Entertaining Cat Toys

Cat Toys Entertain

A myriad of cat toys satisfy this fickle creature's necessity for fun. Some suggestions for toys include towers, stuffed mice, small amounts of catnip, stuffed animals, ribbons, drinking straws and balls. Boxes and bags also allow the feline to enter a different world.

From an early age, cats love to play. They pounce. They swat. They chew. A cat who swats and pounces is honing their inherent hunting skills. The act of chewing allows them to clean their teeth. For kittens within three to six months of age, chewing reduces the pain of teething.

Entertaining your cat does not have to come at a great expense. Homemade cat toys and towers are fun to create. Find some items around the house that can be recycled with a new use. These basic Items can make for interesting diversions. Our pet whom we referred to as "Cat" is enjoying one of his homemade cat toys. Made from loops for crafting pot holders, we tied many of them together in a haphazard fashion. Attached at the bottom are some pom poms. Be careful to use only non-toxic parts.

Anything an owner can do to substitute a natural setting is important for their pets to thrive. This can be accomplished by providing an environment abounding with activity and curiosity. Also, it will keep their attention away from harmful products such as electrical cords and toxic plants. Make good use of the time when your cat is alert and awake, which really is not that long. Unexpended energy usually results in destruction.

There are times when your pet's interaction with cat toys needs to be independent of you. This occurs when you are trying to sleep. Some breeds of cats are predominately night hunters. Nature has helped with the markings of their coat. A cat with light markings surrounding the eye area are meant to be on the prowl at night. The lighter colors attract the most light to enhance their night vision. Those that hunt in the day are gifted with dark markings around the eyes to eliminate glare. If you happen to own the night stalker, scatter some interesting cat toys about the house.

Your feline friend likes to feel secure. The top secret space inside a simple box or bag satisfies their primal instinct of hiding and perhaps readying themselves for the element of surprise. There are many inexpensive ways to provide this strategic, safety zone such as a Halloween bag.

Learn About Catnip As Cat Toys

Popular cat toys can be filled with catnip. The plant catnip is a member of the mint family. The essential oil known as nepetalactone is the ingredient which causes unique reactions in cats. Nepetalactone is released when cats interact with the catnip through sniffing, rubbing, licking or clawing motions. The results of catnip occur in the olfactory system in which cats have a receptor. The effects of catnip through interaction will act as an hallucinogen, while if ingested the effects will be that of a sedative. For 5 to 10 minutes, after nepetalactone is present, the stimulated response can be seen through hunting, chasing, short spurts of energy or just periods of sheer happiness.

Catnip is not toxic. A cat's response to catnip is hereditary. Some are unaffected. As with any medicinal plant, portions should consist of a moderate amount, if ingested. An adverse reaction to catnip may exhibit as vomiting or stomach upset. In this case, no more catnip. Usually, cats know when enough will suffice. A similar situation is evident when cats are stroked by their owners. The enjoyment lasts for a while until cats become over stimulated and the moment is lost. The end can be signaled by the swinging of a claw, jumping off your lap or rapid movement of the tail.

Here is an easy way to incorporate catnip. Fill a small sock or thin cloth pouch with catnip. Secure with ribbon or yarn. Attach feathers or pom poms to the end of your creation.

Contrary to their sometimes stoic expressions, cats need to interact. Fashion your own toys. Your feline will most likely play as you are crafting their cat toys.

Animals Selecting Giveaway Winners

This is Tilda, a kitten from Philadelphia, posing before she was to select the winner of my sister's nail polish giveaway. My sister likes to use animals as the fair and impartial judges. She writes the entries on slips of paper and places tempting treats underneath as a reward. As you can see, Tilda has a cat leash since she is young and in a major city.

Pictured in the Halloween bag is my cat who we lovingly called "Cat." He was 17 years old in these cat photos.  He did not immediately understand his role as judge in the contest.

If I can't see you, you don't exist!

There is no chance, it appears, that our cat would have escaped judging the giveaway to perhaps venture where the wildcats of the past were seen - on ships, at the local granary or being worshiped. We reside in a rural setting, and he was content to stay nearby.

Who would have guessed that besides helping the backyard environment, the scratching motions of chickens  would also help select a giveaway winner. My chicken Pidgeroo is featured with her brother rummaging through bird seed.  Pidgeroo, so named because when she was very young, she resembled a mix between a pigeon and a rooster.  Pidgeroo has provided many small brown eggs for eating, and later had a family.  Now she is a grandmother.

Finally, here is Elf, a very independent Miniature Pinscher. He is using his innate skills in rodent control to randomly select a contest winner. Although Elf seems to be a sleek and capable hunter, at night he tunnels under his favorite blanket and falls asleep.

True to his mischievous nature, Elf sneaks away with the winning entry.

All photos courtesy of Diana Antal.

Advantages of Raising Backyard Chickens

Raising Backyard Chickens For Nutritional Eggs

Raising backyard chickens has many benefits.  One such advantage is the increased nutritional value of the egg.  Besides tasting delicious, the egg from a free range chicken has a greater amount of Vitamin A and E. Also, there is less cholesterol and saturated fat.

Due to chickens eating greens such as grass, the omega-3 fatty acids are higher.  Omega-3 fatty acids help the human heart and brain function. The beta-carotene levels of these fresh eggs are said to be 7 times higher. Known as the precursor to Vitamin A, beta-carotene is an organic compound found in the yellow color of yolks. The antioxidant effects of beta carotene protect the body against cellular damage from free radicals.

Not only do chickens living in a natural environment provide nutritious eggs, they help in the areas of bug control and enriching soil as well.  Chickens like to scratch at soil while hunting for food such as bugs, worms and seeds. In doing so, they help aerate the soil and help fallen leaves to decompose.

Raising backyard chickens is rewarding.  Chickens can be very friendly.  Often when someone comes through the gate, they are greeted by an inquisitive flock.  Also, chickens get along well with other socialized pets.


A requirement for raising backyard chickens is good feed, fresh water and a safe and natural setting in which to roam.  Certain predators such as hawks, cats and foxes may threaten the unassuming chicken.  Providing a clean chicken coop will protect the chickens at night and allow for a quiet place to lay eggs. Our chickens retire every night at dusk.  While most go into their house, many of the older ones roost in the trees.

Helpful Product For Raising Backyard Chickens

How To Build A Chicken Coop

Dog Body Language in Translation

Understanding Dog Body Language For Training

Translating dog body language is an effective technique for dog training.  Knowing how your pet communicates adds another dimension to realizing successful training goals.  Dogs are one of the most intelligent animals among domestic pets. They have the ability to communicate with humans, other dogs and animals. Dogs communicate by using an array of body language signs and vocals. These signs are made with the help of body movement involving eyes, ears, eyebrows, head, mouth and tail.

The Position and Movement of the Canine Tail

Dogs hold the feeling of dominance and submission in their tails.  This stems from their ancestors - wolves living in the wild.  Here the pack mentality is one of an established group hierarchy.  Confident and higher ranked dogs hold their tails in an upward position. The weaker dogs submit themselves to the stronger dog and  lower their tails when they feel insecure. As dogs fight for dominance, the fur on their tail stands up. Canines, and many other animals, do this to increase their size in front of an enemy.

A slowly wagging tail shows that the dog is confused.  They are confronted with an ambiguous situation.  Excited canines, however, exhibit a different display of dog body language and wag their tails very fast. If the hip moves along with the tail, the dog is ready for submission to an animal of higher rank.

Along with a raised tail, the showing of fangs is a sign of aggression.  The dog is ready to bite or attack, if the teeth are visible. Observing the number of teeth on display can differentiate their mood. When a dog snarls in agitation, all of the teeth and gums can be seen.  A true smile reveals only the front teeth, and their feeling is one of submissiveness or passivity.   Perhaps the expression is one of happiness like enjoying a cool afternoon in March at the beach. 

Sound Interpretation and Dog Body Language

Ears are good indicators of attention levels. A dog with erect and forward facing ears is said to be concentrating. Yet in fear, the ears are down.  Some dogs hold the ears in forward and horizontal direction when they are happy. If the dog tilts its head in a particular direction, the animal is trying to concentrate and recognize an unfamiliar sound.  Many canines, both domestic and wild, can scan their environment for sounds using one ear at a time.  Among the most common varieties of ears are the erect or pricked ears.  This type of dog body language is sported by the more wolf-like breeds such as German Shepherds and Basenjis and by semi-domestic dogs such as Dingoes and New Guinea singing dogs.

Barking is used to convey emotions such as pleasure, fear, stress and suspicion. In a majority of cases, barking sounds are heard to scare away strangers and to make the owner aware of an intruder.  If the barking slows to a deep growl, the dog is showing superiority and threatening the potential instigator of danger.

Your canine pet also tends to bark while they are playing or excited.  The barks are sharp and short. When they are stressed or anxious, they bark repeatedly in a high pitch tone. They also bark to communicate with other animals such as cats, deer, squirrels, foxes and other dogs.

Dogs howl for the purpose of long-range communication. This parallels that of the wolf pack - either the wolf is announcing its territory or a lost member is attempting to reunite with its pack.  There is an idea that when a dog hears a howling noise, they try to resonate with the sound wave, thus invoking an instinctual heightened emotion.

Dog Body Language - Time For Play

The act of yawning as a dog body language can show a range of emotion from boredom, stress or confusion. Sometimes yawning simply means the dog is tired and needs to be left alone. Panting with a full open mouth, shows happiness, while panting with a slightly open mouth means it wants to interact through play.

Like human beings, domestic dogs are trained for the ritual of the handshake. When your pet lifts one forelimb up, this also can signal a time for play. A canine will stamp its front limbs upon excitement. They scratch objects they want.

Recognizing these communication signs allow the pet owner to understand their dog's feelings.  Many situations can disturb even the best training efforts.  You will know the reason, and make the adjustment.  The ultimate goal of training is for your dog to be a wonderful companion and protector.  Translating Dog Body Language is helpful towards dog training success.