I recently ran across a PawCulture article about household items that can double as cat toys. There were some great suggestions, but I think it’s also important to point out that not everything in your home makes a good cat toy. I don’t want you kitties out there making any mistakes you may regret. So I have put together list of eight household items that make lousy cat toys.
Kitties! Do not play with the following:
1. Computer mice
I mean, what are those things supposed to do anyway? They don’t respond to a good whap. They just sit there like a lump.
2. Shipping tape
A big problem with shipping tape is that it is often found in the vicinity of boxes, which make awesome cat toys. But seriously, don’t even get near that tape! You will be sorry.
3. Modems, especially the kind that stand up vertically
Talk about useless! A nice, warm surface you can’t lie on. What a bummer.
4. Sleeping laptop
A flat, hard surface that’s no longer warm. Big whoop.
5. 25-lb. dumbbell
It’s like playing with a big, stupid, immobile rock.
6. Empty champagne split
There are no regrets when this goes into the recycle bin.
7. Floor mop
You can’t climb it and it doesn’t smell good. Can you think of any kitty games for this? Me neither.
8. Human litter boxes
You can’t even sleep on them, because you know the moment you do, some human will come along and need to use it.
Are there any other household items that you think are big cat toy fails? Let me know in the comments below!
Those are definitely not toys……
We agree Summer.
We do not like any of those toys either!
Purrs Georgia,Julie and JJ
That was a great list and none of those are fun!
Summer you are totally right – all of those get a thumbs down (which Angel Sammy would be able to since he had thumbs but I’m just THINKING thumbs down!).
Hugs, Teddy
We totally agree with you 100%. None of those are toys and they are boring/dull. Great List Summer! Now to find those pawsome toys! Purrs
I’m glad there are other things to play with than those.
I think doors that are not quite clicked are fun. I go all through the house running and head bumping doors. A Shut door is not fun and if I run and bunt it too hard I see stars. So SHUT doors are not fun toys.
MOL…
None of these are our definition of great toys either.
My Sydney loves to sit on the hamper in the bathroom, and watch! Great substitute for the human litter box!
So true, Summer. None of those are good cat toys. A good bottle top is always good.
You’re right Summer, we wouldn’t give any of those a second glance! One household thing we do love to play with though, are milk bottle rings! 🙂
the critters in the cottage xo
That’s a very accurate list although lying on top of a shutdown lap top ensures the human can’t use it and ignore you. This is part of Diego-san’s repertoire.
Summer. . . I was LOLOLOLing reading this!!! My cats would all agree with you — except that our modem lies flat, so they are able to use it as a butt warmer — LOL!!
Another one I thought of is the flat screen monitor or even a flat screen television — useless to cats as a body warmer as it is too skinny to lie on!!
Keep the great posts coming!! love you — and Binga too. . . ♥♥♥
Hahahaha! This was a funny post, Summer! The pics, the post, the hidden messages – all funny! Thanks for the giggles!
PeeS: Our mommy got excited to see that you’ll be in Portland in November! She’ll do what she can to come see you and your human!
Geeze, we have some of those things lying around here and yep, not good toys. Something else that doesn’t make a good toy – a toaster. Honestly, something that sounds that warm and that gets food things warm ought to be something worth playing with, wouldn’t you think? Nope. Another dumb rock thing with a shiny surface and no point whatsoever.
Summer I am clapping wildly and mom is loling what a great list. Bravo
Hugs madi your bfff
Summer, that was inspired. And I totes agree. Those are all bummers. ALL bummers.
Summer, that’s a well thought out list. I can’t figure why the humans named them computer mice anyway. I try to chew on packaging tape I see on packages, but Mom always takes it away from me. I warm pizza box is a good toy – you can bat if off the counter, sit on it to warm the tummy, and take a nibble from the goodies inside! Tee hee hee.
You are so wise, Summer!
Great list, Summer!
We think the vacuum cleaner makes a terrible toy! Really–it’s always whining and roaring and it tries to suck you up by the tail if you’re not careful!
Those were odd suggestions, clearly whoever wrote that didn’t have a cat.
Great list, Summer ! Closed doors and the sucking monster are really lousy cat toys too. Purrs
My kitties don’t like those things either.
These are awesome! Right after I adopted Bear, he did play in the toilet water (YUCK!!!!) – but keeping the lid down cured him of that (now, ten years later – even when I do leave it open, he leaves it alone). I use a lot of shipping tape – mainly to cover spots in the carpet Bear tore up (#1 – to discourage him from making it worse and #2 – to cover it so when I vacuum, it doesn’t pull up more carpet.) – or even spots I’m trying to keep him from destroying. Fortunately, he doesn’t like the feel of the non-sticky side on his paws so he leaves those spots alone. Stunning pictures of you Summer – as always.
You’re so right, Summer! In my opinion, nothing beats a crumpled up candy wrapper! –Mudpie
good list Summer!! My Mom doesn’t like seeing kitties play with ANY bags that have handles or plastic bags.
Those are lousy toys…well, cept for that mouse thing. We like to whap it off the desk…it makes the mom crazy. 🙂
Great list, Summer. Most everything around here including TW is useless except things that fall on the floor. They’re mine no matter when they are except packaging tape.
Great list! We have a different kind of mop here, so it’s actually fun to chase. We totally agree with the rest of your list, though! We think novelty lights/Christmas lights are useless, as are fireplace bricks. CPU towers sometimes are and sometimes aren’t useless. Our daddy uses one as a side table for his big chair, but gets mad at us when we try to use the other one (that’s usually on) or ones that he’s working on.
Good advice, Summer.
Watering cans are not good toys either…I hate the wet that comes from the one end, and the water doesn’t even taste like that in my bowl.
Daddy’s earbuds, actually they are fun to play with but he and MOMMY get furious when we destroy them. Mommy does at least lay part of the blame at Dad’s door when he leaves them dangling from the computer.
We had high hopes for playing with the DeeBot and Yang will spend hours watching it, but really it’s not much fun and you never know when it is going to start chasing you.
We have tons of not fun things laying around humans seem pretty good at collecting the stuff.
Good list, Summer! It’s true. None of those is a fun toy at all.
I didn’t see this coming at all, and you made me giggle!
My favorite is shipping tape!! I’m always trying to chew on it. And I also love a sleeping lap top. If I sit on it then Mommy can’t use it and she can pay more attention to me.
Wow, those really ARE BAD toys!
Parker sometimes sits on the back of the toilet — usually when she wants help getting to the top shelf. Her sister flushed it once on her way to the back of the tank.