This guide will go over one of the most talked-about cat toys on the market today: The SmartyKat Feather Whirl Electronic Motion. Hopefully, it will help you decide whether this product is the right one for your furry friend.
When something attracts their attention, cats become veritable hunters, which makes it impossible for them to resist pawing, clawing and having fun. For that reason, toys for cats greatly emphasize dynamism, speed, and versatility.
What Play Time Means for Cats
Cats, much like other predatory animals use play time as an opportunity to hone their various hunting skills and natural instincts. As they play, cats and kittens typically exhibit strong signs of playful aggression which serve to mimic their interactions with prey and other cats.
Indeed, play time for a growing cat is a very important part of their development, teaching them the boundaries of social interaction with cats and other animals as well developing their fine motor skills. Cats can play in a large variety of ways and usually enjoy playful activities well into their old age. Many cats are fine playing with things on their own, but they can also have a lot of fun playing with others too.
In most cases, cats take readily to playing with objects such as the SmartyKat Feather Whirl because they so closely mimic natural prey behaviors.
So let’s take a look at the SmartyKat Feather Whirl, check its features, advantages, and disadvantages, and see if it fits all these requirements!
How Can Your Cat Play with the Smartykat Feather Whirl?
SmartyKat designed a simple and yet effective cat toy that takes into consideration a cat’s natural instincts. Namely, their tendency to chase small, moving objects, which they might be mistaking for smaller animals or prey. This is the reason why cats chase laser pointers, small balls, and other similar things.
The SmartyKat Feather Whirl is an ingenious product that consists only of a weighted ball base and a feather. As outstandingly and deceptively simple as it is, this toy is backed by both a precise construction and a smart design.
The toy’s feather is lightweight and, as a result, it is evasive enough to provide a good challenge for your feline friend. At the same time, however, it’s resistant enough to withstand a surprising amount of punishment whenever the cat manages to temporarily catch it.
Meanwhile, the toy’s wand is flexible and yet stable enough to ensure that it will not fall off at any point no matter how aggressive your cat may be.
Finally, the toy’s weighted ball keeps it moving without allowing the feather to fall over. As a result, your cat can play with it as long as it wants to.
The combination of these elements also means that the toy’s movement patterns will be unpredictable, so they should gain and maintain the attention of even the most aloof cat.
By imitating a small animal, the Feather Whirl is able to get the full attention of the feline, resulting in uninterrupted hours of intellectually-challenging play. As it causes the cat to try to paw at and catch the feather, the toy encourages healthy physical activity as well.
The Main Features of the SmartyKat Feather Whirl
Motor
- One of this toy’s outstanding features is its motor and the fact that it is so quiet.
- Furthermore, it works continuously and reliably.
- It also doesn’t drain the battery too much, so it’s a great battery-operated toy.
Weighted ball
- The base of this toy is a ball whose weight is concentrated in a single spot.
- Thanks to this, it will consistently return to its original position after being moved.
- This also generates enough kinetic force to produce unpredictable, violent movements that will entertain your cat.
- Furthermore, the ball’s outer casing is made of a recycled plastic that is both durable and eco-friendly.
Wand
- As previously mentioned, the SmartyKat Feather Whirl’s wand is flexible and yet resistant to punishment.
- Durable as it is, the wand can break, but that won’t be a problem.
- The company offers additional wand attachments.
Precautions
Generally speaking, the SmartyKat Feather Whirl is a very safe toy for cats to play with. It does not contain small parts, and its elements are durable enough not to break apart into small pieces that your cat could potentially swallow.
However, as with all pet toys, it is advisable to supervise your cat while it plays with the SmartyKat Feather Whirl. Furthermore, it is advisable to stop using the toy if any part of it becomes loose or detaches completely.
Also, you should keep an eye on the toy’s batteries, and make sure that they are secure in their compartment. You should make sure to check this periodically for all your cat’s electronic toys.
Reasons to Love the SmartyKat Feather Whirl
- Can provide your cat with hours of non-stop playing.
- Helps increase a feline’s focus and determination.
- Its unpredictable movement pattern can keep the pet invested and interested in it for a long time.
- The motor is incredibly quiet.
- Perfect for use in a cat toy box.
- It is made entirely out of recycled plastic.
Reasons to Avoid the SmartyKat Feather Whirl
- Does not have an auto-shutoff feature.
- There are no available feather replacements.
- The feather can be rather too flimsy and fragile for more aggressively active cats.
Customer Opinions
Without a doubt, the SmartyKat Feather Whirl provides great joy not only to the cats but also to their owners as they see their feline friends enjoying themselves.
A large number of cat owners highlighted the amount of time their kitties spent playing with this toy. Moreover, many of them described the SmartyKat Feather Whirl as a versatile, dynamic toy. One that despite being relatively stationary, releases enough movements to keep the cat alert and entertained.
It is also an extremely quiet toy. The silent motor will keep your cat entertained for hours, and it likely won’t bother you at all while doing so.
Detractors of the SmartyKat Feather Whirl complained that it has notable design or manufacturing mistakes. The one that stood out the most is the lack of an auto-shutoff option.
While not too serious, this is a problem since many owners will forget to turn it off, which can lead to the toy’s batteries draining quickly and wastefully. Ironically, this problem is only made worse by the fact that the toy’s motor is so quiet. Because of it, it’s quite easy to forget or even not notice that it’s still running.
Additionally, the flimsiness of the toy’s feather seems to have annoyed quite a few customers, and the fact that it can’t be replaced does not really help.
Conclusion
Without a doubt, the SmartyKat Feather Whirl is a dynamic, simple and effective toy that your cat will truly appreciate. However, it is up to you to determine whether it’s right for your pet.
Is your cat already playing with it? Then let us know what you think of it, and if it satisfies and entertains your feline companion.
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