Okay, I’m really stuck. Usually when I answer questions on this blog, it’s because I already have the answers. Typically, I’ve been asked a question by a reader or seen many people online ask it. Then I research and write an article with as much detail as possible so those in similar situations can get all the information they need in one place. But not today! Today I’m the one with the question.
We took in our new cat Bjorn not too long ago. Bjorn was a stray cat in our neighbourhood. We assumed he belonged to someone. But later, we realized he didn’t have a home, so we took him in. Picture from post: Our New Cat Knew: Stick Around Long Enough, They’ll Let You In.
Managing a cat’s aggression and stopping them from swallowing toys can be a challenging task. I encountered a situation where my cat refused to let go of an object and required assistance from Thomas to remove it. It was a terribly frustrating experience.
Every cat needs playtime, and I ensure my cat gets plenty of exercise by making him jump for his kibble 2-3 times a day. Additionally, I provide mental stimulation with the Mogoko Cat Catch Interactive Feeder, which he initially had trouble with but now uses properly. Despite these efforts, my cat still needs to release his aggression and utilize his prey drive daily. I am concerned about him swallowing anything harmful. I have considered buying toys that are too large for him to swallow, and I would appreciate any recommendations. I initially tried laser toys, but their appeal faded quickly. Thomas suggested tennis balls or other large balls as alternatives. Are there any other suggestions? I believe training my cat to stop biting toys is possible, but so far, I haven’t had success with training him to drop things or stop biting toys. Any advice on this would be helpful. In the meantime, I need durable toys that he can’t break and swallow. I’ve also considered strategies to reduce his aggression during play, such as playing with him after he’s eaten to make him less aggressive. Do you have any other tips to reduce aggression while playing? My ultimate goal is to find a technique that reliably gets cats to release toys and foreign objects from their mouths. The method of gently pressing on both sides of their jaw works better when their mouths are not full of prey. I am open to any advice or suggestions, even if you think they might not work, as I am willing to try anything. Please share your experiences and any techniques that have worked for you in the comments below. Edit 2020/11/20: Over time, I’ve discovered a few techniques that aren’t guaranteed but have been helpful in releasing toys.I’ve found two simple yet effective methods for training my cats, Bjorn and Athos, to release toys from their mouths. The first method involves picking up the cat. Bjorn, in particular, dislikes being picked up, which makes this technique quite effective for him. When I pick him up, he often releases the toy immediately. If not, I’ll have to repeat the process of picking him up and putting him down twice before he lets go.
Over time, Bjorn has learned that holding onto a toy might result in being picked up, which he dislikes. So, I say the words ‘Drop it’ to give him a chance to release the toy before picking him up. If he doesn’t comply, I start the process of picking him up. Usually, he drops the toy at this point, but if not, I continue until he releases it. Nowadays, when he hears ‘Drop it,’ he knows to let go. Bjorn has made significant progress with this method.The second method is tickling a cat’s belly. This works well with Bjorn but even better with Athos, who is indifferent to being picked up. It seems that tickling distracts cats, which is enough to get Athos to release the toy he’s holding. Athos holds on less than Bjorn and is more willing to let go of toys. I’m training him with the words ‘Drop it’ as well, hoping that in the future, just these words will be enough for him to release a toy. Until then, I’ll continue tickling his belly to encourage him to let go and stop biting his toys.
