Cat toys – how to choose a toy your cat will actually use?

Every cat owner knows this scenario. You buy a new toy, the cat approaches, sniffs it for a few seconds... and walks away.

Why does this happen?

Because a cat does not choose a toy with its eyes. It chooses by instinct.

For over 14 years, I have been breeding pedigreed cats and observing their behavior every day. It was the cats that taught me that the best toy doesn't have to light up, play sounds, or move on its own. It should resemble prey and encourage hunting.

The cat remains a predator

Even if it sleeps on the couch for most of the day.

Hunting is one of its most natural behaviors. Therefore, a good toy should encourage the cat to track, attack, grab, tug, and carry its prey.

This is exactly why our toys are small in size. The cat should be able to comfortably grab them in its mouth, toss them, tug at them, and carry them to another place. This is what natural play looks like.

Every detail matters

When designing our toys, I didn't wonder what would appeal to people. I wondered what would interest the cat.

That is why PRASKA toys are created from a combination of several elements that stimulate different senses.

Soft premium fur resembles natural prey. Crinkle foil arouses curiosity and encourages an attack. For many cats, valerian is an incredibly attractive scent that stimulates play. Cotton strings encourage grabbing, tugging, and fetching.

Every element is there for a specific reason. Nothing is accidental.

Not every toy needs to light up and make sounds

You can find many electronic toys on the market.

However, in my experience, cats are much more likely to return to simple toys that resemble prey. These are the ones that engage the hunting instinct and leave the cat with the opportunity to hunt independently.

Sometimes the simplest solutions turn out to be the best.

Before a toy hits the store…

…it first goes to the cats.

Every new design undergoes extensive testing. I observe how cats of different breeds and ages react to it.

• Do they return to the toy?
• Do they carry it around the house?
• Do they try to hide it?
• Do they play with it on their own?
• Do they bring it to their caregiver?

Only when the answers to these questions are satisfactory does the toy go on sale.

Cats are indeed our most important testers.

Does a cat need many toys?

In my opinion, no.

A few well-chosen toys work much better than a whole basket of random items.

It is also worth hiding some of the toys every few days and taking them out again. They will then become interesting to the cat once more, and playtime will become more exciting.

Durability matters

A cat does not play gently.

That is why we hand-sew all PRASKA toys using materials that withstand daily use well. They should survive tugging, biting, tossing, and fetching.

These are products designed with long-term use in mind.

I don't design toys at a desk

Most of my ideas are not created at a computer or on a piece of paper.

They are created when I observe cats. I watch what intrigues them. How they hunt. What they grab first. Which toys they carry all over the house, and which ones they lose interest in after a few minutes.

Cats are truly my greatest teachers.

Thanks to them, I know that sometimes the right texture, a gentle crinkling sound, or the scent of valerian is enough to awaken an instinct that no electronic toy can replace.

I don't design products so they look good in photos. I design them so the cat wants to return to them every day.

That is why every PRASKA toy is first tested by cats of different breeds and ages. Only when I see that it truly engages them in play does it go on sale.

Because I am not the best designer. The best designer is always the cat.

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