How to Choose the Best Puppy Toys and the Most Suitable Scratching Post
Like children, young pets can’t resist the temptation to chase a ball or nibble on a friendly stuffed animal. For cats, a cat scratching post is the ideal element of play. Furthermore, toys for little animals are a way to socialize and start learning basic commands. In short, your affection and your presence are precious, but you can’t accomplish it without puppy toys and games!
Reading this article, you will discover the most suitable pet toys, based on different types and specific features, to offer your pet moments of joy and fun.
What to Consider Before Choosing Puppy Toys
When you have a puppy in your home for the first time, you may wonder which puppy toys suit your animal’s first months of life. Before letting your pet have fun, there are some things to consider:
- Safety first: the choice of quality puppy toys is crucial! For this, you should opt for materials that are resistant, non-toxic, and free of elements that could put his health at risk;
- Try to understand and get to know his taste: every pet has its preferences: some love to chase the ball, while others have fun with rope pulling. The important thing is to identify the activity that excites him the most;
- New ideas: puppies want to learn and discover, so they tend to get bored if they are not stimulated with new games. Try, therefore, to vary the type of game, with entertainment, training, and intelligence games;
- Play with him: many games are fun, and the pet can use them alone, but if we want to make him happy, being with him will undoubtedly increase the fun.
Different Types of Puppy Toys
Puppies need a wide range of toys to meet their different needs and help keep their developing body and brain active. Each game represents a pleasant moment for the puppy and allows the puppy to grow while offering more security.
You’ll want to consider different sizes, shapes, sounds, and textures when shopping for puppy toys to keep your dog happy and not get bored.
How to Teach Your Cat to Use the Scratching Post?
Of course, a puppy’s old and best friend is the cat. Since ancient times, they were always involved in small playful fights. From the first months of life, cats instinctively learn to use their nails, and they are not only a means to be used in case of need or games with their buddies but also a way to mark the territory through pheromones. Teaching the cat to use the scratching post is quite simple. Just use the suitable method and a little patience.
In fact, there are these olfactory glands in the cat’s nails, with which they “communicate” with other felines.
In addition to eliminating excess keratin, this need pushes them to scratch everything they find in the house within reach of a nail. Having a cat scratching post to secure furniture, curtains, and sofas is essential. Getting your cat to use it is not easy, but following a few simple tips, you will no longer have to worry about the furniture!
How Important Is to Choose the Best Cat Scratching Post?
For every cat, there is the most suitable cat scratching post! Some features to consider, such as size and height, shouldn’t be underestimated. If the scratcher is too big, the pet will have difficulty climbing, while if it is too small, she will struggle to use it. The ideal is a scratching post proportionate to the cat. The models are different, and you can choose between:
- Mat scratching post: it is the simplest because it looks like a natural carpet made of cardboard or fabric;
- Tablet scratching post: as simple as the mat, this scratching post can be placed on the wall to help your cat get her nails done while she stretches;
- A scratching post with column or log: this structure is also straightforward and, as the name implies, has the shape of a column resting on a base to give it more excellent stability. Usually covered in rope, it can also be enriched with plush balls to entertain the cat;
- Tree scratching post: it is the most articulated model of scratching post because it develops vertically, and in some cases, it can reach the ceiling. It is characterized by a series of floors, ladders, and niches to allow the cat to scratch, claw and have fun.
How to Teach Your Cat to Use the Scratching Post
After choosing the suitable model for the scratching post, it may happen that the cat does not use it and continues to claw at the furniture. To preserve the table, you must always remember not to force the cat to use the cat scratching post. Instead, try to teach it. How? There are some beneficial tricks:
- Accustom the cat from the first months: if the cat grows accustomed to seeing the scratching post at home, it will be natural for her to use it;
- Choose the correct position: the cat scratching post should not be placed in any house room. The ideal place is the living area where you spend most of the time and not an isolated room because the pet will certainly not be tempted to use it. Another perfect place is near the kennel because the cat likes to get her nails, especially as soon as she wakes up;
- Use catnip: the cat loves the smell of catnip, so once it has been rubbed on the surface of the scratching post, it will certainly be enticed to use it;
- Play with the scratching post: if you spend time with your cat and use the scratching post first, the pet will certainly be intrigued and will start doing the same;
- Put the paw on the scratching post: pheromones are present on the fingertips of the cat. If you put the foot gently on the surface, it will be impregnated with its smell and will be encouraged to use it;
- Reward the cat: a nice prize is always appreciated by the furry friend, so if she is rewarded with snacks, strokes, and cuddles every time she claws and uses the cat scratching post, she will get used to it more easily.
What is mentioned above has a solid educational value. With puppy toys and cat scratching post, the little pets will be able to learn how to act with others and control their different moods.
