Need review of Peek a Prize...

toy or whatever name it is found elsewhere.
I run out of toys for Smidge...she gets bored and is alone all day.

It's the one where toys are hidden in a box with holes, and they have to work out how to get them. I've spent plenty of $ on toys she just looks at once so would like a review if your cats dig it. Thanks!

http://www.stepsforpets.com/

I do the same thing for Gizmo but with a different angle. I got a wedge shaped box with different sized holes in it. Gizmo's toys on strings 'hide' in the holes and I make them jump around inside with their little bells jingling, and she can either go into the box to get them, or else 'fish' for them. She does remarkably well even without front claws.

This has the advantage of varying the toys since i can pull different interactive toys out and have them 'hide'.

Interactive toys where you play with the cat will never bore it. A toy where it's playing all by itself will quickly become dull for the cat (and unless you are helping push the toys out, the Peek A Prize will be one of them.)

There's one that has a sort of tube where you poke a feather out one end and the cat jumps for it...the main thing is that you are playing along with the cat. To that end, a feather on a string, or just a thick piece of string, is enough of a toy. Gizmo has taken a recent liking to socks waved around on hands....it's me, not the toy, that she wants to play with.

and my cat is also alone all day...just play with her when you come home and just before you leave.

I leave toilet paper rolls, some mink tails, and ping pong balls out for Gizmo and she does play with them when she is alone.

I have the cardboard version of that box, and its ok - best used for them working to get treats out of it. I toss toys in with the treats to make it harder. I wouldn't bother with the wooden version, too expensive. I got the cardboard one at 1/3 the price at a local pet store.

Next to this, and by far my kitties preferred game to play, is the empty kleexex box, again, I put toys and treats in it, and they have to dig and work at it to get them out. The kleenex box was much less expensive, and I got to use all the tissues, too!

Funny, though - now when I have a new box of tissues, Ginger keeps trying to get into it to get the treats out!

"Interactive toys where you play with the cat will never bore it. "

Ain't that the truth. Smidge has been playing with the same feather toy for over a year...and still cries for it daily. I get today off though - my mum is going over for their weekly play date while I'm at work.

Thank you for the comments so far. I didn't know the cardboard ones even existed.

You could make one of those yourself out of a shoebox. Cats have a real affinity to cardboard boxes, so she'd probably prefer cardboard to wood, anyway.
Have you tried Da Bird and Cat Dancer?

Gizmo loves her mice on a string...and she loves to have me play with her.

You are the cat's best plaything, or playmate.

Originally Posted by jcat

You could make one of those yourself out of a shoebox. Cats have a real affinity to cardboard boxes, so she'd probably prefer cardboard to wood, anyway.
Have you tried Da Bird and Cat Dancer?

Click to expand...

That's a good idea!!! Shoeboxes are way cheaper and we all love cheaper! I was looking at the Peek a Prize too but I think I might try and make my own first...

If she is bored all day have you thought about getting her a friend?? I'm not sure a toy will necessarily solve the problem because like Gizmocat said- an interactive toy will definitely keep their attention, where as any other toy quickly becomes boring.

Originally Posted by jcat

You could make one of those yourself out of a shoebox. Cats have a real affinity to cardboard boxes, so she'd probably prefer cardboard to wood, anyway.

Click to expand...

I made my own with one of those long refridgerator boxes for soda cans. The kittens love it! Their favorite toys to have in there are the plastic balls with bells in them. They only play with them if they're in the box.

The Peek A Prize is a bit pricey at almost $30. When I saw it in a catalog, I thought it was a clever little toy. But, there was no way I was paying $30 for it. So I got mine for free. I made it myself out of some scrap plywood I had lying around. It's a good toy, but not necessarily for a cat left alone. You have to interact with the cat while playing with it. Once they get the toy or ball out that you put in, they are done with it. You'd have to be around to keep putting it back in. Here are some photos of two of my cats playing with theirs.

Bella....


Bella & Zan....

Cheap Peek a Prize:

Get one of those collapsing laundry baskets (cotton mesh sides)

cut off the handles. Add fur mice, ping pong balls, etc. and show it to the cat.

Gizmo loves to roll around inside it chasing her toys, and sometimes I play 'paws' on the outside.

Cats like simple toys. They need not be expensive. The Peek a Paw is nice, but there are many substitutes that are cheaper and actually more fun for the cat.

I got one for Astrid and it was pricey but I was going through a "anything for my cat" phase. I wish I had thought of some of the alternatives mentioned in this thread!

But anyway, Astrid does play with it alot. She is home all day and I always come home to her toys scattered around after she has gotten them out of her box. It is really fun watching her trying to get the toys she wants out, too.

what a great box (and cats) Sophie - thank you for posting that.

That laundry basket one sounds like a good idea, I might have to try that too.

Thank you all so much for the suggestions.

Originally Posted by gizmocat

Cheap Peek a Prize:

Get one of those collapsing laundry baskets (cotton mesh sides)

Click to expand...

Those laundry baskets are one of the best "cat toys" ever invented!

Yes, Gizmo's is even the same color. I put some rabbit tails, furry mice, and ping pong balls inside it and Gizmo happily tumbles it around like a hamster in a wheel. Sometimes she collapses it on herself and it's too funny to watch her!