5ddf12/52d5c99e-67d7-47da-b4ba-c51981ac95e4/kong+ball.jpeg Blog - The 3 BEST Cheap Cat Toys - KONG Active Treat Ball for Cats priced $2.82 to $4.99 There are lots of options when it comes to treat or kibble-dispensing toys, but this one makes the list due to its affordability, durability, and how easy it is to clean. You simply unscrew the two halves of the ball, pop some kibble or hard treats into the inner chamber, twist it back together, and your cat rolls the ball around to get the snacks inside. The slight egg shape and lumps mean it rolls in unexpected ways that cats enjoy. As with any puzzle feeder, it may take some easing in sessions for your cat to “get it”. Some cats take to puzzles easier than others. I find even cats who get a bit frustrated with other puzzles take to this simple one pretty easily, perhaps because it feels more like familiar playtime, batting a ball around. I found them available at Chewy for $3.41, and at Pet Mountain for $2.82. KONG is a popular and well-stocked brand pretty much everywhere, so take a look in your local pet store to see if they have this available (psst— many family-owned pet stores will special order things like this for you if you ask nicely!). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62436abc5f456c62da5ddf12/de47645f-52b8-481c-afa2-2a633a7da223/cat+dancer.jpg Blog - The 3 BEST Cheap Cat Toys - The Cat Dancer priced $1.67 to $3.49 Arguably “the most classic cat toy ever”, the original Cat Dancer is as simple as it gets in manufactured toys. Three feet of wiggly wire, with twists of cardboard. It’s cheap, it’s durable, and the majority of cats absolutely adore it. The movements that the wire makes paired with the simple silhouette create a great simulation of prey to get cats enticed to play. The cardboard bits can be sprayed with catnip extract to really get things going. As an added bonus, it’s much safer than many other traditional fishing pole/wand style toys, as cats don’t get tangled in the wire as easily as they get tangled in string and ribbon. Don’t be fooled by the simple appearance - it may look boring to you, but your cat doesn’t care about bright colors and licensed characters. The practicality and cat-appeal in this design is hard to match! Cat Dancers are common at most online and brick-and-mortar pet shops; Chewy.com’s in-house Frisco brand has a dupe for just over $2 (note: I find the wire on this dupe more stiff and hard to manage than the original Cat Dancer), but the most affordable as of writing this is the original Cat Dancer at Petco for $1.69. https://www.catsinterrupted.com/blog/entry-01-treats monthly 0.5 2023-03-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62436abc5f456c62da5ddf12/1655048940184-26HBEWHL9YN6GZUCZRU8/unsplash-image-YpoczNsZYts.jpg Blog - Reconsider Your Treats - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62436abc5f456c62da5ddf12/a2dfacb5-b093-45a4-b762-4698e0339066/733872775_e1edd9ca88_o.jpg Blog - Reconsider Your Treats Bins of bonito flakes at a Japanese market. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62436abc5f456c62da5ddf12/1655045048230-G5GRFMO9266TC1DZM2W1/unsplash-image-gs5q26bkUpw.jpg Blog - Reconsider Your Treats - What are bonito flakes? Well, bonito is a type of tuna fish, and bonito flakes (or katsuobushi in Japanese) are dried, smoked thin pieces of bonito. They’re a common ingredient in Japanese cuisines, as they have a deep, rich flavor that is often used to make fish stock. Ever had miso soup at a restaurant? You’ve tasted some of the savory umami flavor of bonito used in the broth. https://www.catsinterrupted.com/blog/entry-are-cats-trainable monthly 0.5 2022-07-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62436abc5f456c62da5ddf12/1658450624965-17LC5IETI0VDOF9FSCJZ/unsplash-image-OFYTDD0AGHE.jpg Blog - Can You Really TRAIN A Cat? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.catsinterrupted.com/blog/losing-jack monthly 0.5 2024-03-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62436abc5f456c62da5ddf12/64abc37f-6d60-4b42-9615-e79bc08ceb50/20180711_084811.jpg Blog - Behavioral Euthanasia & Losing Jack - Jack is the reason I started studying behavior in the first place. I needed to understand how to help him. What had we done wrong? What was wrong in his brain? In what ways could I enrich his life to help, in what ways could I advocate for him at the vet’s office? And let me tell you, we did EVERYTHING possible to enrich his life and “solve” this problem. Behavioral training, medications, enrichment, all the toys and puzzle feeders, consultations with more experienced behaviorists, several different vets and professionals, bloodwork… Jack was my family, my first baby. I was determined to do anything and everything possible to make him happy, healthy, and safe - including safe to be around people. At the same time, I knew things were getting worse. I knew cases like his generally didn’t result in a happy, healthy animal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62436abc5f456c62da5ddf12/15bd789e-4854-4e5a-8392-ea0f353ab70f/20210131_223213.jpg Blog - Behavioral Euthanasia & Losing Jack - If you’re ever faced with behavioral euthanasia for an animal companion, know you’re not alone. It doesn’t get talked about enough. Many people have joined this awful club. There are discussion boards on Facebook and Reddit to seek support from people who have been in the same position. There are always outlets for healing, even though judgement from others (real or perceived) for making this choice can be very isolating. Here is the awful truth: Some animals can’t be “fixed” no matter how much love or time or resources you have to give. Some are too sick, or too dangerous, or too miserable in their own bodies. It’s not their fault. It’s often not even our fault. Life, and nature, can be random and cruel. I don’t regret adopting Jack, despite the heartache losing him has caused, or the things we gave up to make his short life safer and happier. I learned so much about myself, cats, and compassion by being his guardian for six years. I forever hold the memories of his teddy bear-soft fur, his sweet face when he was calm and cozy in a sunbeam, the way he’d melt into my neck and purr when I’d pick him up and hold him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62436abc5f456c62da5ddf12/f51de1ba-47e5-4f19-a93a-001d2cc97b2b/20220208_201012+%281%29.jpg Blog - Behavioral Euthanasia & Losing Jack - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62436abc5f456c62da5ddf12/82c33387-2e90-44f5-bbf1-3e7697d53a0f/FB_IMG_1508590100356.jpg Blog - Behavioral Euthanasia & Losing Jack Born in early May 2017, Jack was found in a barn, no mama in sight. Only two weeks old, he lay next to one sibling who was already deceased. He and his living sister were very sick and close to death themselves. They went into the care of Kitten Korner Rescue, a small foster-based, grassroots cat rescue near Rochester, New York. While Jack had plenty of spark and took to a bottle like a champion, the early trauma was too much for his sister, and she passed away soon after rescue. He became a lone survivor. When he was a few months old and weaned from the bottle, he got a new foster mom - a close friend of mine. When nobody came forward to adopt him, I convinced my partner that we absolutely needed to take him. He was cuddly and brave, and charmed us quickly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62436abc5f456c62da5ddf12/5056d69d-4f8d-4d45-a3fb-249cff54879e/20190607_145202.jpg Blog - Behavioral Euthanasia & Losing Jack - The last threshold we needed to cross was when we were buying a house in February 2023. Jack’s meds weren’t working as well as they used to. He was starting to suffer physical ailments because of his internal stress level (arthritis, urinary stones and infections resulting in surgery, a scary and painful seizure-like condition called hyperesthesia). We thought that more space, a fresh start in a new neutral territory to be reintroduced to other humans, and a yard to explore on his harness may be the answer. At first, things seemed optimistic. He interacted with a couple family members with some positive behavior. He enjoyed the yard. For a couple months, we thought, “this is it, his turn to be a normal cat”. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62436abc5f456c62da5ddf12/f8b2b89b-19fb-4748-b00a-f7d00f39bbfc/IMAG0186.jpg Blog - Behavioral Euthanasia & Losing Jack That tiny kitten gave us a run for our money. We both grew up with cats, but this was different - Jack was incredibly energetic, curious, and insistent. His stubbornness and creativity for destruction knew no bounds. He got into absolutely everything, prompting us to never leave out food (bags of bread would be stolen from counters, carried across the house, torn into by tiny kitten teeth) or breakable objects (glass aaaaaalll over the floor), and I hardly got any sleep for MONTHS, as he’d be bored enough to keep more awake all night even after hours of entertainment and playtime during the day. At this time, I had NO behavior experience. I barely had cat experience. I was way in over my head. Even so, we adored Jack. He loved being held and was adorably snuggly. He was whip-smart and trainable, learning to use a harness and leash, allowing us to trim his claws or apply flea and tick preventative without fuss. He learned verbal commands like “sit”, “touch”, and “drop it”. When he got a "little brother” in the nine-month-old kitten we adopted when Jack was a little over a year old, he took him under his wing and became his best friend. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62436abc5f456c62da5ddf12/a2f2f1b7-2866-4134-a03f-d7170082d3ba/20180810_191630.jpg Blog - Behavioral Euthanasia & Losing Jack - Jack had every hallmark of a cat slated to have issues - born to a likely sick barn cat mom who either abandoned him or died, he was very sick early on which is quite traumatic, no littermates to learn proper behavior from, a bottle baby who grew up as a single kitten and began to see humans as his equals instead of other cats… all of these things together will make someone versed in cat behavior send up red flags. I didn’t know this back when we got him. Maybe I could have done some things differently - gotten him a cat sibling earlier. I try to not beat myself up about the “what ifs”. It may not have made a difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62436abc5f456c62da5ddf12/21779191-9b48-454a-9913-1af1c40dc9d1/20190126_005943.jpg Blog - Behavioral Euthanasia & Losing Jack - When Jack reached nine months old, he started to hiss at visitors coming into our apartment. When he was 18 months old, he guarded a spilled trash can and chased off our friend, his catsitter who he previously really liked. By the time he was three years old, people coming into our apartment or even just standing on the other side of the door would be greeted by hissing and growling. If they entered, they’d be promptly met with claws and teeth. Over the next few years, it just got worse. He became a real danger to anybody but myself and my partner. It wasn’t like his aggression just occurred when people took the initiative to bother him. He’d seek them out, get in their face, stare them down nose-to-nose, then strike. He meant blood. Very occasionally he’d even turn his claws or teeth on me. https://www.catsinterrupted.com/blog/category/Tips+and+Tricks monthly 0.5 https://www.catsinterrupted.com/blog/category/Personal+Story monthly 0.5 https://www.catsinterrupted.com/blog/category/Topics+in+Behavior monthly 0.5 https://www.catsinterrupted.com/blog/tag/%23enrichment monthly 0.5 https://www.catsinterrupted.com/blog/tag/treats monthly 0.5 https://www.catsinterrupted.com/blog/tag/%23cheap monthly 0.5 https://www.catsinterrupted.com/blog/tag/easypeasy monthly 0.5 https://www.catsinterrupted.com/blog/tag/euthanasia monthly 0.5 https://www.catsinterrupted.com/blog/tag/training monthly 0.5 https://www.catsinterrupted.com/blog/tag/personal monthly 0.5 https://www.catsinterrupted.com/blog/tag/diet monthly 0.5 https://www.catsinterrupted.com/blog/tag/%23toys monthly 0.5 https://www.catsinterrupted.com/blog/tag/aggression monthly 0.5 https://www.catsinterrupted.com/blog/tag/behavior monthly 0.5 https://www.catsinterrupted.com/blog/tag/food monthly 0.5 https://www.catsinterrupted.com/home daily 1.0 2024-03-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62436abc5f456c62da5ddf12/ebd0769b-3714-461a-8f86-da090f0fad92/20191121_112531.jpg Home https://www.catsinterrupted.com/about-me daily 0.75 2024-03-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62436abc5f456c62da5ddf12/7a8ab9a1-a7cc-478d-8278-82252c5acff3/Screenshot_20211015-223903_Instagram.jpg About Me - Hi! I’m Carina Quackenbush. I live in Hampden County in Massachusetts, I work in nonprofit fundraising as a day job, and I really want cats and their humans to have the tools they need to thrive. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62436abc5f456c62da5ddf12/1e32e134-416d-4fd1-afd9-56a04e71ec95/20220208_201012.jpg About Me - Make it stand out Jack, my cuddly boy who had a really difficult life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62436abc5f456c62da5ddf12/367fc619-2d85-4f67-b0f0-478da0d4972f/20211031_114255.jpg About Me - To left: Beans, my sweet-as-pie shy guy who loves snuggles and Churu treats. Beans, our second cat, who is shy and sweet as pie. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62436abc5f456c62da5ddf12/ed1a657b-684f-4173-ac86-4e4aec8f6f46/IMG_2245.jpg About Me - To right: Whispurr, a tiny girl with a big attitude and cute mittens. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62436abc5f456c62da5ddf12/5790f8c0-92f1-416b-bcac-91c5b653df11/IAABC_web_bw_Supporting.jpg https://www.catsinterrupted.com/contact daily 0.75 2022-07-15 https://www.catsinterrupted.com/remotebehavior daily 0.75 2024-03-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62436abc5f456c62da5ddf12/1673993276959-G3UMYCQVXJ0SWT45C4PG/unsplash-image-p-08ZLDt9y4.jpg https://www.catsinterrupted.com/services-offered-2 daily 0.75 2023-01-18 https://www.catsinterrupted.com/skills daily 0.75 2024-03-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62436abc5f456c62da5ddf12/1673996759464-DE96EMBSVYFIHDK04IZH/unsplash-image-N_G2Sqdy9QY.jpg https://www.catsinterrupted.com/newcat daily 0.75 2024-03-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62436abc5f456c62da5ddf12/1673994135252-8MK4XOSPEE4RAJBSVTFA/unsplash-image-Bz9Qb6Iprw8.jpg https://www.catsinterrupted.com/inhomebehavior daily 0.75 2024-03-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62436abc5f456c62da5ddf12/1673997297010-3E0HLPLHHPBZV484VXMD/unsplash-image-_M7BGSi_aRQ.jpg https://www.catsinterrupted.com/in-home-vs-remote daily 0.75 2024-03-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62436abc5f456c62da5ddf12/1710027066630-E2ITXQ7BCIWP1X1M56YT/image-asset.jpeg