Yes, it's true.... they love boxes, paper, strings, springs, tassels on drapes or pillows... Etc... You name it they like to chew,on or smack. and even chase stuff.Playfulness. Being a hunter...SO much energy and spunk!! Ordinary things catch their attention. They are very curious animals. ::))
My cats are indoor cats and they absolutely go nutso when I bring them something home from the outdoors (bird feather, pinecone, tree bark, random weed/flower, even a rock). They get all crazy with having the scents from outside brought to them. The items are free, natural, and most times I can just return them back outdoors when the cats are finished with them.
@@123nadeemuu I agree. I never knew so many were poisonous to cats. Every year a lady where I work gets me an indoor plant for Mother’s Day. Every one has been toxic to cats. I’ve had to give them to someone else.
Poor cats. U keep them in prison for life. How about u invest in a leash and harness and go for a walk in a park? Cats do walk on a leash, the thing with them is to go where they want, also they understand if they want to go somewhere u do not want them to go just lightly tag on the leash, they turn back
@@bambinaforever1402 Oh, I do take them on harnesses! One of my kitties is quite large and I had to buy a small dog harness to fit him. We live in an area that I don't feel is safe for them to free roam. (Our neighbors have dogs who are highly aggressive and actually killed a cat they had).
Went shopping for my boy today. Got him a bed he hasn't acknowledged, treats which he couldn't eat fast enough and 2 toys he has already destroyed.. went well.
We have two cat beds that we can't get either of our cats to use. Even put items of clothing with our scent on them in the cat beds. Goes completely ignored.
@@andromydous Try different places. I got an Anti-Anxiety bed (big, round, fluffy thing) for mine. Put it near the sofa, she tried it once and then avoided. Then put in under our bed and she pretty much lives there now.
@@andromydous my cats won’t sleep on anything soft/plush. Their beds are the ones made out of that scratching cardboard material. Chewy has some cute/nice ones :)
@@mandypdx Ours will sleep on top of a curio cabinet (we only have the top half), any counters, stove, washer, dryer, and the top flat part of their cat tree. Will have to try the scratch beds.
I combed my cat at the same time a couple evenings in a row. Now he insists that we do it every night, right on time. He races around and knocks the papers off my desk if we don't and then mopes around. Clearly it's very important to him, so now it's our little routine.😻
Here are some suggestions for making your own cat toys for cheap/free. There's lots of reasons one might do this. Save some money. Upcycle old stuff. Enjoying crafting and watching the fruits of your labour as kitty enjoys their new gear! Fun with tee shirts: I made my cat several toys from an old tee shirt. I cut the shirt into 1 inch wide strips. I cut these into 8 inch long pieces for independent toys. I knotted the fabric at both ends. My cat loves biting and kicking the knots. I hot glued a long strip of tee shirt to the end of a chopstick. Instant interactive toy. My cat goes bonkers for the fluid and unpredictable movements of the fabric strip. I also attached one of the shorter knotted pieces to some twine and a chopstick for another interactive toy. I left a square of tee shirt in tact to line a shipping box bed for him too. Scavenging from nature: I picked up some fallen crow and seagull feathers in a park. It’s important to disinfect feathers. I placed them in a ziploc and froze them for a month to kill anything nasty. Attach twine and a chopstick to feathers, and you’ve got a flying interactive toy. Fake feathers can also be made from non-fraying materials like felt, leather and fleece. Pipe cleaner & bead bugs: I had an old hemp necklace with big wooden and bone beads. I don't wear them anymore so I cut out the beads. I made pipe cleaner “insects” with beads for the bodies. Grade school level crafting, but kitten adores batting and carrying them around. Be sure to fold away pointed ends into the beads for safety. Origami Treat Puzzles: I made origami boxes from old construction paper and greeting cards. Google “6 piece origami cube” for instructions. It's entry level orgami, even simpler than a crane. Once your cube is assembled, you can cut one of the corners out and put a few treats inside. Kitty can play feline soccer and get a little reward! Leather Kickers and Mice: If you can do some basic hand sewing, leather makes great cat toys. I had some scraps from an old jacket, and I made a few mouses and a cat-shaped kicker. I stuffed them with, you guessed it, bits of the all-purpose tee shirt. Leather is so durable, and it stands up well against my cat's most rambunctious moods. My cat is usually 10x more interested in homemade toys than anything I bring home from a store. I think it's largely a scent thing. The oil from my hands gets all over the materials as I make toys. It also just makes me really happy to see some silly thing I made bringing joy to my dear kitten. Anyone else like to make cat toys? I'm all for hearing other peoples' tips :)
I wish I could see pics of these things, the only thing I can maybe figure out is the kicker toy. I’ve got an old pair of riding chaps that I knew I was hanging onto, not bc I’m a hoarder, but bc I’m frugal and I just knew it was gonna be good. Thank you for the ideas you cat lover.
Grab a stick from outside have some rope (preferably a skinny one) some sort of charm and some wire all of that together no clue involved you can make an interactive toy. Instead of rope you could use shoelaces or a hoodie strings or stuff like that. I recommend attaching some sort of bell toy to the end.
Jackson we just lost our cat this month due kidney failure, we had to put him down :( The vet told us that its was almost a certain that the problem with him was from his genetics, he was born with this problem, because he was only 8 months old and aside from that there wasnt anything in his test that indicate a infection or other things, he was healthy but his kidneys just began to fail out of nowhere. If possible PLEASE make more VIDEOS about situations like mine, because he was giving us signs that he changed but we just thought that it was normal because he was becaming a adult, he was playing less, most of the time just chilling in the house, he was less active unlike when he was a kitten... but what made us go to the vet was when he started to vomit and refuse to eat for one day. The vet told us that it wasnt our fault but I think only time will heal the guilty. Please I beg you guys who want to adopt, if you notice any change in the mod of your cat even thought it s seens normal because he is coming to adulthood at least go to the vet to do a check up for safty matters. Sorry about the long text and the caps, I just need it to tell somebody. I used the Caps for attention.
Carlos, so sorry to hear of your loss, especially with a cat so young. I had to have my beloved cat euthanized back in July due to a health crisis, so I know the heartbreak that comes with it. And yes, guilt feelings too. Things do get better with time though.
My friend suggested that I buy a Cat Heating Pad…I laughed but ended up buying my cat one. It’s now her “go to place” for her naps! She’s so happy!!! Who knew?!?!
Since my house is just too cluttered to our up our big tree since I moved home to work 2 years ago I put up 3 ft tree in a table. My cats love to post with pipe cleaners. So I decorated it with different colored pipe cleaners and used TP for the garland. They love it. They cat ready tear anything up, they get a new toy whenever they want and they enjoy looking at the bright lights. They will each get a Christmas gift, something that each one will really like. Lulu loves to be brushed so she's getting a new brush. Angus loves interactive toys so that what he got. Milo loves to play fetch, so he got me this for that. Sheldon Cooper doesn't really play, but he likes cat nip, so I got cat nip chess for him. They'll share everything, but they still get sneering I thought each would enjoy. Chloe, our lab mix will get a new chew bone because she loves chew bones and with her arthritis, she'll want to be outside less and less as it gets cooler and she'll need something to keep her busy between naps on her couch and watching her TV shows.
We got a smaller tree for our cats 😅. It's real (we have a real tree for humans, so we figured if it was fake it wouldnt be interesting to them) and we decorated it with bells and small shatter-proof ornaments. No lights of course. It actually worked! With 3 kittens and an adult cat we are more than happy to get them a little interesting-to-cats tree so they leave ours alone 🥰
@@totallydomestic433 they also make cat trees shaped like Christmas trees so the cats *become* the decorations, but for a tree the cats will definitely ignore: cat bed shaped like a Christmas tree
My cats loved to meditate with me. As soon as I start they loaf nearby but never disturb me. It feels just like a group meditation! Not a toy but a wonderful interaction with them 🙂👍
Just rescue an "adult" cat on 11/24, after losing my two super seniors in March. We both needed each other! Mochi is settling in well. I'm guessing he's between 2-4 years. I have many toys and we're having fun!
I bought heated beds for my senior cats following Jackson Galaxy’s recommendation. They are not cheap but the best purchase and the only gift my cats actually love.
Heated beds are wonderful! I had one cat who liked a round one and one who prefers a heated mat so he can stretch out. He still prefers ME as his favorite bed, but the heated mat is his next favorite!
I never knew about that! I know about the cooling mat for the summer but not the heated bed I should check that one out for my Gray she’s 16 and needs more heat now that winter is coming
What heated beds are you guys buying? Got any amazon links? At least were i live heated beds for pets arent common, i have only seen cooling mats and regular heated blankets
I had two cats who would bring their interactive toys to me, when they wanted me to play with them. I had the kinds of toys that I would throw for them. When I left those out, they would often enjoy carrying around and they would throw the object into the air and chase it. Leaving some toys out, gave my cats a way to let me know when they wanted to play and what they wanted to play with. I had a few interactive toys that I had to put out of reach when I wasn't playing with them, because the toy would be destroyed
Heh, someone needs to tell your Mom what you actually mean when you bring her your prey. 😉 My last cat live until 17 and she was ever the independent hunter. In summer she wouldn’t come in the house unless she’d failed at hunting and was hungry. She loved me in her own way though. If I went out into the allotments behind our house she would dash about playing with me and come up for pettings. Curiosly though if I sat down in our garden she would always emerge from somewhere within a few minutes and sit with me. In winter she did like to come in and dry her cold wet paws on my lap and I always let her. I knew what I was getting into. But she did bring me gifts. Either coming into the kitchen or in the garden to deposit a small bird or rodent at my feet then look up at me expectantly. Even as a child I understood the basics behind it after watching lion and cheetah nature programmes. I knew how difficult hunting is and how much effort my cat had put into hunting, killing and bringing “dinner” to me. So I gave her a little praise as I didn’t want to encourage it. Let her know that I was grateful that she cared enough to bring me “food.” And I’d “accept” the prey by protecting my hand with a paper towel, picking it up and hiding it in an empty butter container- at least until I could discreetly bury it somewhere. I loved that cat, but when she refused to go outside and started rapidly losing weight I had my mother take her to the vet. Kidney cancer. I hated putting her down but she would only feel pain and suffering if we let it continue. So I held her in my arms while the injection was given. It was so quick she didn’t even close her eyes. I had to once she was gone. So yeah now with my current cat being 15 with her own managed conditions I treasure every day with her.
Before I retired, I used to bring home the lid to the cardboard boxes the printer paper came in. My small senior kitty loved that!! She'd see it in my hand as I got home from work and would know it was for her. The box lid was perfect for her to get in and still feel that wonderful feel of a cardboard box.
I took a young rescue cat in a few months ago and while I've had cats my whole life it's the first time I have to take of one by myself. Over the past days I've been binging your videos to be better at taking care of her. She's a sweetie with a lot of energy and quite a few bad habits that I've been slowly trying to work on, and I really hope I'll be able to giver her a long, happy life. Thank you for helping me with that with your videos!
Jackson I don't know if I've done It. But I'd like to thank for what you've done for cats. You've made a difference for them. Hopefully we can get ppl to quit mistreating them!!!!
My stepdad made these super wide windowsills for the cats to sleep on and watch out the windows. Best thing ever. He removed the old sills and put these foot and a half wide by two feet long window sills so they can sleep or watch the birds outside. Every cat that we've had has been in love with them and they are always their favorite places to sit.
I would love a video on how to move with your cat with advice on how to make it as seamless and least anxiety producing as possible. It would also be helpful if it talked about moving a shorter distance or across country where you might need to fly or drive a long distance with your cat.
My cat Winkie (RIP 😭) LOVED her carrier. It was just a simple carrier I bought when I adopted her. I put a blanket in it and would bring it out for her to lay in every so often. I would just set it down, open the door, and she would run inside and stay for a few hours.
Yes, I tie a knot in the ones my kitten plays with. They don't see the color of things I read. So I do find it funny that she prefers the red straw over a black one or a clear colored one.
my little girl loves to sleep in her carrier. its her "dont bug me" place. we put a blankie in there that she loves to knead (a throw pillow cover from ikea, highly recommend getting something like that because it's a perfectly cat sized blanket) she's just absolutely content in there.
I have the same food puzzle toy that shows up first in that section of the video. It's the only way my cat gets dry food now. She gets her wet food 3x/day for her base nutritional requirements, but I toss a handful of kibble into the food puzzle before I go to bed for the night. During the day, she wants to be fed every 5-6 hours, and as much as I love her, I'm way too old for 3am feedings, lol. So when she gets hungry at night, she has access to some dry food -- but only if she's willing to work for it! It keeps her entertained and provides her with an early-morning snack, and I get to wake up to a happy lil puffball curled up next to me purring, instead of a crying, hangry, murder-floof.
Jackson, I just wanted to say that my cat likes to watch your videos. Not just the clips of other cats, but somewhat strangely, even the clips where you are on screen.
My cat has one hobby, waking me up 1 hour before breakfast with deafening meowings. She's almost 7. She's done this since she was 10 weeks old. I've never given her her breakfast early. She still does this. Brats lucky I love her.
I consider myself extremely lucky my cat of 15 years waits for me to wake up. Of course the minute she knows I’m awake she’ll meow for food and I do feed her then. Remarkable patience.
We recently bought a cat bed. Strangely enough, our cat will only sleep on it when it is turned upside down (soft plastic bottom). He's a strange beast, but at least he's happy now.
i got my cat a ball made of twine that was supposedly for rodent pets but he just loves it! he’ll bat it around on his own but he especially loves playing “football” with it where i kick it around and he chases after it oh and also his carrier has his own little towel in it and it’s one of his favourite places to rest in. sometimes he just crawls in, may even close the door on himself, and stays there for hours
My two kittens will have nothing to do with cat beds. But I got a lot of good ideas from this blog. Keeping them entertained is a priority to me. They give so much joy to me so I like to return the favor.🤗
2 of my girls love their carrier. We've always keep it open them. They still use it as a bed and safe space 😁 They give it 5 meows of approval, and lots of purrs.
Had a very high energy cat as a kid who played fetch and would bring toys to you when wanted you to play with her. 50yrs on have learnt not all cats do that! She was unique. But all cats are wonderful. 😍
A little note on fountains.....Make sure it is easy to clean before you buy it! I made the mistake of buying a set of fountains and the bottom half was easy enough to clean but the top half not so much due to a really skinny channel that was difficult to make sure I had it clean. Now we have the Catit fountain where the top looks like a flower and that thing is super easy to keep sanitary, just need a baby bottle nipple brush for the one section but it gets it clean very easily, and even better is the filters for them aren't expensive.
My two boys love two specific types of toy; the fishing rod style, and the kicker. They do love the laser pen as well, but I make sure they have some "real prey" afterwards so they are fulfilled in their hunt. One of them really goes to town on the kicker, while the other more sort of wrestles with it and rolls around with it between his front paws and doesn't kick, it's the cutest thing I've ever seen.
Hey Jackson, you mentioned using a toy as a distraction from something we don't want our cats getting into. This is something I do, but I worry it's actually reinforcing the negative behavior.
Yep. At least it does so for my cat, i find it more effective to go and stop the activity itself, and then play with her... but still, having a toy in hand will come in handy (lol) for any situation where you cant stop the issue inmediately. For example: in the middle of online school, or when im drawing, i find it easier to throw a toy ball than stop what i am doing and get up.
I make condos for my cat with really sturdy boxes and hot glue gun... 2 or 3 tiers depending on the space i have and how high are the windows... With holes between levels and rooms ans and a lot of soft old things you dont wear anymore... Si basically free except the cost $$ of glue gun stick(dollar shop please!) And the theme you want... Mine is hello kitty so all the "entry ways" are shaped like Hello Kitty face! Really fun to diy your own ideas! 😻
So many thanks to you Jackson for all the fun and knowledge you share! I grew up with barn cats but never really paid a lot of attention to them, I've usually been a dog person. 14 years ago I got two kittens out of curiosity as to what it would be like to have them in the house with me. I fell in love! You've been with us for the past 10 years or so and you always have something new to teach me! So once again, thank you Jackson, God bless you and yours 💙😻
Hi, Jackson! I actually grew up in a family who have had many different pets. Mostly dogs & cats. But, it's been so long since I've had any that I need to brush up on a few things. I'm supposed to have a companion pet says my Dr. But I haven't been able to get 1 due to several reasons (long story). I think it's almost the right time. & My Dr said he'd write me up a pet prescription as soon as I give him the word. Being disabled & not able to walk much, or quickly, I thought I'd adopt older cats (1 at a time). Fact: I will cry just as much if you tell me your cat died, the same as if mine died - no matter how long I've had it. I'm a major pet lover! But, I'm willing to have my heart broken just so I can give an older cat a great end of life experience. & Though I will cry, I will still feel better knowing I helped give a cat a chance to be loved. Ok. Yeah, I talk a lot. Sorry. But I said all that to ask, how much/often do you feed a cat?
I feed mine twice a day. There are feeding guidelines listed on packages of food that are based on the cat's weight. Always have clean fresh water available. Hope this helps!
@her last voyage: I do know about the fresh water. That's a must! In fact, I like to keep the bowl clean. I have helped with other's cats & was grossed out by how filthy the bowl was! I do appreciate your advice! Thank you!
I always give my cats boxes from deliveries or paper bags from the grocery store. Sometimes they make a mess of them but its worth it to watch them play
Hey Jackson, could you please talk about cat dental needs. Recently I bought my cat (Paco ) to the vet because she was feeling down and I didn’t know what was bothering her, so I brought her to the vet and found out that she had to have 3 teeth removed, but I hadn’t even considered her dental health. I think that most folks are like me and rarely consider their dental health. Thankfully she is all better. ☮️ n ❤️
I have so far ordered a chargeable flapping fish for my boy bc he really needs a kicker and he just doesn't use the ones that don't move. He seems to not be affected by catnip at all. But maybe a snuffle mat is something to look into! Thanks for the tips!
I recently used some brown shipping paper, crumbled it up, and scattered some treats inside it. It was a makeshift snuffle mat to see if my pets would like a real one. They all went crazy over it, so it looks like I need to buy/make an actual snuffle mat now. 😅
I discovered this by accident, I bought cat litter that was for adult cats and after research realised my kittens little paws were too sensitive so they wouldn’t use it. I used shredded paper until I could pop to the shop and replace it. When I got back they were rolling in the paper and playing in the tray, I take it out once every couple of days … they love it !!!
Jackson, you are a superhero! One of my cats' favorite toys was a small hand-sized stuffed panda bear. She used to carry it around in her mouth meowing extremely loudly in a very distinct way. Every time I heard that particular meow, I knew she had the panda in her mouth. And I would cheer her on, because I figured she was bragging about her hunting skills. Anyway, now I can't find the panda anywhere and wish I could replace it somehow. This same cat as a kitten once carried balls of tissue paper (that she created herself by unraveling the toilet paper) and - I kid you not - lined them up in a row on a pillow, like trophies. I had never seen anything like that before - and haven't seen her do anything like that since. If I hadn't seen it, I would not believe it. It was as if she was playing pretend. This would have been at an age equivalent to being a five-year-old human, when she would also entertain herself by sneaking up on a shoe and attacking it. Has anyone ever taught a cat to fetch or is that something some cats naturally just do? Wish I could wake up early enough for the live chat!
@@scottfw7169 Thanks. I've always wondered about that. It seems only a rare cat wants to play fetch. Mine would rather chase a red laser dot they can't ever catch.
@@saradavies5809 Welcome. And because they can't catch the red dot I play a little bit crunchy treat toss and catch with my 2 after playing a round of laser spot chase. The older fellow can sit there and catch the treats in his mouth if your toss is even halfway good. His year younger brother from another mother is a bit less coordinated that way but can often make two-paws catches.
oddly enough i've had 3 tuxs that would fetch... one of them lived to steal coins as well. never actively taught them, they just figured it out on their own. the thief would play fetch until she was panting, wake us up to play... she was a bit nuts about it.
My cat would rather play than eat. I just adopted him. He’s six years old. He loved the wand toy mimicking a bird from the beginning. Gradually, over about 6 weeks, he has also started chasing it as ground type prey. That introduces more variety. I do put it away between regular, predictable sessions. I think he would like a different wand toy also. I learn so much from you! Thanks so much
One of my cats loves those little catnip mice that are sold in packs of 3. But ONLY the pink ones. I've actually found one of the blue ones placed in a litter box!
Jackson! This litter box on Amazon is a must for senior cats and others. It's called PuppyGoHere but it's also for cats. The wide entrance is only three inches high and the other three sides are nine inches high to keep the litter in the box. Thick, high quality plastic. Expensive but does the job unlike other litter boxes. Great for seniors, kittens, and others who need a low entrance for arthritis, etc. Meowy Catmus! Daisy 🤗❤️
I had a cat Gingerbread for 21 years. She was a tall cat and started to have problems getting in the litter box. I bought a tote and cut a square on one end for easy access.I threw away the top away. The bottom of the square was 4 inches high and was perfect for her to get in and out. My boyfriend works in a auto body shop and put a rubber window seal around the opening "so she wouldn't hurt herself getting in and out". Lol it was from a BMW and cost about $400.00. Made me laugh... she wasn't spoiled.
I started to give my cat food puzzle toys... And since she's really into food, she really liked the toys. Unfortunate side effect tho; she learned to sniff out ANY food anywhere. I guess she learned that if she claws around enough, food will drop. So she started tearing bags and packets to pieces, started climbing on high shelves just to look around. Finally she just jumped the kitchen counters, learned to pry open the cabinet doors and steal her dry food packets. For twelve years I never had to childproof any cabinets, or even be careful about what I put on my tabletops. My cat never was much of climber. She only climbed on chairs and scratching posts. I made her few diy food puzzles and suddenly she's investigating EVERYTHING and EVERY PLACE in our apartment!
Mine was also able to open the cabinets, find the bags, open it. Now we use plastic buckets with lids that we refill and store it close to the ground ^^
Good to know about the pesky side affect of this kind of gadget. I got nine cats and certainly wouldn't want that to happen here. Thanks for your post about this!!
I used to have a dog a long time ago and recently I lived shortly with a housemate who had a cat and a game that they both always loved to play was chasing me or being chased around the house. They were always really excited when playing haha I would recommend it especially for indoor cats who dont get to do lots of running around. Make sure you are mindful with your cat's body language to see if they like it, tho. I personally think this game is way more engaging than any other cat games I tried and also the most underrated. I dont see people talking about it but I wish they would. You also get a good workout in ;)
My boi loves that he has his own 4' shelf in front of a bright, sunny window, big enough for a good size pot of cat grass, his favorite blanket on it, and an open top watering can he can drink out of.
I bought my cat a combo pack with about 20 different toys in it. Wands, mice, crinkly balls, a fish to kick, a little tunnel and some random stick. He loves that stick more than anything. He's never loved another toy this much before or since. edit: so its called silver vine I guess? Actinidia polygama, silvervine, or has a slightly different but similar compound as catnip and can illicit a similar but sometimes more intense euphoric response in cats, any many cats that don't react positively to catnip will have a positive reaction to silvervine twigs or powders. Thought I'd share in case anyone else's cats might love this stuff as much as mine!
I leave the soft carrier on the floor with one side always open. She is in and out of there with her toys of by herself. She is not afraid of the carrier anymore. Good video. Thank you
My cats favorite toy is literally a ball of crumpled up paper in one of those little gauzy jewelry bag things. Add a little cat nip and she will not leave it alone. It's so cute to watch her play with it because she is an old lady and mostly just wants to sleep.
My cat’s all time favorite items are a Ripple Rug and some flopping fish. They’re motion activated so when he pounces it starts flopping and he LOVES it. The ripple rug is a good place for your cat to hide in or hide toys in
Jackson thank you so much for posting these videos, my family is going to adopt a kitten at the end of the next week and your videos have been helping me learn about cats so much :)
We have a kitty (she is almost 4 or so now) and she has played fetch with my husband for years now. She didn't need any training for it. She just somehow knew/figured it out and she LOVES that game! 🥰
10:15 I just leave the carrier out where my boy is going to be comfortable at, and he uses it as his bed. He likes it, as it’s also kind of a cave. Traveling with him is easy, since he likes his carrier and he doesn’t associate it with trauma.
Yes. Boxes are.....IT...! We have bird feeders outside of the screened porch....and sooooo.....Babe and 2 Kitty watch birdies in between cat naps. Thanks Jackson for your fun and useful ideas for my Babies....Meow!! Ahna
My cats, and their Great Dane, don't touch the tree. Never have. They all have their stocking, and get toys every year. Turkey for the kitties, full dinner for the dog. Xmas is for them too.
The Great Dane I grew up with never let her presents make it to Christmas. She’d smell them out, and if they stepmom managed to keep them from her long enough to wrap them and put them under the tree, she’d help herself to her toys and open them herself. But only her gifts, she never opened something that wasn’t for her, lol
I have 20 house cats, many of them are rescue cats. My house is like a cat playground! They have tunnels, ball pits, cat trees, and a huge cat wheel that they use 24/7. They all have free access to the whole house, nowhere is out of bounds. I’ve got several large aquariums and I put stools out for them so they can sit and watch the fish plus every room has a window sill so they can watch the birds etc.
That moment when you realize that you happily watch Jackson Galaxy videos about cat gifts even though you don't have a cat, nor are you planning to get one any time soon.
Jackson,you are the greatest, you have helped me a lot with my 2 cats. Everything you say Is right on. Take care and Happy Holidays to you and all the cat lovers. 🐱
Jackson please tell us about cat speaking/talking buttons where cat buttons have a specific word where kitty and human can use words- makes sound of word when button is pushed by your paw or the kitty’s paw.
Jackson, I am selling my house and moving into a condo. The process, thus far, has been really hard on my Maui. I’m worried about the next phases. Things are happening SO FAST! The house sold in less that 2 weeks. Closing for house is in 2 weeks and closing on the condo I’m buying is the following week. I have a little flexibility in that I can stay in the house an extra month or so if need be. I’m worried how to protect Maui from any possible mishaps. Someone letting him out of the condo or him getting out on the balcony (5th floor)-terrifying!! I used your brilliant scent-soaker ideas when we had to leave the house for 2 weeks for showings. It’s already been a VERY tough year for us. We lost his brother, Mokie, on New Year’s Eve to non-small cell lymphoma. And we’ve been clinging to each other ever since. Maui is such a sweet cat, but he’s big and strong (22 lbs., but not overweight-just huge!), so there are issues. Because of all the chaos that ensued in prepping the house for sale, he hisses at my friends. So many changes happened while they were here. I have health issues stemming from an old auto accident-my car was T-boned by a city bus. Received a Traumatic Brain Injury and problems with my eyes for the “cherry on top.” I was lucky to survive. But reading is difficult and time-consuming now. Would you please tell me which of your books would give me the best guidance on what to do to make sure he can’t jump off the balcony? Though I will be on the 5th floor, there are a couple of trees that grow in front of the balcony. I also fear he will try to jump onto a tree. I’ve never lived in an apartment with a pet so I have no reference point to prepare me for this. PLEASE HELP!!
I boarded my cats overnight when I last moved--it was an extra step and an extra cost, but it saved so much stress that I'm doing it for every future move as well. As for books, I'd look at the catification ones for catio content. Best of luck🤞!
Easy fix for the balcony, buy and get installed one of those metal fences (with the square holes), the ones used to stop pets and kids from falling from balconies. Do not get the plastic ones, or at least not permanently/use with supervition. A neighbour's cat actually broke one of those with its claws and fell from a 7th floor. The cat is okish now but there were lots of visits to the vet. I had the metal one, that went from the balcony railing to the ceiling. Its very sturdy (its supposed to support a kids weight so a cat its nothing in comparison) and my cat even climbed it from the inside sometimes- so get the one that covers all the balcony. It will probably be expensive- specially depending on how much metal you need (ex, does your balcony have a ceiling? Would you need to put 4 sides of metal fencing, or only two?) But it is a must for pets, i believe.
I’d pick a room to contain them in once the move has happened and establish a “base camp” of sorts with familiar scents and a place to hide then give it a few days before letting them into other rooms. It worked when I moved from my parents house to a one bedroom flat. Within a week my cat dominated her new territory. Alas I’m on ground floor and have no issues with balconies sorry.
Yo Cat King!! I really enjoy most of your videos. Some of the mean, loud or devious cats -'- I am not a fanatic for them. I never much liked or loved cats...I was afraid of them when I was a young girl. We had a tank of goldfish. We had three dogs at my parents home. I think I often misunderstood most cats. My Aunt Dee-Dee's cats Buttons and Stinker were overly clawers. And chewed on my tennis shoes's shoelaces...yuck!! Cat cooties. ); Our cats Dandelion (Dandy) and Hollowell--(Holly)are so different. We agreed to take 2 adult cats at our local APL. Sixteen months have made these two sisters full fledged family members who are appreciated and are very much loved dearly. Thanks for your expertise within our furry friends' world.Happy Holidays Sir. Blessings to you and yours this Christmas and New Year 2022!! ((××::
One suggestion that I made on another video of yours is to set up a heating pad set on low, particularly in colder weather. I have had one set up for 16 years. Not the same one. The only thing that happens is that lower level burns out and does not work after some time. I did volunteer work at a wildlife sanctuary north of Chicago and all of the baby birds were in cardboard boxes with a heating pad set on low underneath them. Absolutely not a fire hazard. Love all your other suggestions! U the man! You are the cat whisperer as Cesar Millan is the dog whisperer.
I have many wands but the all time favorite is the feather with bell. The funny part is that when I start playing our dog (black lab) loves trying to catch it also..
My cat found a peanut in my yard, which a squirrel must've dropped and now is his favorite toy. He takes that thing everywhere
That's adorable😂
Awwwwwwwwwwwwww ❤️❤️
Too cute! 💖
Awwwwww
I love that! 😆
Let’s face it, whatever gift you get for your cat, chances are said feline will prefer playing with the box it came in! 📦😻☺️
I was just thinking that!!😻😹😻😹
Yup...😆
My cat prefers paper bags, but same idea. His favorite is when I touch the bag with toy while my cat is inside the bag.
Yup mines not interested in the toy I got for him most of the time but he goes mad for a paper ball, paper bag handle band a string lol
Yes, it's true.... they love boxes, paper, strings, springs, tassels on drapes or pillows... Etc... You name it they like to chew,on or smack. and even chase stuff.Playfulness. Being a hunter...SO much energy and spunk!! Ordinary things catch their attention. They are very curious animals. ::))
My cats are indoor cats and they absolutely go nutso when I bring them something home from the outdoors (bird feather, pinecone, tree bark, random weed/flower, even a rock). They get all crazy with having the scents from outside brought to them. The items are free, natural, and most times I can just return them back outdoors when the cats are finished with them.
So true, my indoor only cat loves a bit of stick to toss around the flat too.
Please dont bring plant or flowers
@@123nadeemuu I agree. I never knew so many were poisonous to cats. Every year a lady where I work gets me an indoor plant for Mother’s Day. Every one has been toxic to cats. I’ve had to give them to someone else.
Poor cats. U keep them in prison for life. How about u invest in a leash and harness and go for a walk in a park? Cats do walk on a leash, the thing with them is to go where they want, also they understand if they want to go somewhere u do not want them to go just lightly tag on the leash, they turn back
@@bambinaforever1402 Oh, I do take them on harnesses! One of my kitties is quite large and I had to buy a small dog harness to fit him. We live in an area that I don't feel is safe for them to free roam. (Our neighbors have dogs who are highly aggressive and actually killed a cat they had).
Went shopping for my boy today. Got him a bed he hasn't acknowledged, treats which he couldn't eat fast enough and 2 toys he has already destroyed.. went well.
We have two cat beds that we can't get either of our cats to use. Even put items of clothing with our scent on them in the cat beds. Goes completely ignored.
@@andromydous I even tried catnip.. it's such a nice fluffy bed too
@@andromydous Try different places. I got an Anti-Anxiety bed (big, round, fluffy thing) for mine. Put it near the sofa, she tried it once and then avoided. Then put in under our bed and she pretty much lives there now.
@@andromydous my cats won’t sleep on anything soft/plush. Their beds are the ones made out of that scratching cardboard material. Chewy has some cute/nice ones :)
@@mandypdx Ours will sleep on top of a curio cabinet (we only have the top half), any counters, stove, washer, dryer, and the top flat part of their cat tree. Will have to try the scratch beds.
I combed my cat at the same time a couple evenings in a row. Now he insists that we do it every night, right on time. He races around and knocks the papers off my desk if we don't and then mopes around. Clearly it's very important to him, so now it's our little routine.😻
I have to brush 2 of my cats on a daily basis - they demand it😹
Oh, my cat loves a brush down. She will have you doing it all day if she could😺
Grooming behavior! Your cat is so happy to feel loved! 😊
My cat Joey likes to be brushed 3-4 times a day. I doubt his prior owner never did!
Sweet!
Here are some suggestions for making your own cat toys for cheap/free. There's lots of reasons one might do this. Save some money. Upcycle old stuff. Enjoying crafting and watching the fruits of your labour as kitty enjoys their new gear!
Fun with tee shirts:
I made my cat several toys from an old tee shirt. I cut the shirt into 1 inch wide strips. I cut these into 8 inch long pieces for independent toys. I knotted the fabric at both ends. My cat loves biting and kicking the knots.
I hot glued a long strip of tee shirt to the end of a chopstick. Instant interactive toy. My cat goes bonkers for the fluid and unpredictable movements of the fabric strip. I also attached one of the shorter knotted pieces to some twine and a chopstick for another interactive toy.
I left a square of tee shirt in tact to line a shipping box bed for him too.
Scavenging from nature:
I picked up some fallen crow and seagull feathers in a park. It’s important to disinfect feathers. I placed them in a ziploc and froze them for a month to kill anything nasty. Attach twine and a chopstick to feathers, and you’ve got a flying interactive toy. Fake feathers can also be made from non-fraying materials like felt, leather and fleece.
Pipe cleaner & bead bugs:
I had an old hemp necklace with big wooden and bone beads. I don't wear them anymore so I cut out the beads. I made pipe cleaner “insects” with beads for the bodies. Grade school level crafting, but kitten adores batting and carrying them around. Be sure to fold away pointed ends into the beads for safety.
Origami Treat Puzzles:
I made origami boxes from old construction paper and greeting cards. Google “6 piece origami cube” for instructions. It's entry level orgami, even simpler than a crane. Once your cube is assembled, you can cut one of the corners out and put a few treats inside. Kitty can play feline soccer and get a little reward!
Leather Kickers and Mice:
If you can do some basic hand sewing, leather makes great cat toys. I had some scraps from an old jacket, and I made a few mouses and a cat-shaped kicker. I stuffed them with, you guessed it, bits of the all-purpose tee shirt. Leather is so durable, and it stands up well against my cat's most rambunctious moods.
My cat is usually 10x more interested in homemade toys than anything I bring home from a store. I think it's largely a scent thing. The oil from my hands gets all over the materials as I make toys. It also just makes me really happy to see some silly thing I made bringing joy to my dear kitten.
Anyone else like to make cat toys? I'm all for hearing other peoples' tips :)
Great ideas, thank you!
thank you😊😊
I wish I could see pics of these things, the only thing I can maybe figure out is the kicker toy. I’ve got an old pair of riding chaps that I knew I was hanging onto, not bc I’m a hoarder, but bc I’m frugal and I just knew it was gonna be good. Thank you for the ideas you cat lover.
Shoelace with a large bright bead (bigger than a marble) on the end. Never fails.
Grab a stick from outside have some rope (preferably a skinny one) some sort of charm and some wire all of that together no clue involved you can make an interactive toy. Instead of rope you could use shoelaces or a hoodie strings or stuff like that. I recommend attaching some sort of bell toy to the end.
would you be able to do a video showing us all of the cats you own?
Correction: would you be able to do a video showing us all of the cats that OWN YOU? 😆
@@lecyvee3619 😹😹😹😹
@@lecyvee3619 "a video of all your feline masters"
@@watcherwlc53 YES! Exactly! 😼😹
Yes!!
1:00 1 - Interactive toys
2:00 2 - Independent toys
3:23 3 - Self-activated toys
3:58 4 - Food puzzle toys
5:13 5 - Scratching surfaces
5:59 6 - Resting surfaces
8:33 7 - Cat TV
9:03 8 - Water fountains
9:34 9 - Jackson's books
10:15 10 - Carriers
thank you for your hard work!
You da real mvp
Wow, u are hardworking and nice.
wow thank you
My cat: I love watching my human play with interactive toys, it's so cute
Jackson we just lost our cat this month due kidney failure, we had to put him down :(
The vet told us that its was almost a certain that the problem with him was from his genetics, he was born with this problem, because he was only 8 months old and aside from that there wasnt anything in his test that indicate a infection or other things, he was healthy but his kidneys just began to fail out of nowhere.
If possible PLEASE make more VIDEOS about situations like mine, because he was giving us signs that he changed but we just thought that it was normal because he was becaming a adult, he was playing less, most of the time just chilling in the house, he was less active unlike when he was a kitten... but what made us go to the vet was when he started to vomit and refuse to eat for one day. The vet told us that it wasnt our fault but I think only time will heal the guilty.
Please I beg you guys who want to adopt, if you notice any change in the mod of your cat even thought it s seens normal because he is coming to adulthood at least go to the vet to do a check up for safty matters.
Sorry about the long text and the caps, I just need it to tell somebody. I used the Caps for attention.
I’m so sorry for the loss of your kitty…we could all use Jackson’s help! My deepest condolences 💐
I’m so sorry 😢 for the loss of your beloved kitty 🐱. It’s so difficult to lose a pet. 💜💜💜
So sorry this happened. Hugs!
Thank you guys for the messages ❤
Carlos, so sorry to hear of your loss, especially with a cat so young. I had to have my beloved cat euthanized back in July due to a health crisis, so I know the heartbreak that comes with it. And yes, guilt feelings too. Things do get better with time though.
My friend suggested that I buy a Cat Heating Pad…I laughed but ended up buying my cat one. It’s now her “go to place” for her naps! She’s so happy!!! Who knew?!?!
anyone who knows cats are mobile heatsinks lmao...
Jackson's pawsitivity is such a breath of fresh air.
That's a good one! Made me giggle & it's so true, too ❤
Remember, folks, this year could be the year you, too, give up and decorate the tree entirely with cat toys.
Heck in my house, the tree IS the cat toy-huge bliss when I pull out the tree ( which is packed with kitty hair wrapped around the center pole)!
They already climb the tree, a big NO to the cat toy idea, no encouraging them please!
Since my house is just too cluttered to our up our big tree since I moved home to work 2 years ago I put up 3 ft tree in a table. My cats love to post with pipe cleaners. So I decorated it with different colored pipe cleaners and used TP for the garland. They love it. They cat ready tear anything up, they get a new toy whenever they want and they enjoy looking at the bright lights. They will each get a Christmas gift, something that each one will really like. Lulu loves to be brushed so she's getting a new brush. Angus loves interactive toys so that what he got. Milo loves to play fetch, so he got me this for that. Sheldon Cooper doesn't really play, but he likes cat nip, so I got cat nip chess for him. They'll share everything, but they still get sneering I thought each would enjoy. Chloe, our lab mix will get a new chew bone because she loves chew bones and with her arthritis, she'll want to be outside less and less as it gets cooler and she'll need something to keep her busy between naps on her couch and watching her TV shows.
We got a smaller tree for our cats 😅. It's real (we have a real tree for humans, so we figured if it was fake it wouldnt be interesting to them) and we decorated it with bells and small shatter-proof ornaments. No lights of course. It actually worked! With 3 kittens and an adult cat we are more than happy to get them a little interesting-to-cats tree so they leave ours alone 🥰
@@totallydomestic433 they also make cat trees shaped like Christmas trees so the cats *become* the decorations, but for a tree the cats will definitely ignore: cat bed shaped like a Christmas tree
My cats loved to meditate with me. As soon as I start they loaf nearby but never disturb me. It feels just like a group meditation! Not a toy but a wonderful interaction with them 🙂👍
Just rescue an "adult" cat on 11/24, after losing my two super seniors in March. We both needed each other! Mochi is settling in well. I'm guessing he's between 2-4 years. I have many toys and we're having fun!
What a cute name!
I’m sorry for the loss of your lovely cats, and what a wonderful idea to adopt Mochi may you have may years of joy together!😻😻😻
I bought heated beds for my senior cats following Jackson Galaxy’s recommendation. They are not cheap but the best purchase and the only gift my cats actually love.
Heated beds are wonderful! I had one cat who liked a round one and one who prefers a heated mat so he can stretch out. He still prefers ME as his favorite bed, but the heated mat is his next favorite!
I never knew about that! I know about the cooling mat for the summer but not the heated bed I should check that one out for my Gray she’s 16 and needs more heat now that winter is coming
Heated bets sound amazing! I’m a mama of two lovely senior tomcats, and this could be a nice addition to their “our humans are at work” life. :O
Great idea- my cats are older, and I got them heat pads which they really love❤️
What heated beds are you guys buying? Got any amazon links?
At least were i live heated beds for pets arent common, i have only seen cooling mats and regular heated blankets
Hello ALL Cat mommies and Cat daddies 😺😸😽😻
I got my kitten a giant cat tree and he loves it so much that he won't stop kissing me 🥺 napping on the cat tree now
8:20 LOL. Outstanding!
I had two cats who would bring their interactive toys to me, when they wanted me to play with them. I had the kinds of toys that I would throw for them. When I left those out, they would often enjoy carrying around and they would throw the object into the air and chase it. Leaving some toys out, gave my cats a way to let me know when they wanted to play and what they wanted to play with. I had a few interactive toys that I had to put out of reach when I wasn't playing with them, because the toy would be destroyed
Heh, someone needs to tell your Mom what you actually mean when you bring her your prey. 😉
My last cat live until 17 and she was ever the independent hunter. In summer she wouldn’t come in the house unless she’d failed at hunting and was hungry.
She loved me in her own way though. If I went out into the allotments behind our house she would dash about playing with me and come up for pettings. Curiosly though if I sat down in our garden she would always emerge from somewhere within a few minutes and sit with me. In winter she did like to come in and dry her cold wet paws on my lap and I always let her. I knew what I was getting into.
But she did bring me gifts. Either coming into the kitchen or in the garden to deposit a small bird or rodent at my feet then look up at me expectantly.
Even as a child I understood the basics behind it after watching lion and cheetah nature programmes. I knew how difficult hunting is and how much effort my cat had put into hunting, killing and bringing “dinner” to me.
So I gave her a little praise as I didn’t want to encourage it. Let her know that I was grateful that she cared enough to bring me “food.”
And I’d “accept” the prey by protecting my hand with a paper towel, picking it up and hiding it in an empty butter container- at least until I could discreetly bury it somewhere.
I loved that cat, but when she refused to go outside and started rapidly losing weight I had my mother take her to the vet. Kidney cancer. I hated putting her down but she would only feel pain and suffering if we let it continue. So I held her in my arms while the injection was given. It was so quick she didn’t even close her eyes. I had to once she was gone.
So yeah now with my current cat being 15 with her own managed conditions I treasure every day with her.
The old Card board box^•^
Before I retired, I used to bring home the lid to the cardboard boxes the printer paper came in. My small senior kitty loved that!! She'd see it in my hand as I got home from work and would know it was for her. The box lid was perfect for her to get in and still feel that wonderful feel of a cardboard box.
I took a young rescue cat in a few months ago and while I've had cats my whole life it's the first time I have to take of one by myself. Over the past days I've been binging your videos to be better at taking care of her. She's a sweetie with a lot of energy and quite a few bad habits that I've been slowly trying to work on, and I really hope I'll be able to giver her a long, happy life. Thank you for helping me with that with your videos!
Jackson I don't know if I've done It. But I'd like to thank for what you've done for cats. You've made a difference for them. Hopefully we can get ppl to quit mistreating them!!!!
My stepdad made these super wide windowsills for the cats to sleep on and watch out the windows. Best thing ever. He removed the old sills and put these foot and a half wide by two feet long window sills so they can sleep or watch the birds outside. Every cat that we've had has been in love with them and they are always their favorite places to sit.
Jackson should have his own tv show! He has a great personality and is kind hearted. Keep up the good job. Greetings from Belguim
my cat from hell - was his show
I would love a video on how to move with your cat with advice on how to make it as seamless and least anxiety producing as possible. It would also be helpful if it talked about moving a shorter distance or across country where you might need to fly or drive a long distance with your cat.
Adopted my fur babies in August. Getting a duo was the best decision ever! Can't wait to buy them gifts this year!
I bring home feathers from my walks for the cats. They love it!
My boys adore any of your air play feather toys 😍 The minute Tooterson hears my husband or I grab it from its hiding place, he gets so happy!!!
Tooterson?! I adore that name 😍
Tooterson! 😅🥰, love it
Mr Tooterson. 😭
My cat Winkie (RIP 😭) LOVED her carrier. It was just a simple carrier I bought when I adopted her. I put a blanket in it and would bring it out for her to lay in every so often. I would just set it down, open the door, and she would run inside and stay for a few hours.
My cat slinky loves playing with straws he plays hours 🤣🤣🐈⬛🐈⬛🐈⬛❤❤
Yes, I tie a knot in the ones my kitten plays with. They don't see the color of things I read. So I do find it funny that she prefers the red straw over a black one or a clear colored one.
My cat’s new favorite toy, is our Christmas doormat I was intending to put outside 😂😹😻
😂
Jackson Galaxy where do you get a cat bag .and Jeri cowin
my little girl loves to sleep in her carrier. its her "dont bug me" place. we put a blankie in there that she loves to knead (a throw pillow cover from ikea, highly recommend getting something like that because it's a perfectly cat sized blanket) she's just absolutely content in there.
I have the same food puzzle toy that shows up first in that section of the video. It's the only way my cat gets dry food now. She gets her wet food 3x/day for her base nutritional requirements, but I toss a handful of kibble into the food puzzle before I go to bed for the night. During the day, she wants to be fed every 5-6 hours, and as much as I love her, I'm way too old for 3am feedings, lol. So when she gets hungry at night, she has access to some dry food -- but only if she's willing to work for it! It keeps her entertained and provides her with an early-morning snack, and I get to wake up to a happy lil puffball curled up next to me purring, instead of a crying, hangry, murder-floof.
good luck god bless you
I feed stray stray cats every day, I take care of them, I want to spread this all over the world. I love cats very much.
Jackson, I just wanted to say that my cat likes to watch your videos. Not just the clips of other cats, but somewhat strangely, even the clips where you are on screen.
I LOVE that you are gaining some weight! You are adorable!
My cat has one hobby, waking me up 1 hour before breakfast with deafening meowings. She's almost 7. She's done this since she was 10 weeks old. I've never given her her breakfast early. She still does this. Brats lucky I love her.
I consider myself extremely lucky my cat of 15 years waits for me to wake up. Of course the minute she knows I’m awake she’ll meow for food and I do feed her then. Remarkable patience.
@@mikoto7693 My male cat is great. Never wakes me up. My female likes me sleep deprived
A box is an excellent gift. Cats love boxes. Everytime I bring a new box home from work our cats are all over it.
We recently bought a cat bed. Strangely enough, our cat will only sleep on it when it is turned upside down (soft plastic bottom). He's a strange beast, but at least he's happy now.
My dad have make a cat tree for my cat and she love it
i got my cat a ball made of twine that was supposedly for rodent pets but he just loves it! he’ll bat it around on his own but he especially loves playing “football” with it where i kick it around and he chases after it
oh and also his carrier has his own little towel in it and it’s one of his favourite places to rest in. sometimes he just crawls in, may even close the door on himself, and stays there for hours
My two kittens will have nothing to do with cat beds. But I got a lot of good ideas from this blog. Keeping them entertained is a priority to me. They give so much joy to me so I like to return the favor.🤗
2 of my girls love their carrier. We've always keep it open them. They still use it as a bed and safe space 😁 They give it 5 meows of approval, and lots of purrs.
😻
Had a very high energy cat as a kid who played fetch and would bring toys to you when wanted you to play with her. 50yrs on have learnt not all cats do that! She was unique. But all cats are wonderful. 😍
A little note on fountains.....Make sure it is easy to clean before you buy it! I made the mistake of buying a set of fountains and the bottom half was easy enough to clean but the top half not so much due to a really skinny channel that was difficult to make sure I had it clean. Now we have the Catit fountain where the top looks like a flower and that thing is super easy to keep sanitary, just need a baby bottle nipple brush for the one section but it gets it clean very easily, and even better is the filters for them aren't expensive.
My two boys love two specific types of toy; the fishing rod style, and the kicker. They do love the laser pen as well, but I make sure they have some "real prey" afterwards so they are fulfilled in their hunt. One of them really goes to town on the kicker, while the other more sort of wrestles with it and rolls around with it between his front paws and doesn't kick, it's the cutest thing I've ever seen.
Hey Jackson, you mentioned using a toy as a distraction from something we don't want our cats getting into. This is something I do, but I worry it's actually reinforcing the negative behavior.
Yep. At least it does so for my cat, i find it more effective to go and stop the activity itself, and then play with her... but still, having a toy in hand will come in handy (lol) for any situation where you cant stop the issue inmediately. For example: in the middle of online school, or when im drawing, i find it easier to throw a toy ball than stop what i am doing and get up.
My cats like mats! The ones they use for kitchens, mechanics, kindergarten floors. They link like puzzles. Put em vertical, scratch heaven.
I make condos for my cat with really sturdy boxes and hot glue gun... 2 or 3 tiers depending on the space i have and how high are the windows... With holes between levels and rooms ans and a lot of soft old things you dont wear anymore... Si basically free except the cost $$ of glue gun stick(dollar shop please!) And the theme you want... Mine is hello kitty so all the "entry ways" are shaped like Hello Kitty face! Really fun to diy your own ideas! 😻
So many thanks to you Jackson for all the fun and knowledge you share! I grew up with barn cats but never really paid a lot of attention to them, I've usually been a dog person. 14 years ago I got two kittens out of curiosity as to what it would be like to have them in the house with me. I fell in love! You've been with us for the past 10 years or so and you always have something new to teach me! So once again, thank you Jackson, God bless you and yours 💙😻
Hi, Jackson! I actually grew up in a family who have had many different pets. Mostly dogs & cats. But, it's been so long since I've had any that I need to brush up on a few things. I'm supposed to have a companion pet says my Dr. But I haven't been able to get 1 due to several reasons (long story). I think it's almost the right time. & My Dr said he'd write me up a pet prescription as soon as I give him the word. Being disabled & not able to walk much, or quickly, I thought I'd adopt older cats (1 at a time). Fact: I will cry just as much if you tell me your cat died, the same as if mine died - no matter how long I've had it. I'm a major pet lover! But, I'm willing to have my heart broken just so I can give an older cat a great end of life experience. & Though I will cry, I will still feel better knowing I helped give a cat a chance to be loved.
Ok. Yeah, I talk a lot. Sorry. But I said all that to ask, how much/often do you feed a cat?
I feed mine twice a day. There are feeding guidelines listed on packages of food that are based on the cat's weight. Always have clean fresh water available. Hope this helps!
@her last voyage: I do know about the fresh water. That's a must! In fact, I like to keep the bowl clean. I have helped with other's cats & was grossed out by how filthy the bowl was! I do appreciate your advice! Thank you!
I always give my cats boxes from deliveries or paper bags from the grocery store. Sometimes they make a mess of them but its worth it to watch them play
Hey Jackson, could you please talk about cat dental needs. Recently I bought my cat (Paco ) to the vet because she was feeling down and I didn’t know what was bothering her, so I brought her to the vet and found out that she had to have 3 teeth removed, but I hadn’t even considered her dental health. I think that most folks are like me and rarely consider their dental health.
Thankfully she is all better. ☮️ n ❤️
My kittens love chasing each other all over the house love it even though I have two dogs they bring a whole new vibe to the home 😊
I have so far ordered a chargeable flapping fish for my boy bc he really needs a kicker and he just doesn't use the ones that don't move. He seems to not be affected by catnip at all. But maybe a snuffle mat is something to look into! Thanks for the tips!
I recently used some brown shipping paper, crumbled it up, and scattered some treats inside it. It was a makeshift snuffle mat to see if my pets would like a real one. They all went crazy over it, so it looks like I need to buy/make an actual snuffle mat now. 😅
The flapping fish is fun! My boy likes it!
I discovered this by accident, I bought cat litter that was for adult cats and after research realised my kittens little paws were too sensitive so they wouldn’t use it. I used shredded paper until I could pop to the shop and replace it. When I got back they were rolling in the paper and playing in the tray, I take it out once every couple of days … they love it !!!
Jackson, I cannot express how much your videos have helped me with my new kitten. Thank you so much!
I have a great dog toy for a kicker toy. It was my other cat's, (RIP Reno) made of tough material, and it's still in tact for my new kitten, Chito.
Jackson, you are a superhero!
One of my cats' favorite toys was a small hand-sized stuffed panda bear. She used to carry it around in her mouth meowing extremely loudly in a very distinct way. Every time I heard that particular meow, I knew she had the panda in her mouth. And I would cheer her on, because I figured she was bragging about her hunting skills. Anyway, now I can't find the panda anywhere and wish I could replace it somehow.
This same cat as a kitten once carried balls of tissue paper (that she created herself by unraveling the toilet paper) and - I kid you not - lined them up in a row on a pillow, like trophies. I had never seen anything like that before - and haven't seen her do anything like that since. If I hadn't seen it, I would not believe it. It was as if she was playing pretend. This would have been at an age equivalent to being a five-year-old human, when she would also entertain herself by sneaking up on a shoe and attacking it.
Has anyone ever taught a cat to fetch or is that something some cats naturally just do?
Wish I could wake up early enough for the live chat!
Nope, I've not taught a cat to fetch but 2 of the ones I've had through the decades have taught me they want to play fetch and catch.
@@scottfw7169 Thanks. I've always wondered about that. It seems only a rare cat wants to play fetch. Mine would rather chase a red laser dot they can't ever catch.
@@saradavies5809 Welcome. And because they can't catch the red dot I play a little bit crunchy treat toss and catch with my 2 after playing a round of laser spot chase. The older fellow can sit there and catch the treats in his mouth if your toss is even halfway good. His year younger brother from another mother is a bit less coordinated that way but can often make two-paws catches.
Many years ago cat that would fetch and return, to have the toy tossed again. It was always fun for everyone
oddly enough i've had 3 tuxs that would fetch... one of them lived to steal coins as well. never actively taught them, they just figured it out on their own. the thief would play fetch until she was panting, wake us up to play... she was a bit nuts about it.
A big open brown paper bag.. a favorite!
THANKS !!! ❤
My cat would rather play than eat. I just adopted him. He’s six years old. He loved the wand toy mimicking a bird from the beginning. Gradually, over about 6 weeks, he has also started chasing it as ground type prey. That introduces more variety. I do put it away between regular, predictable sessions. I think he would like a different wand toy also. I learn so much from you! Thanks so much
PLS PLS talk about travelling with cats!
These comments are like a breath of fresh air. Thank you for the kind words.
One of my cats loves those little catnip mice that are sold in packs of 3. But ONLY the pink ones. I've actually found one of the blue ones placed in a litter box!
And they say they don't see colors. 😂
Thanks for the tip about putting the toys away when it's not play time to keep them special! Never occurred to me.
Jackson! This litter box on Amazon is a must for senior cats and others. It's called PuppyGoHere but it's also for cats. The wide entrance is only three inches high and the other three sides are nine inches high to keep the litter in the box. Thick, high quality plastic. Expensive but does the job unlike other litter boxes. Great for seniors, kittens, and others who need a low entrance for arthritis, etc. Meowy Catmus! Daisy 🤗❤️
I had a cat Gingerbread for 21 years. She was a tall cat and started to have problems getting in the litter box. I bought a tote and cut a square on one end for easy access.I threw away the top away. The bottom of the square was 4 inches high and was perfect for her to get in and out. My boyfriend works in a auto body shop and put a rubber window seal around the opening "so she wouldn't hurt herself getting in and out". Lol it was from a BMW and cost about $400.00. Made me laugh... she wasn't spoiled.
I will have to look into that one. I have a senior girl, soon to be geriatric. The other is one who digs and tosses the litter out of the box. Thanks!
Angel say yes like cats and kittens is like play with toys👌👍😁😸❤️😻
I started to give my cat food puzzle toys... And since she's really into food, she really liked the toys.
Unfortunate side effect tho; she learned to sniff out ANY food anywhere. I guess she learned that if she claws around enough, food will drop. So she started tearing bags and packets to pieces, started climbing on high shelves just to look around. Finally she just jumped the kitchen counters, learned to pry open the cabinet doors and steal her dry food packets.
For twelve years I never had to childproof any cabinets, or even be careful about what I put on my tabletops. My cat never was much of climber. She only climbed on chairs and scratching posts. I made her few diy food puzzles and suddenly she's investigating EVERYTHING and EVERY PLACE in our apartment!
😆
Mine was also able to open the cabinets, find the bags, open it. Now we use plastic buckets with lids that we refill and store it close to the ground ^^
Good to know about the pesky side affect of this kind of gadget. I got nine cats and certainly wouldn't want that to happen here. Thanks for your post about this!!
The one positive aspect is that your cat has become more active, both physically and mentally, which can only be good for her.
😂@@kenmccormick8059
Meowy, Thank YOU as you are the Cat Guru too! LOVE
Thankful for you and your advice
Best gift , specially for indoor cats. Window beds for cats to look outdoors.
I used to have a dog a long time ago and recently I lived shortly with a housemate who had a cat and a game that they both always loved to play was chasing me or being chased around the house. They were always really excited when playing haha I would recommend it especially for indoor cats who dont get to do lots of running around. Make sure you are mindful with your cat's body language to see if they like it, tho.
I personally think this game is way more engaging than any other cat games I tried and also the most underrated. I dont see people talking about it but I wish they would. You also get a good workout in ;)
My boi loves that he has his own 4' shelf in front of a bright, sunny window, big enough for a good size pot of cat grass, his favorite blanket on it, and an open top watering can he can drink out of.
I bought my cat a combo pack with about 20 different toys in it. Wands, mice, crinkly balls, a fish to kick, a little tunnel and some random stick. He loves that stick more than anything. He's never loved another toy this much before or since.
edit: so its called silver vine I guess? Actinidia polygama, silvervine, or has a slightly different but similar compound as catnip and can illicit a similar but sometimes more intense euphoric response in cats, any many cats that don't react positively to catnip will have a positive reaction to silvervine twigs or powders. Thought I'd share in case anyone else's cats might love this stuff as much as mine!
I leave the soft carrier on the floor with one side always open. She is in and out of there with her toys of by herself. She is not afraid of the carrier anymore. Good video. Thank you
Jackson, thanks for your programs and feline advice. You’re amazing.
My cats favorite toy is literally a ball of crumpled up paper in one of those little gauzy jewelry bag things. Add a little cat nip and she will not leave it alone. It's so cute to watch her play with it because she is an old lady and mostly just wants to sleep.
Thanks! ❤️
My cat’s all time favorite items are a Ripple Rug and some flopping fish. They’re motion activated so when he pounces it starts flopping and he LOVES it. The ripple rug is a good place for your cat to hide in or hide toys in
Jackson thank you so much for posting these videos, my family is going to adopt a kitten at the end of the next week and your videos have been helping me learn about cats so much :)
We have a kitty (she is almost 4 or so now) and she has played fetch with my husband for years now.
She didn't need any training for it. She just somehow knew/figured it out and she LOVES that game! 🥰
10:15 I just leave the carrier out where my boy is going to be comfortable at, and he uses it as his bed. He likes it, as it’s also kind of a cave. Traveling with him is easy, since he likes his carrier and he doesn’t associate it with trauma.
Yes. Boxes are.....IT...! We have bird feeders outside of the screened porch....and sooooo.....Babe and 2 Kitty watch birdies in between cat naps. Thanks Jackson for your fun and useful ideas for my Babies....Meow!! Ahna
My cats, and their Great Dane, don't touch the tree. Never have.
They all have their stocking, and get toys every year.
Turkey for the kitties, full dinner for the dog.
Xmas is for them too.
The Great Dane I grew up with never let her presents make it to Christmas. She’d smell them out, and if they stepmom managed to keep them from her long enough to wrap them and put them under the tree, she’d help herself to her toys and open them herself. But only her gifts, she never opened something that wasn’t for her, lol
I have 20 house cats, many of them are rescue cats. My house is like a cat playground! They have tunnels, ball pits, cat trees, and a huge cat wheel that they use 24/7. They all have free access to the whole house, nowhere is out of bounds. I’ve got several large aquariums and I put stools out for them so they can sit and watch the fish plus every room has a window sill so they can watch the birds etc.
You're The Man
That moment when you realize that you happily watch Jackson Galaxy videos about cat gifts even though you don't have a cat, nor are you planning to get one any time soon.
Jackson,you are the greatest,
you have helped me a lot with
my 2 cats. Everything you say
Is right on. Take care and
Happy Holidays to you and
all the cat lovers. 🐱
Im happy to see im not the only one who grew back all the chunky bits since rona started. Much love Jackson
Jackson please tell us about cat speaking/talking buttons where cat buttons have a specific word where kitty and human can use words- makes sound of word when button is pushed by your paw or the kitty’s paw.
My cat loves it when I bring out the broom. It's so much fun playing with her!
Jackson,
I am selling my house and moving into a condo. The process, thus far, has been really hard on my Maui. I’m worried about the next phases.
Things are happening SO FAST! The house sold in less that 2 weeks. Closing for house is in 2 weeks and closing on the condo I’m buying is the following week. I have a little flexibility in that I can stay in the house an extra month or so if need be.
I’m worried how to protect Maui from any possible mishaps. Someone letting him out of the condo or him getting out on the balcony (5th floor)-terrifying!! I used your brilliant scent-soaker ideas when we had to leave the house for 2 weeks for showings.
It’s already been a VERY tough year for us. We lost his brother, Mokie, on New Year’s Eve to non-small cell lymphoma. And we’ve been clinging to each other ever since. Maui is such a sweet cat, but he’s big and strong (22 lbs., but not overweight-just huge!), so there are issues.
Because of all the chaos that ensued in prepping the house for sale, he hisses at my friends. So many changes happened while they were here.
I have health issues stemming from an old auto accident-my car was T-boned by a city bus. Received a Traumatic Brain Injury and problems with my eyes for the “cherry on top.” I was lucky to survive. But reading is difficult and time-consuming now.
Would you please tell me which of your books would give me the best guidance on what to do to make sure he can’t jump off the balcony?
Though I will be on the 5th floor, there are a couple of trees that grow in front of the balcony. I also fear he will try to jump onto a tree. I’ve never lived in an apartment with a pet so I have no reference point to prepare me for this. PLEASE HELP!!
I boarded my cats overnight when I last moved--it was an extra step and an extra cost, but it saved so much stress that I'm doing it for every future move as well.
As for books, I'd look at the catification ones for catio content. Best of luck🤞!
Can you have your deck screened in? Good luck! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🐾
All the best for your move. ❤️❤️❤️❤️and so sorry to hear of the loss of your other cat🙏
Easy fix for the balcony, buy and get installed one of those metal fences (with the square holes), the ones used to stop pets and kids from falling from balconies.
Do not get the plastic ones, or at least not permanently/use with supervition. A neighbour's cat actually broke one of those with its claws and fell from a 7th floor. The cat is okish now but there were lots of visits to the vet.
I had the metal one, that went from the balcony railing to the ceiling. Its very sturdy (its supposed to support a kids weight so a cat its nothing in comparison) and my cat even climbed it from the inside sometimes- so get the one that covers all the balcony. It will probably be expensive- specially depending on how much metal you need (ex, does your balcony have a ceiling? Would you need to put 4 sides of metal fencing, or only two?) But it is a must for pets, i believe.
I’d pick a room to contain them in once the move has happened and establish a “base camp” of sorts with familiar scents and a place to hide then give it a few days before letting them into other rooms.
It worked when I moved from my parents house to a one bedroom flat. Within a week my cat dominated her new territory. Alas I’m on ground floor and have no issues with balconies sorry.
I put their favorite interactive toy in a drawer. Patches (7 months) has learned to open drawer and retrieves the toy when she is ready to play.
Yo Cat King!! I really enjoy most of your videos. Some of the mean, loud or devious cats -'- I am not a fanatic for them. I never much liked or loved cats...I was afraid of them when I was a young girl. We had a tank of goldfish. We had three dogs at my parents home. I think I often misunderstood most cats. My Aunt Dee-Dee's cats Buttons and Stinker were overly clawers. And chewed on my tennis shoes's shoelaces...yuck!! Cat cooties. ); Our cats Dandelion (Dandy) and Hollowell--(Holly)are so different. We agreed to take 2 adult cats at our local APL. Sixteen months have made these two sisters full fledged family members who are appreciated and are very much loved dearly. Thanks for your expertise within our furry friends' world.Happy Holidays Sir. Blessings to you and yours this Christmas and New Year 2022!! ((××::
One suggestion that I made on another video of yours is to set up a heating pad set on low, particularly in colder weather. I have had one set up for 16 years. Not the same one. The only thing that happens is that lower level burns out and does not work after some time. I did volunteer work at a wildlife sanctuary north of Chicago and all of the baby birds were in cardboard boxes with a heating pad set on low underneath them. Absolutely not a fire hazard.
Love all your other suggestions! U the man! You are the cat whisperer as Cesar Millan is the dog whisperer.
My cat can open drawers, and even reach his bird toy on top of a bulletin board. I try and hide it and wake up with it in my bed most mornings.
Oh my, you have a smart & determined cat.
My kitten has a favorite type of independent toy, soda bottle caps and (clean) milk caps. She does fetch them too.
If you get a fountain for your cat just remember to wash it regularly ya know
I have many wands but the all time favorite is the feather with bell. The funny part is that when I start playing our dog (black lab) loves trying to catch it also..