Goosie Game: Tether Smack
Great for: Moderate Energy, Moderate Intelligence, Swatting & Pouncing
How to play: Stand across from kitty, roughly the distance of the wand and string. Swing the feather in the air so it just reaches kitty, about a foot above their head. Swing the feather back and forth, and when the feather gets to kitty, they’ll hop up to swat or try to catch the feather. Once they hit the feather, swing it back towards you, repeat!
Tips & Tricks: If your cat can’t jump or has mobility issues, you can play this game by sliding the feather across the floor so the feather reaches a few inches in front of them so they can reach their paw out for it rather than upward!
Goosie Game: Fake Out
Great for: High Energy, Moderate Intelligence, Stalking & Chasing, Swatting & Pouncing
How to play: Lay the feather on the floor and bounce it lightly so the magnet makes a sound on the floor to get kitty’s attention and let them stalk it. Once they pounce, pull the string and the feather out of their reach. Either try to get kitty to chase it or land it somewhere new for kitty to stalk and pounce again. Repeat!
Tips & Tricks: This game works best on hard flooring so the sound can attract kitty and not be muffled by a carpet or rug.
Goosie Game: Corner Tugs
Great for: High Energy, Moderate Intelligence, Stalking & Chasing, Swatting & Pouncing
How to play: Like our original Goosie Game Corner, but turn it into a non-stop circle full of tugging fun! While kitty is inside the Play Cube, slowly drag the Snatch Wand feather along the side of the cube then jerk it around its corner for kitty to twist and turn inside to try to reach out and catch it all around!
Tips & Tricks: Want a DIY version? If kitty is okay with it and it won’t stress them out, try putting them in a plastic laundry basket so they can play from inside there. If you're going to play that way, be sure they can jump out out as soon as they show signs of bad stress.
Goosie Game: Runway
Great for: Moderate Energy, Low Intelligence, Moderate Intelligence, Jumping & Climbing
How to play: Drag the feather on the floor in a straight line towards kitty, and before you get to them, pull the feather up into the air and over kitty’s head. Kitty will have to reach, jump, or spin around to catch it.
Tips & Tricks: If kitty is feeling higher energy, once they jump up, try transitioning into the Goosie Game Rainbow!
Goosie Game: Tunnel Chase
Great for: High Energy, High Intelligence, Stalking & Chasing
How to play: Drag the feather back and forth on one side of the tunnel (find a speed that excites your cat, this may change on different days! ) and they’ll run through the tunnel to get the feather. Reset and repeat on the other side of the tunnel. Or even try threading the feather through the tunnel for them to chase.
Tips & Tricks: Tunnel Chase makes for a great base game to figure out what kinds of play your cat likes. Once kitty is riled up through the tunnel, try incorporating elements from other games to figure out what they like and tire them out!
If your kitty is blind, play this on a hard floor, let them stay in the tunnel, and make sure to drag the whole feather on the ground so they can track the noise à la Tunnel Pounce.
Goosie Game: Crash Landing
Great for: Moderate Energy, High Intelligence, Jumping & Climbing, Puzzles & Challenges
How to play: Fly the feather in the air and "land" it on something higher up like a cat tree, couch, chair, etc. and kitty will watch it and have to jump and climb up to get it!
Tips & Tricks: If your cat isn't tracking the feather, try getting their attention with it on the floor first and then moving into the air and higher up.
Goosie Game: Corner
Great for: Low-Moderate Energy, Moderate Intelligence, Stalking & Chasing
How to play: Drag the feather on the floor and when you have kitty's attention, around the corner of a wall, chair, table, doorway, etc., somewhere your cat can’t see around, and disappear it out of sight. Kitty will pounce to chase it.
Tips & Tricks: To level up, try pulling the feather away and into the air once kitty has rounded the corner to prevent them from catching it just yet and increase the intensity!
Goosie Game: Rainbow
Great for: High Energy, Low-Moderate Intelligence, Jumping & Climbing
How to play: Fly the feather in a rainbow arc over the kitty from one side to the other, it’ll get them jumping to catch it and turning all around. Make the rainbow as tall or wide as kitty needs to get all their energy out.
Tips & Tricks: If your cat is obese or missing a limb they may like playing this game at a low intensity on their back, rolling side to side and swatting to catch it! Rainbow can also be used as an element to add into other games!