Cat toys serve a multitude of purposes. Primarily, they are a way for your cat to have fun. Keep in mind that having a good time with a cat is not the same thing as having fun for a human. Cats evolved as predators, much like us, but cats still have many of their predatory instincts. The reason they find toys so enjoyable is that they activate those hunting instincts.
While it may be a little disturbing, cats play with their toys in much the same way they toy with their prey. When a cat sees a colourful set of feathers dangling from a string, they see a bird that it can hunt down. You can’t fault cats for thinking this way; it is how they are biologically programmed.
This way of thinking is why cats can get aggressive and moody when they have not played in a while. Their instincts start to come to the forefront, and they start to get a little wild. Some new cat owners seem to think playing with a cat is optional, but it is not. If you want a well-behaved cat, you will have to play with it often.
Cat owners who have busy work schedules will often have difficulty playing with their cats for a decent amount of time every week, so they may choose to purchase electronic cat toys. Most of these types of toys can work by themselves and keep your cat occupied without your interaction.
While you should still take time to play with your cat from time to time and show it affection, you will find that automated electronic toys can do most of the work for you. Before we get to our review, we will look at two characteristics that contribute to making this model from SmartyKat one of the best cat toys around.
Replacement Parts
A cat toy should typically be able to accept replacement parts. Since cats can be rather destructive when it comes to their toys, you will find that replaceable parts can go a long way towards ensuring that your toy lasts a long time.
Most of the time, the underlying components of your toy are still functional; it is often simply the part which the cat interacts with which is damaged.
In the case of cat wands, you will find that the feathers or other objects typically attached to the string will take the brunt of the damage. These are often the components that can be replaced in these types of products.
Batteries
Almost all electronic cat toys require batteries to operate. They provide a convenient method to power a product as a power cord would probably end up getting chewed or clawed through in short order. The type of batteries used to power the toy will usually differ from product to product.
The most common choice for cat toys is disposable batteries. You will most often cat toys powered by AA or AAA batteries. Some high-quality models will use built-in rechargeable batteries, which will allow you to save a good deal of money in the long run.
The Product
The Feather Whirl is manufactured by SmartyKat, one of the more proficient makers of cat toys. You will find that this is one of the higher quality models of electronic feather spinning cat toys. Like most products of its type, it makes use of disposable AA batteries.
Specifications
- Fun for cats in all age groups
- Makes use of an electric motor with sound dampening technology
- Feather wand is replaceable in case of damage
- The inclusion of a weighted base ensures that the product will stay standing.
- It uses two AA batteries, which are not included
- Made of recycled plastic
Overview
This cat toy is one of the best models we have come across due to its amazing build quality. Most products in the same price range feature inferior construction and design values. While this product may not be perfect, it is near enough to that ideal that it made us take notice.
The weighted base ensures that this feather spinner will stay in place, no matter how often your cat tries to knock it down. The inclusion of a silent electric motor is another feature that we (and our cats) appreciated. This keeps the toy from becoming annoying and has the added benefit of not scaring cats away.
The replaceable feather wand may seem questionable considering the product’s low price, but it makes more sense than buying a whole new toy every time a cat ruins a wand. This has the added benefit of allowing you to detach the wand and use it manually if you run out of batteries.
What Others Say
We have also looked at what other customers have to say about this model of a cat toy. Most customers were as impressed as we were, with several praising the quality and effectiveness of this model for keeping a cat’s attention. It was reported that this toy is ideal for busy cat owners who don’t always have time to play.
There were not many complaints, but some customers had an issue with the design of the battery compartment, which must be unscrewed to be opened.
Buying Advice
This is a very affordable electronic cat toy. In some cases, it is cheaper than certain manual cat wand toys. It is priced at around seven to eight dollars, and it provides excellent value for money. This toy can be bought in packs of one, two, or three, depending on the number of cats you have at home.
Conclusion
We hope that this review has proved to be both thorough and educational. This cat toy from SmartyKat is one of the better models we have come across, concerning both build quality and attractiveness to cats. If you have any questions, you can go ahead and leave them in the comments section below.
Photo by Juan Gomez on Unsplash
