Best Cat Gifts
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James A Mess, front, and his sister Ettagirl love these tunnels. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)
“Charlotte, I love your posts about James A Mess and Etta. I just adopted an older cat and was wondering what do you recommend as good cat gifts?” — Simone
Best Cat Gifts
Hi Simone, thanks for adopting an older cat, there’s a kitten still inside, I assure you!
Glad you enjoy the adventures of James A Mess and his sister Ettagirl Fierce Mess. I found them abandoned on a county road two years ago this Memorial Day weekend. They were about 4 weeks ago. It was heart breaking to realize James was in the same spot on the road for 3 days waiting for his previous human to come back from him.
On my last pass by them, it started to rain and I just couldn’t leave him there. I got out of the car, called “here kitty kitty” and he came running and snuggled into my neck. He was not exactly feral. He weighed 17 ounces.
Tucking him into my bee suit, I saw a grey and white kitten across the road. Ettagirl was harder to catch but I didn’t give up. She was 7 ounces when she was weighed at the vet, very sick with poor odds of surviving.
Since Ettagirl’s recovery, they have been nothing but a daily delight. James has adopted me so I have his constant supervision.
If there is one piece of advice I will offer is that cats, like dogs, like routines. Set a time where you can play and stick to it. Here are my must have cat gifts: a cardboard box, a brown bag, a laser light, a basket and a wide ribbon, things most of us already have around the house. Bring them out every day for playtime. The basket may work to hold toys but don’t be surprised if your new cat loves the basket for napping. I keep baskets in sunny window spots.
And as far as other best cat gifts, besides your time - try a tunnel. My cats love theirs and wait for me to deploy them at play time. We have several. They can race through them, hide, usually jump out through the center hole. Oh, yes, make sure it has a center hole when buying.
Of all of the toys they have, the tunnels are the one thing they use every day. Besides me!
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