Goosie Game: Away, Away!
Great for: All Energy, All Intelligence, Stalking & Chasing
How to play: When kitty comes to you to play, toss or launch a ball, pom pom, or disc down the hall, across the room, or into another room for kitty to chase and play with. When they come back, toss another! Play at kitty's pace.
Tips & Tricks: Perfect for work from home parents if kitty tries to play at an inconvenient time. We recommend having lots of balls or discs on hand to make sure you can keep up with your cat!
Toy Pairings: Bouncy Feather Balls, Wiggly Ball, Disc Launcher, Pom Pom Launcher
Goosie Game: Beat it Up
Great for: All Energy, All Intelligence, Swatting & Pouncing
Not the best for: Kittens less than 6-8 months old
How to play: If kitty has some pent up energy and loves a catnip fueled attack, let them beat up their favorite moving toy! They're sure to bite, kick, and throw it around like they're getting a real kill.
Tips & Tricks: This can be played with or without turning on the flapping wings or flopping motor and chirping sound for just catnip fueled playtime. If your cat doesn't like catnip, these toys come with removable catnip & silvervine pouches. Just remove them and wash the shell for catnip-free play!
Toy Pairings: Flapping Bird, Flopping Fish
Goosie Game: Big Arch
Great for: High Energy, All Intelligence, Jumping & Climbing
How to play: Aim the launcher up high above kitty and release a pom pom. It will launch in a high arch for kitty to jump high to catch or chase! Perfect for cats who love to jump like bird hunters.
Tips & Tricks: If kitty is up for an extra challenge, try aiming so the pom poms land on something they’ll have to climb to, like their cat tree or another piece of furniture!
Toy Pairings: Pom Pom Launcher
Goosie Game: Bounce Pass
Great for: Low Energy, Low Intelligence, Swatting & Pouncing
How to play: Sit across from kitty and let the ball bounce once when you toss it to them (just like the basketball pass!) Keep it low and slow for kitty.
Tips & Tricks: This game may result in blank stares and booping kitty on the nose, recommended for cats with at least 2 braincells.
Toy Pairings: Bouncy Feather Balls, Wiggly Ball
Goosie Game: Bounce Up
Great for: Moderate Energy, Moderate Intelligence, Jumping & Climbing
How to play: Throw the ball on the ground to bounce high up in the air for kitty to jump for and chase!
Tips & Tricks: Throw the ball harder or softer depending on how high your cat can jump. Throw it harder and higher to encourage tricks for higher energy, agile cats!
Toy Pairings: Bouncy Feather Balls, Wiggly Ball
Goosie Game: Castle
Great for: All Energy, All Intelligence, Puzzles & Challenges, Swatting & Pouncing, Social Play, Multi-cat households
How to play: Hide some toys, like the flapping bird, or their favorite treats inside to get them exploring and engaged, interacting with the rug, toys, treats, and each other to stay busy and curious! Each cat exploring their castle will get the other interested in what's going on.
Tips & Tricks: Want to splurge? If you have multiple cats, buy one for each cat and they can each have their own, adding more surprise to their attacks and mental exhaustion into their playtime! Perfect for them each to escape too!
Toy Pairings: Ripple Rug, Play Cube
Goosie Game: Catch 'n Snatch
Great for: All Energy, All Intelligence, All Playstyles
How to play: Turn any Goosie Game into a Catch ‘n Snatch with the Snatch Wand! You can play on the ground or up high, use any of your favorite wand Goosie Games and let kitty truly catch their prey.
Tips & Tricks: Once kitty catches their prey, wait and see what they do with it. It can give you insight into their attack styles and instincts to inform future play. Lucy usually catches her feather and brings it back to her tunnel to hide and beat it up some more! Watch Anna & Lucy play with the Snatch Wand HERE!
Toy Pairings: Snatch Wand
Goosie Game: Corner
Great for: Low-Moderate Energy, Moderate Intelligence, Stalking & Chasing
How to play: Drag the feather or your cat's favorite wand attachment 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!
Toy Pairings: Cat Charmer, Da Bird, Forever Stick, Snatch Wand, Wiggle Wand
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 or their favorite Activity Center, slowly drag their favorite wand attachment 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. Or cut holes in a large cardboard box.
Toy Pairings: Da Bird, Forever Stick, Play Cube, Snatch Wand
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.
Toy Pairings: Cat Tree, Da Bird, Forever Stick, Snatch Wand
Goosie Game: Dingle Dangle
Great for: All Energy, Moderate - Low Intelligence, Jumping & Climbing, Swatting & Pouncing
How to play: A perfect solo play toy for cats who love to scratch & swat! Kitty can get out all of their scratching & stretching needs with the 32” tall post. They can swat and swing the carousel with their paws, or you can spin the top for them to reach and catch the danglies!
Tips & Tricks: Having a few different scratchers around your home gives kitty multiple places to claim as theirs, so they won’t claim your furniture! Learn more about building your cat's playscape HERE! Want a DIY? Attach some toys to a long string and tie them to a ceiling fan.
Toy Pairings: Scratch 'n Spin Carousel
Goosie Game: Draggy Mouse
Great for: Moderate Energy, Moderate Intelligence, Stalking & Chasing
Not the best for: Aggressive cats who may attack your hand instead of the mouse
How to play: Holding the mouse by the tail, get your cat's attention and slowly drag the mouse on the floor around some furniture or their tunnel. Watch their body language and keep dragging the mouse until the pounce! Once they charge the mouse, pull it away or release it from your hand! Restart once kitty is happy with their catch and walks away.
Tips & Tricks: Depending on the day, your cat might prefer a slower speed or faster jerking motions. Test out different speeds to see what your cat's enticed by that play session!
Toy Pairings: Mice
Goosie Game: Fake Out
Great for: High Energy, Moderate Intelligence, Stalking & Chasing, Swatting & Pouncing
How to play: Lay the feather on the floor or tie a string to your cat's favorite flopping toy and bounce it lightly so the magnet makes a sound on the floor or the chirping sound turns on to get kitty’s attention and let them stalk it. Once they pounce, pull the string 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.
Toy Pairings: Flopping Fish, Snatch Wand
Goosie Game: Fish it Out
Great for: Moderate Energy, High Intelligence, Jumping & Climbing
How to play: Pair the Play Cube with your cat’s favorite wand teaser (like the Snatch Wand!) Drop the teaser in and pull it out of the different holes so kitty has to stay alert & activated to get their prey!
Tips & Tricks: Use a longer teaser for slower, less precise play, or a shorter teaser to switch things up faster!
Toy Pairings: Da Bird, Forever Stick, Play Cube, Ripple Rug, Snatch Wand
Goosie Game: Fly, Fly, Birdie
Great for: High Energy, All Intelligence, Jumping & Climbing
How to play: Perfect for Bird Hunters (literally!) Attach a wand, string, or fishing line to the loop at the nape of the bird's neck, turn on the chirping and flapping motor, and fly the bird as if it were alive! A great reference is Crash Landing!
Tips & Tricks: Be careful not to accidentally boop your cat as the bird is a little heavy!
Toy Pairings: Flapping Bird
Goosie Game: Flying Mouse
Inspired by Lucy Goosie Cat @junotheclingycat on Instagram!
Great for: High Energy, Low-Moderate Intelligence, Jumping & Climbing
How to play: Thread a string through the nose or tie it to the mouse's tail and now you can also use it on a wand! "Sometimes the mouse also flies! Juno doesn’t like flying feathers but a flying rattle mouse? She does massive jumps, run and chases like I’ve never seen before. Like the rainbow game but with chasing too!" - @junotheclingycat
Tips & Tricks: "The rest are wonderful for solo play + hiding around corners in the house to find during the day or night." -@junotheclingycat
Toy Pairings: Mice
Goosie Game: Goalie
Great for: Moderate Energy, Low Intelligence, Stalking & Chasing
How to play: Like you’re playing soccer with your cat, lightly tap the ball or kicker with your foot across the floor for kitty to chase and swat around. Once they’ve gotten it and swatted it away, catch it with your foot and kick it again!
Tips & Tricks: Amp up the intensity like a real soccer match or play it low and slow tapping here and there, it's customizable to however you and/or your cat is feeling that play session!
Toy Pairings: Wool Balls, Kickers, Yeowww! Catnip Banana
Goosie Game: Go Long!
Great for: High Energy, All Intelligence, Stalking & Chasing
How to play: Toss the ball low to the ground and farther out, as if you're skipping a rock on the water! Kitty will have to run far for it and then let them swat it around and play on their own. Wait until they've stopped playing to pick it up and toss it again. Keep the bounce height low and the speed fast!
Tips & Tricks: This game works best in a hallways or larger room! If your timid cat is afraid of the bounce, this game works great with these rattling furry mice too, just give them a shake and slide them across a hard floor!
Toy Pairings: Bouncy Feather Balls, Fluffy Mice, Wiggly Ball
Goosie Game: Gone Fishing
Great for: Low Energy, Low-Moderate Intelligence, Swatting & Pouncing
Not the best for: Cats who have fish siblings
How to play: Fill the bowl with water and drop in the swimming fish for kitty to watch and swat. Be sure to lay a towel down!
Tips & Tricks: Want a DIY version? Use a bowl, the sink, or the bathtub, just add the fish! No fish? Substitute them for corks, ice cubes, or ping pong balls -- but they might not be as enticing for kitty since they don't swim around.
Check out the fish here!
Toy Pairings: Meow-smerizing Fish Bowl
Goosie Game: Hidden Ball
Great for: Moderate-High Energy, Low-Moderate Intelligence, Stalking & Chasing, Swatting & Pouncing
How to play: Turn on the motorized ball and place it inside the Play Mat. The ball will roll around and attract kitty with its rapid motion and sound and kitty will have to try to catch the ball inside (kind of like how they attack our feet under the blankets when they move!)
Tips & Tricks: Want a lower energy version, or something you can play WITH your cat? Try the Goosie Game Hidden String!
Toy Pairings: Ball & Play Mat
Goosie Game: Hidden String
Great for: Low Energy, High Intelligence, Swatting & Pouncing, Puzzles & Challenges
How to play: Drag your cat's favorite string toy under their tunnel or a tarp and slowly drag it around. Kitty will try to catch it from on top!
Tips & Tricks: A table cloth from the dollar store works great for this! Something thin and that kitty can see the movement or shadow through is best. If using something thicker, like a blanket or rug, maybe try this game with a bigger toy like a feather wand!
Toy Pairings: Cat Charmer, String, Tunnel, The Wiggle Wand
Goosie Game: Hide-and-Seek
Great for: Moderate-High Energy, Low-Moderate Intelligence, Stalking & Chasing, Swatting & Pouncing
How to play: Just press the button to turn it on and let kitty go after the moving feather! It has multiple speed settings for however energetic and athletic (or non-) your cat is.
Tips & Tricks: Perfect for when kitty needs to hunt and pounce but you don't have the time for a play session.
Want an interactive version? Check out Hidden String!
Toy Pairings: Hidden Hijinks
Goosie Game: Hide, Hunt 'n Swat
Who it's for: All Energy, High Intelligence, Puzzles & Challenges
How to play: Hide the treat dispenser in a semi-hard to reach area before letting kitty loose to 1) get to the toy then 2) swat and chase it to get out all of their treats
Tips & Tricks: Try leading kitty to it with a trail of a few treats if they need some motivation or help finding it if they didn’t see you place it or haven't picked up the scent yet!
Toy Pairings: Hunt 'n Swat Treat Dispenser
Goosie Game: High Skies
Great for: High Energy, All Intelligence, Jumping & Climbing
How to play: Launch the discs up in the air for kitty to jump for!
Tips & Tricks: Try to land the discs in different spaces on different height levels to keep your cat on their toes for where it’ll land next. Aim for the top of their cat tree, the couch, down the hall, etc.. If your cat gets bored of a repetitive game, keep changing it up! Like a stringless version of Crash Landing!
Toy Pairings: Disc Launcher
Goosie Game: Hunt 'n Swat
Who it's for: Moderate-High Energy, Moderate Intelligence, Swatting & Pouncing, Puzzles & Challenges
How to play: Fill the toy with kitty's favorite treats or dry food for them to swat around to get them out! This will have them active and moving around while they eat!
Tips & Tricks: For extra food motivated smart cats, try hiding the treat dispenser like in Hide, Hunt 'n Swat for more of a challenge to get to it before they can get the food out.
If your cat has mobility issues try a more stable version like this Spinning Fish from Catstages!
Toy Pairings: Hunt 'n Swat Treat Dispenser, Spinning Fish
Goosie Game: Kickeroonie
Great for: Low-Moderate Energy, Low Intelligence, Swatting & Pouncing
How to play: Let kitty rub up on their favorite catnip kicker and then go crazy giving it bunny kicks!
Tips & Tricks: Kickers are a great toy for Toy Cycling because they attack multiple different cat instincts and cycling kickers of all different shapes, sizes, colors, and textures keep your cat from getting bored!
Lucy's tip: If you're looking for a kicker WITHOUT catnip, check out Wool Balls!
Toy Pairings: Kickers, Wool Balls, Yeowww! Catnip Banana
Goosie Game: Make it Rain
Great for: Low-Moderate Energy, Low Intelligence, Jumping & Climbing, Swatting & Pouncing
Not the best for: Cats who don't like toys that make sound
How to play: How to play: dangle the cords above kitty wiggling and bouncing them to get kitty up and reaching for them! Oh no! It made a river! Sweep the strings on the ground for kitty to pounce. Try switching back and forth!
Tips & Tricks: Obese cats might enjoy laying on their back to play, and slowly try to get them up on their feet if they're looking to shed some pounds.
Toy Pairings: The Wiggle Wand
Goosie Game: Octagon
Great for: High Energy, High Intelligence, Swatting & Pouncing
How to play: Be unpredictable with your movements using all four limbs of the hand puppet to entice and wrestle kitty. Figure out what they like, they’ll let you know what’s too aggressive and when they need more! Try out new moves to keep them on their toes.
Tips & Tricks: Kitty may take some time to learn that they can only play with your hand when you have the puppet on. They're smart, but be clear that they see you put it on and take it off. Do not engage in that style of play once it comes off.
Toy Pairings: Catsumo
Goosie Game: On your Mark, Get Set, Chase!
Great for: High Energy, Low Intelligence, Swatting & Pouncing
NOT the best for: Timid cats might not enjoy this game
How to play: Short on time? Turn on the Racin' Squirrel or the robo ball and let kitty chase it around!
Tips & Tricks: For extra excitement mist the tail with some catnip spray!
Toy Pairings: Ball & Play Mat, Racin' Squirrel Robot
Goosie Game: Order Up!
Who it's for: All Energy, High Intelligence, Puzzles & Challenges
How to play: Fill the grooves and/or flaps with your cat's favorite dry food or treats to hunt for their reward
Tips & Tricks: Cat figured it out and is solving it too quickly? Time to cycle it out and wait to reintroduce it, then they'll have to reacquaint themselves with it.
Don't be afraid to help them out if this is their first time, they'll learn quickly!
Toy Pairings: Rainy Day Food Puzzle, Treat Puzzles, Wag Works Paw Prodigy
Goosie Game: Paw Ball
Great for: Moderate Energy, Moderate Intelligence, Swatting & Pouncing
How to play: Using a shallow bucket, basket, kitty pool, or anything sort of container with shallow walls, bounce the ball in there and let kitty swat at it, try to get it out, and chase it back and forth all around.
Tips & Tricks: Add more than one ball so they bounce off of each other creating more for kitty to track! This is especially great if you have multiple cats who love to swat!
Toy Pairings: Bouncy Feather Balls, Wiggly Ball
Goosie Game: Peek-a-boo
Great for: Low-Moderate Energy, Moderate Intelligence, Swatting & Pouncing
How to play: Using a door, chair, or something with a small gap underneath it, place yourself on one side while kitty stays on the other. Slip the braided tail of the teaser underneath so it pokes out onto kitty’s side. Drag the teaser back and forth, jut it out and pull it back under for kitty to try and grab.
Tips & Tricks: Go faster or slower depending on kitty’s mood that play session. If your cat is blind they might enjoy tracking & pouncing on the sound from The Wiggle Wand!
Toy Pairings: Braided Cotton Teaser, The Wiggle Wand
Goosie Game: Pre-Game
Great for: Low Energy, All Intelligence, Swatting & Pouncing
Not the best for: Kittens less than 6-8 months old
How to play: Hold out or give kitty one of these silvervine Stix or potent catnip toy for them to sniff and rub up on to get them frisky and energetic for some playtime motivation. You can keep playing with this as a smacker or transition onto other toys and games!
Tips & Tricks: Great to get senior cats up and excited for a play session
Toy Pairings: Silly Stix, Yeowww! Catnip Banana
Goosie Game: Pull ‘n Tug
Great for: Moderate Energy, High Intelligence, Swatting & Pouncing, Puzzles & Challenges
How to play: Pack the cheese wedge with the fluffy mice and kitty will have to pull and tug to get the mice out.
Tips & Tricks: If your cat is food motivated give them some extra motivation by adding treats inside along with the mice as a treat hunt!
Toy Pairings: Burrow Mice
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!
Toy Pairings: Cat Charmer, Da Bird, Forever Stick
Goosie Game: Rapid Fire
Great for: High Energy, Moderate Intelligence, Stalking & Chasing
How to play: Toss or launch one your cat's favorite balls or discs across the room or down the hall for kitty to chase. As soon as they’ve caught it or it’s gotten away, toss or launch another one in another direction, repeat. The key to this game is speed!
Tips & Tricks: If your cat is getting bored by the action being repetitive and you have the space, try tossing them in multiple directions to get them in new spaces and running farther or cycle between balls and discs!
We recommend having lots of balls or discs on hand to make sure you can keep up with your cat!
Toy Pairings: Bouncy Feather Balls, Disc Launcher, Pom Pom Launcher, Wiggly Ball
Goosie Game: Rattle, Rattle, Pounce!
Great for: Low Energy, Moderate-High Intelligence, Stalking & Chasing, Puzzles & Challenges
Not the best for: Cats who don't like toys that make sound. Small living spaces.
How to play: Go in another room and rattle the ball on the wand, luring your cat to come find you. Once they do, let down the strings and play in your cat’s preferred style!
Tips & Tricks: Once they find you and you start playing, see if they're up for taking this game on the move and transition into another game or chase the strings.
Toy Pairings: The Wiggle Wand
Goosie Game: Rollie Bowlie
Great for: Moderate Energy, Moderate Intelligence, Stalking & Chasing
How to play: Like it’s a bowling ball, roll the ball across the floor or down a hallway. Like Go Long! except the ball never leaves the floor.
Tips & Tricks: Keep losing the small balls? Try playing this Goosie Game with larger Wool Balls!
Toy Pairings: Bouncy Feather Balls, Wiggly Ball, Wool Balls,
Goosie Game: Runway
Great for: Moderate Energy, Low Intelligence, Moderate Intelligence, Jumping & Climbing
How to play: Drag the feather or your cat's favorite wand attachment 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!
Toy Pairings: Cat Charmer, Da Bird, Forever Stick, Snatch Wand
Goosie Game: Search & Rescue
Great for: Moderate Energy, Moderate Intelligence, High Intelligence, Jumping & Climbing, Puzzles & Challenges
How to play: Launch the discs into the air for kitty to chase, if they lose track of the disc when it falls, use the laser to direct kitty to the disc so they get their reward with the laser!
Tips & Tricks: This game isn’t exclusive to the Disc Launcher; if you’re using a laser, guide them by chasing the laser to any of their favorite toys, especially something like a bouncy feather ball that will keep them chasing!
Toy Pairings: Bouncy Feather Balls, Disc Launcher, Wiggly Ball
*This game does involves the use of a laser pointer.
Goosie Game: Slither
Great for: Low Energy, Low Intelligence, Stalking & Chasing
How to play: As if the tail of the teaser is a snake, slither it across the floor for kitty to track, stalk, follow, & pounce!
Tips & Tricks: To add in some extra, try incorporating your cat’s tunnel (like in Hidden String or Tunnel Chase) or slithering around furniture, down halls, or into other rooms (like in Corner.)
Toy Pairings: Braided Cotton Teaser, Cat Charmer, The Wiggle Wand
Goosie Game: Smacker Pack
Great for: Low Energy, Low Intelligence, Swatting & Pouncing
How to play: Smackers are solo play toys that your cat can swat and pounce on their own. If your cat needs some extra motivation, dust their favorite smacker with some silvervine powder or catnip mist.
Tips & Tricks: Just one toy is all you need, but cycling a new color, texture, or shape into their smacker pack can keep playtime exciting!
Toy Pairings: Light Up Balls, Mice, Roo's Rock Candy, Silly Stix
Goosie Game: Sneak Attack
Great for: Moderate Energy, Moderate Intelligence, Stalking & Chasing, Puzzles & Challenges
Not the best for: Anxious cats might not love this game
How to play: Hide around the corner, behind a chair, or wherever you can be out of kitty's sight, with the puppet peeking out. This makes kitty think they're being stalked and will stalk you back. When kitty attacks, it’s time to wrestle!
Tips & Tricks: Want a DIY version? Try with an oven mitt or a sock puppet!
Toy Pairings: Catsumo
Goosie Game: Spin-n-Swing
Great for: Moderate Energy, High Energy, Moderate Intelligence, Stalking & Chasing
How to play: Lay the teether flat on the ground, with your finger in the center. Spin the teether around as gently or intensely as your cat likes to play. Release it to spin & slide across the room for kitty to chase!
Tips & Tricks: If you don’t release it and keep spinning it around at different speeds, that’s the Goosie Game Spinnies! If your cat is a senior, they might like to just track it with their eyes for mental stimulation rather than going faster & expecting a pounce if they’re younger or high energy! Want a DIY version? Try this with a hair tie!
Toy Pairings: Teething Ring
Goosie Game: Spinnies
Great for: Low-Moderate Energy, Low Intelligence, Swatting & Pouncing
How to play: Lay the Rock Candy down on the ground, and use the tip of one of your fingers to spin the baton in moving circles to attract kitty.
Tips & Tricks: If your cat is unpredictable, watch our for your fingers when they pounce or swat!
Toy Pairings: Roo's Rock Candy, Teething Ring
Goosie Game: Swat 'n Chomp
Who it's for: Low Energy, Moderate Intelligence, Swatting & Pouncing, Puzzles & Challenges
How to play: Fill the toy with kitty's favorite treats or dry food for them to swat, spin, & get them out!
Tips & Tricks: This is a stable treat dispenser that works great on the floor for kitties with mobility issues, but it can also attach on top of Catstages's Chase Meowtain Track Cat Toy!
Toy Pairings: Spinning Fish
Goosie Game: Sweeping Swipers
Great for: All Energy Levels, Low Intelligence, Swatting & Pouncing
How to play: Sweep the strings side to side across the floor for kitty to pounce back and forth and catch. Go faster or slower, smoother or more jerking depending on how kitty’s feeling that play session!
Tips & Tricks: Watch for when kitty’s eyes dilate or they wiggle their backside to get an idea of what movements are getting them interested to pounce! Then once you know what their pounce signals are, pull the toy away before they can catch it!
Toy Pairings: Da Bird, Forever Stick, The Wiggle Wand
Goosie Game: Swimmin' Swirls
Great for: Low Energy, Low Intelligence, Stalking & Chasing
How to play: Perfect for Mouse Hunters (more like Fish Hunters!) attach a wand, string, or fishing line to the Flopping Fish, turn on the flopping motor, and drag the fish around as if it were swimming for kitty to chase!
Tips & Tricks: You can easily remove the catnip & silvervine pouch to wash the fish and have a catnip & silvervine free toy & playtime!
Toy Pairings: Flopping Fish
Goosie Game: Tailspin
Great for: Moderate Energy, Low Intelligence, Jumping & Climbing, Swatting & Pouncing
How to play: Hold the mouse by the very tip of its tail upside down so the mouse swings. Spin the tail between your thumb and forefinger, holding it slightly above your cat's' head so they have to reach and hopefully get up on their hind legs to catch the spinning mouse! Think of it like a piñata for your cat!
Tips & Tricks: If your cat likes toys that make sound sound, you can play this with rattling mice!
Toy Pairings: Mice
Goosie Game: Teaser Games
Great for: All Energy, All Intelligence, All Play Styles
How to play: Tie a string in the center of one of the Silly Stix like a T and play some Goosie Games from your cat’s favorite wand (Tornado, Rainbow, Corner, etc!) for a semi-DIY! silvervine fueled hunt The fun colors and silvervine scent will get kitty excited to play their favorite game with an unconventional toy.
Tips & Tricks: Sometimes if your cat seems bored of their current toy & game, changing what the toy looks like, i.e. trading their feather for a Silly Stix, can get them excited to keep playing their favorite Goosie Games.
Toy Pairings: Silly Stix
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 and a few inches in front of them. 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 until the feather reaches a few inches in front of them so they can reach their paw out for it rather than upward!
Toy Pairings: Da Bird, Forever Stick, Snatch Wand
Goosie Game: Tire Push
Great for: Moderate Energy, Low Intelligence, Stalking & Chasing, Swatting & Pouncing
How to play: Stand the teether up on its side and give it a push for kitty to chase it across the room or down a hallway to tackle it and go crazy!
Tips & Tricks: The bumpy exterior adds an extra layer of challenge for you to keep it upright, playtime for your cat AND you!
Toy Pairings: Teething Ring
Goosie Game: Tornado
Great for: Low Energy, Low Intelligence, Jumping & Climbing, Swatting & Pouncing
How to play: Swirl the colorful ribbon in circles above kitty, and get kitty jumping and turning all around in the tornado to catch it. Kitty prefers to play on the ground? The tornado can touchdown!
Tips & Tricks: If your cat is obese or missing a limb they might enjoy playing this on their back or stomach on the ground, reaching around to try and catch the ribbon -- try bigger or slower rotations or faster and smaller!
Toy Pairings: Cat Charmer
Goosie Game: Toss Across!
Great for: Moderate Energy, Moderate Intelligence, Stalking & Chasing
How to play: Get kitty's attention with their mouse, then toss it across an item from their playscape, a piece of furniture, or something they can't see the other side of (Lucy likes to play this across the kitchen island!) Since they can't see where the mouse landed, their curiosity gets the best of them and they won't be able to help but run to the other side to find the mouse. Bonus points if they bring it back!
Tips & Tricks: It can also land in something for an additional obstacle to get to the mouse! Like in the Christmas tree branches (iykyk), in a shoe, etc.!
Toy Pairings: Bouncy Feather Balls, Mice, Nala Light Up Balls, Wiggly Ball
Goosie Game: Treat Maze
Great for: Low-Moderate Energy, High Intelligence, Puzzles & Challenges
How to play: Set out the ripple rug and hide some of kitty's favorite treats inside. Make the hunt as easy or challenging as kitty can handle. It may take a few tries to find kitty's sweet spot.
Tips & Tricks: For an added challenge, switch up the touch points of the ripple rug to make it more difficult each time you give your kitty a maze to stretch their brain!
Toy Pairings: Ripple Rug
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.
Toy Pairings: Da Bird, Forever Stick, Tunnel, The Wiggle Wand, Snatch Wand
Goosie Game: Whack-A-Cat
Great for: Moderate-High Energy, Moderate-High Intelligence, Swatting & Pouncing
How to play: Put on the Catsumo™ wrestling glove, an oven mitt, or a thick sock, and hide your hand inside the Ripple Rug. Pop it out one of the holes when kitty attacks. Keep finding new spots to pop your hand in and out to keep kitty on their toes.
Tips & Tricks: Switch up the ripple rug every time you play to keep kitty on their toes! Want to test kitty’s brain, try and establish a pattern and see if they can figure it out. Adjust the speed and intensity depending on how your cat is feeling that sessions!
Toy Pairings: Catsumo, Play Cube, Ripple Rug
Goosie Game: Wobble, Wobble, Kick, Kick.
Great for: Low-Moderate Energy, Low-Moderate Intelligence, Swatting & Pouncing
How to play: The round bottom makes it perfect for constant swatting and rolling back up and around, and its plush filled top makes a soft kicker. So kitty can swat the wobbler around and be rewarded to use it as a kicker once they get it down.
Tips & Tricks: If your cat is constantly exposed to catnip, they may build up a tolerance and become less affected by it. Cycling in non-catnip toys can give your cats a break from overexposure.
Toy Pairings: Wobbler