You have just purchased a
remarkable toy for cats whose uniqueness now lets you enjoy your cat's
natural aggressiveness first hand. The KITTY TEASE is not
only a toy that works on virtually all cats up to 20 years old, but is
also the perfect exerciser, that you control, for that overweight cat.
You control your cat's jumps, spins, quick turns and pounces with just
a flick of the wrist. The KITTY TEASE should provide you with
countless hours of enjoyment, day after day, year after year. From
the 8-week-old kitten to the oldster of 20 years, the reaction is the same:
SECOND KITTENHOOD is now a reality!
The KITTY TEASE is extremely effective
on virtually all cats. The fiberglass rod imparts such a LIFE-LIKE
vibration and twitching into the cloth that cats think the cloth is literally
alive. Due to this cat reaction to the KITTY TEASE, I highly
recommend that the KITTY TEASE be put away after you are through
using it. Put it in a place where the cat cannot get at it alone.
If you leave it out, the cat will probably pull it all over the house and
you will find it in 1,000 knots around a chair leg some place. A
cat that likes to roll may tangle it's tail or legs in the slack line and
scare itself. In some extreme cases a cat may become so taken by
the hunter instinct that it will literally eat the cloth and line as the
last gesture of catching its prey. Save yourself a lot of aggravation
and please put the KITTY TEASE away after each use so that your
cat cannot get at it by himself. For storage, I recommend a simple
small nail, about head high, hammered into the side of a closeable closet.
Hammer the nail at a downward angle and place the tip of the KITTY TEASE
over it when not in use. Remember, the KITTY TEASE
is a hand held cat toy/exerciser, and used as such, should provide you
with years of enjoyment.
For a long while I have enjoyed the
prototype of the KITTY TEASE you now see. I have tried wood
and metal rods of various lengths and I have tired different strings and
different materials for the cloth. What you now hold is the result
of that effort and what I feel is the best marketable product for the value,
and over 700,000 happy cats can't be wrong!
Probably the most important feature of the
KITTY TEASE is the length and taper of the fiberglass rod.
This allows the aggression of your cat to be absorbed without danger to
him. The resulting spring-back action of the rod, when your cat pulls
on the cloth, gives a natural lifelike pull to the cloth. You control
the tension and can easily adjust to the amount of pull your cat seems
to enjoy the most.
The aggressiveness of your cat will take its toll
on the cloth lure. After trying several types and styles of lures,
I have decided that a simple piece of denim seems to work best. With
continued use it will wear out and can easily be replaced with a similar
piece of denim. A belt loop for even a piece of shoelace will also
do. Do not use plastic or anything that has considerable weight to
it. You don't want to knock out your cat. Should your cat be
reluctant to play with the new cloth, try putting a little saliva on the
cloth. This should now give the cloth an "approved" scent and play
should now begin.
The tip and cloth knots are both simple slipknots.
To open the cloth slipknot, simply pinch the knot with your fingernails
and roll the cloth in the opposite direction. One direction tightens
and one loosens.
Cats just take naturally to the KITTY TEASE.
Like a tiger stalking its prey in the jungle, your POCKET TIGER
will pursue the KITTY TEASE the same way. Over the years,
I have observed patterns of play that my cats seem to enjoy more than others.
Your cat should also be more aggressive to these patters. Simple
experimentation with these and some exercises of your own choosing should
quickly determine your cat's preference.
First and foremost remember that the cloth simulates
a small bird or animal so give it an action similar to a small bird or
animal. Don't just dangle the cloth a couple of inches in front of
his nose and expect a reaction. A bird wouldn't do that and a cat
knows that. Think sneaky and make it as if it were trying to sneak
away after being spotted.
Some cats simply want to play tug-of-war and this
is fine. Just hang in there with him with a steady pull. The
more your cat growls, the more he is enjoying himself and getting exercise
to boot.
All cats seem to take to stalking and pouncing naturally.
By placing a small pillow or shoe on the floor, you provide your cat with
the means for an "ambush". Simply flick the cloth to the opposite
side of the pillow and twitch it along the floor in short jerks.
An ambush is almost certain to follow. To keep your cat on his toes
don't let him catch the cloth every time. Let him try harder next
time.
You can also take advantage of your cat's climbing
abilities by pulling the cloth up and over furniture. My cats get
exceptionally active when this is done. When you position the cloth
between the cushions it surely is fun watching them trying to get it out.
It's aggravating to the cat to have that thing just out of reach.
If you like to laugh, try putting several sheets
of newspaper down on the rug. When you pull the cloth over the paper,
the string makes a sound similar to a mouse walking and when the cat jumps
on the paper, after the cloth, he has nothing to grip on and slides all
over the place. Cats really get a kick out of this and will even
try hiding under the paper at times in order to ambush their prey.
By pulling the cloth over a rug in a rather quick
back and forth motion and I mean so quick that the cloth is just a blur
you really arouse your cat's aggressiveness. This seems to be the
ultimate challenge to them. Beware of potential rug damage because
your cat will be all claws on this one. This is my favorite and even
works on declawed cats.
Once your cat becomes used to the KITTY TEASE,
you may be able to get him to do jumps and flips. This I've found
varies with different cats. Simply pull the cloth across the
floor in little hops of about 3" and increase the hop height as you get
closer to your cat. When he jumps, pull it over his head and he should
jump for it. Make it act as a butterfly and you should see a series
of stalks and jumps.
The KITTY TEASE is also very effective outdoors
in the grass or bushes. It is also effective outdoors at night or
indoors in dim light. Your creativeness is your only limit.
For the overweight indoor cat, the KITTY TEASE
becomes the perfect cat exerciser. What is play to your cat is also
much-needed exercise for him and the toning effect of KITTY TEASE
play should become obvious in a few weeks. The playing stretches
limbs and increases heartbeat and that burns up calories. Adjust
the amount of play to what you or your vet feels is appropriate for your
cats. A naturally fast heartbeat is natural; panting and/or coughing
is not. An hour of play each day, while watching TV at the same time,
goes by fast and will have noticeable results in a few weeks.
The KITTY TEASE is made of quality components
and is assembled with great care. In the unlikely case that the tip
should come unglued from the rod, simply sand the end of the rod lightly
and reglue the tip with any of the small tubes of super glue that are on
the market. A loose handle can be reglued with a small amount of
ELMER'S WOOD GLUE. A worn cloth can be replaced by simply
opening the slipknot and replacing the cloth.
The string I use with the KITTY TEASE deserves
a paragraph by itself. It is 80-lb. test braided black saltwater
fishing line. I chose black because it is very hard to see, which
results in the cat's eyes focusing on the cloth, instead of the line.
I chose 80-lb. test because lines under 30-lb test were small enough to
cut my cats between the toes. 80-lb. Test gives a safe margin concerning
these cuts. I chose braided line because it lasted the longest in
my testing and should a cat decide to eat a piece of it, it should pass
right through and end up in the litter box. DON'T
LET YOUR CAT EAT THE LINE AND DON'T USE MONOFILIMENT LINE FOR REPLACEMENT
LINES. Monofiliment is easy to bite through and if
eaten, its sharp edges can easily wedge internally and cause real problems.
The black braided line can be found in the fishing department of most larger
stores. I also sell a replacement string pack for the KITTY TEASE
and that information is at the end of this guide.
If your cat plays such that knots form in the line
I advise you to take them out that day. If you leave them in, they
just get tighter and tighter and shorten the line considerably. Should
you cat be one of the few that enjoys outsmarting you and starts chewing
through the line don't let him do that.
As with any toy, its use can be abused. Avoid
possible injury by not flicking the KITTY TEASE wildly in the presence
of others. If your cat won't let go, just grab the line and out pull
him.
I will replace any defective tip, rod, or handle
for a period of one year if said damage is not due to abuse. With
simple care, your KITTY TEASE should last for many years.
I am proud of the KITTY TEASE and hope that
you enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed mine. Please feel free to
write me concerning your comments or suggestions. You are my quality
control and the source of future improvements or even new ideas.
(www.kittytease.com)
REPLACEMENT STRING PACKS; I sell replacement string packs (line & denim) for $1.00 each plus a self-addressed STAMPED (60 cents at this writing) enveloped. I can put up to 10 string packs into a regular business (9-1/2") envelope for that one stamp. If you do not attach your stamp I will charge you $1.00 to do it.
Available Sizes:
KITTY TEASE JR: Just 18" long, perfect for lap play or for use with little Kittens.
KITTY TEASE: 38" long, my most popular size.
KITTY TEASE DELUXE: A 2-piece
version of the regular size that easily fits into a suitcase for travel.
http://www.kittytease.com
galkiej@yahoo.com