How Often Do Cats Need New Toys?
Cats are very playful and their toys play a huge part in their daily activities. Just like any other item in our household, cats’ toys also wear out over time.
This means, we need to often change our cats’ toys with new ones.
Let’s see how we can do that, when we should do that, and why cats’ toys need to be frequently replaced.
How Often Should You Change Cat Toys – Chart
Each toy has its own lifespan, and of course, a cat’s interest in it, as we know cats can easily get bored of repetitive stuff.
Here’s a general rule of thumb on how often do cats need new toys and when to replace different types of cat toys:
| Type of Toy | Replacement Cycle |
|---|---|
| Interactive Toys | 3 to 6 months |
| Soft Toys | 3 to 6 months |
| Chew Toys | 2 to 4 months |
| Feather Toys | 2 to 3 months |
| Catnip Toys | 3 to 6 months |
| Electronic Toys | Only when not operating safely |
| Scratching Posts & Pads | 6 to 12 months |
When the time comes to replace your cat’s toys, it is important to pay attention to a handful of specific guidelines. These aren’t written in stone, though, and are generally advisable to consider the next time your cat’s toys come up for replacement.
That said, you need to check and inspect your cats’ toys first and take note of the type of toy you use for your cat. Some toys require interaction, such as wands or laser pointers, others are battery operated, and then there’s always the feather toys that may attract bacteria.
Without further ado, let’s dive into the specifics:
What to do Before Changing Cat Toys
Before even thinking about replacing the old ones with new shiny ones, make sure your cat has stopped playing with them. After all, cats have their favorite toys too, so if you decide to throw one out and replace it with a new one, you have to keep in mind how your cat will react.
With that in mind, let’s talk about how to properly take care of your cat’s toys so they don’t end up dirty or damaged and you won’t have to replace them all too often.
1. Gauge Cat’s Interest
We often see this happen with our furry little babies, as they play with a toy so much only to lose interest after a while. Take note of this and pay attention to your cat’s behavior. If they no longer get excited about a certain toy, it is time to replace it and reintroduce it after a while.
a) Favorite Toy
Every cat has a favorite toy they play and even talk with. So, be aware of this and check how your cat responds to each toy.
Once you know which is their favorite toy, keep that one, and freely replace the rest.
b) Time Spent Playing
This is equally important to take note of their favorite toys. The amount of playtime indicates just how much your cat loves that particular toy. Make sure you don’t replace or throw out toys that your cat spends most time with.
2. Inspect Cat Toys
Next, we’ll go with inspection, as regularly inspecting your cat’s toys is vital to ensure they remain safe for playing and also remain enjoyable. Worn out or damaged toys can pose risks, such as hazards, choking, or ingestion of small parts.
Therefore, regular inspection is key, and here are some steps you can take to check the status of your cat’s playthings:
a) Loose Parts
This is the first and most important aspect of inspecting your cat’s toys, even if your cat finds this toy as their favorite. Always make sure to check if there are any loose parts that may scratch your kitty and hurt it. Detachable parts like bells, buttons, or eyes can also be easily and unintentionally ingested, causing trouble in your kitty’s belly.
b) Tears & Holes
Cats like to chew and claw on things, and soft toys, like fabric balls or plush animals, can easily develop tears and holes. These openings then expose the stuffing or other small internal parts, which can be pretty dangerous, especially if ingested.
c) Strings & Ribbons
Toys that have strings, feathers, or ribbons attached can unravel easily. These can easily get caught in your cat’s claws or entangle them and cause harm. Our Kiki likes to play with a feather wand, but oftentimes she entangles herself onto it, so we always pay extra attention to the condition of the string.
d) Rubber & Plastic
Rubber and plastic toys can crack over time, so regularly inspecting these for sharp edges or cracks is important. These sharp edges may hurt your cat’s mouth, so you should always pay attention to this type of toy and discard it immediately when you find faults.
e) Cleanliness
Cats are outdoor creatures by nature, so it’s normal for them to get dirty and play with dirty things outside. Indoor cats, though, are a different breed altogether. But even with outdoor cats that are playing inside with various toys, it is still important to check if the toys have collected some dirt, saliva, or dust, as these can harbor germs and bacteria. Once the check is complete, the next step is to find the best ways on how to clean cat toys to have them remain intact for longer.
🐾 Regularly inspecting your cat’s toys is imperative to having your purry kitty play often, without worrying about health issues or if they hurt themselves.
3. Check for Hazards & Issues
Now that you’ve learned what you need to look out for in your cat’s toys, let’s see the potential dangers of worn out toys:
a) Choking
Choking is one of the biggest hazards for cats, especially from small, detachable parts of toys. Eyes, buttons, bells, and similar parts may become loose and they pose a serious risk to your kitty.
b) Harmful Materials
Toys with foam, stuffing, and small plastic parts can be rather dangerous when being exposed after prolonged playtime. When ingested, these materials can cause toxic reactions, blockages, or issues in the digestive system of your little furry friend.
c) Sharp Edges & Points
Cracked toys can develop sharp edges and points that may injure your cat’s paws, mouth, or other parts of their body. Our Kiki had this issue as she got stung by one plastic part of an artificial flower we have in our home and had just a tiny smudge between her whiskers. So always be wary of this as these injuries can lead to pain and even infection that would require medical attention.
d) Entanglement
Strings and ribbons from damaged toys may also pose a serious risk of entanglement. It’s all fun and games when you play with a feather wand, but when it breaks, gets loose or damaged, it is time to change it. Cat feather toys are dangerous if not properly taken care of. The materials may get wrapped around your kitty’s legs, paws, or even their neck, and potentially cause panic, and even cuts.
e) Toxic Materials
Older and heavily used toys will start to degrade over time, which in turn release harmful materials and chemicals. When buying such toys, always make sure to go for high quality and non-toxic toys for your cat, and always make sure to replace them when they show signs of damage.
f) Bacterial & Mold Growth
Dirty and damaged toys can become a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. These can cause respiratory issues or various infections if your cat comes in contact with them. Therefore, always make sure to regularly clean your toys or replace them altogether when you notice they’re dirty.
Do Cats Really Need New Toys?
Yes, they definitely do! Cats are very playful and can get bored quite easily, so changing and adding new toys in the mix can prove to be quite useful for their attention.
However, do note that cats have favorite toys too, so make sure you keep those while reinforcing their toy arsenal with new ones.
Also, make sure to play with your cat often, so that they don’t rely solely on toys for playtime activities. This will also strengthen the bond between the two of you and make playtime much more fun for your furry little baby.
Summary
It is no secret that cats love to play, and toys are key to helping them stay active and happy. However, we have to keep in mind that damaged or worn-out toys can actually harm our little furry babies.
With that in mind, it is very important to learn why and how often you should replace your cats’ toys to have them continue with regular playtime activities.
We hope you find our info and tips useful in helping keep your cat active, happy, and away from harm while playing with their favorite toys.
