Fat Cat Inc. Catnip Cat Toys Delight Cats and Humans

weianow | Feb 27, 2011 |

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Fat Cat Inc. Tail Chaser is excellent catnip toy for kitties

Any cat owner worth his or her salt will want to give kitty some nice fun toys for play. One of the best lines of cat toys on today’s market is the catnip toys manufactured by Fat Cat Inc.

Fat Cat Inc. started out when a husband and wife team began a family tradition of exchanges handmade holiday gifts for the family cats. It began as a joke but eventually became an annual competition. Early designs were well received by consumers and retailers so the company decided to expand its operations. Sales doubled each year and 15 years later, Fat Cat Inc. joined forces with Bamboo, a division of Munchkin Inc.

What makes these toys so special? The designs tend to make owners and their pets laugh. Truly, the designs are unique, featuring among others the “Kitty Hoots,” “Really Bad Dog” and the “Doofus Dog Series.” The toys are packed with organic catnip that drives cats wild.

What is Catnip?

Catnip, also called catmint, is the common name for nepeta, a genus of the flowering plant family Lamiaceae. Catmint is native to Asia, Europe and Africa, but is now common in North America as well. The plant has sturdy stems with green to grayish-green leaves that are heart-shaped. The flowers of the plant are tubular and are usually white, pink, blue or lilac with tiny purple dots. The flowers cluster toward the tip of the stems.

Catmint has a mild sedative effect on humans and is often used in herbal medicines. It is used as tea, juice, poultice and tincture. It has even been smoked. It is known to have a slightly numbing effect. Isolated oil from catnip is a repellent against insects such as mosquitoes, termites and cockroaches.

Why Does Catnip Effect Cats?

Not all cats are affected by catnip; it is a genetic factor that induces reaction to the plant. Cats that do react may roll on it, paw at it, lick it, chew it, or salivate heavily. Some cats leap about, purr or growl and may bite or scratch a hand that holds the plant. Kitties may relax into a silly dreamy pose and not move for awhile.

Cats can become possessive of their catnip toys and some become aggressive if their humans try to take the toys away. Catnip should not be mixed in with food. Dried flowers and leaves of the plant are okay for cats to eat, but they shouldn’t eat the stems. Giving cats too much catnip can upset their diet and eating habits.

Domestic cats are not alone in their delight of catnip. Tigers, lions, bobcats, cougars and lynx also react to the active ingredient in the plant.

Fat Cat Inc. Catnip Cat Toys

Fat Cat Inc. line of catnip toys uses their trademark “zoom around the room” organic catnip. Cats will love to lick and chase these humorous toys. Many of the designs do not have any buttons or other materials that could detach and cause problems for kitty. The “zoom around the room” catnip is organic which is much better for kitty. If purchasing catnip, it is best to buy “certified organic” catnip to avoid any pesticide or other contaminates.

Fat Cat Inc. also carries a line for the budget minded owner called “Cheap (but never cheesy) Cat Toys.” This line offers the same quality and colorful designs and of course the same “zoom around the room” catnip inserts. These catnip toys are little squares with laugh out loud inducing patterns.

Owners and their kitties will love Fat Cat Inc. catnip cat toys. There are many funny designs from which to choose and the time spent playing with them will enhance the bonds between kitties and their humans. These toys can be found at most brick and mortar pet stores and many online retailers of pet supplies.

The copyright of the article “Fat Cat Inc. Cat Toys Delight Cats and Humans” is owned by Cheryl Weldon and permission to republish in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.