Hi everyone,
As we often get emails about how cats are using their hide and sneak tunnels from Dezi & Roo we’ve once again teamed up with them for an educational post about their toys! The following blog post first appeared here.
If you’ve purchased one of their highly popular play tunnels, the Hide and Sneak, you might have seen a seemingly strange behaviour from your feline friends. Instead of hiding or playing, Kitty hops on top of the tunnel and it collapses beneath his weight. Cat parents tell us about it all the time.
But if you’re worried that your kitty is disinterested in the new toy, it’s actually the opposite. Your cat is actually playing his own fun game with the toy, just because he can. Cats who like to crush their Hide and Sneak might be showing off or simply “knocking over sandcastles.”
You might remember from their recent blog on hunting that all cats have different preferences for playtime, which align with their hunting instincts. For that reason, cats will all play with their Hide and Sneak just a bit differently. Many cats will use a play tent or play tunnel as a place to hide, hunt, stalk, and pounce. Some might need a little encouragement, like a wiggly toy (worldwide shipping or click here for US shipping) or some Cloud Nine silver vine (worldwide shipping or click here for US shipping) placed inside. Some cats like to chew on the paper, ripping and tearing at it like prey. It satisfies an important desire many cats have. Still, others will hide their “prey” inside, hoarding toys and treasured items from around your home. All of this is perfectly normal for kitties to do.
But some cats, like Abby — a bossy calico from Georgia —like to remind their housemates that they’re in charge, and to prove it, they’ll declare themselves “King of the Mountain” by crushing the play tunnel or sitting on a favourite toy.
The good news is, this is still perfectly normal behaviour. It’s similar to children who like to build towers of blocks just to smash them or knock their creations to the ground. Cats who “crush” might simply be exhibiting their own form of play and exploration, or they could be making a show of dominance. Either way, the only “bad” news is you’ll have to occasionally fluff your Hide and Sneak for cats who want to use the tunnel in the more traditional way.
But what about you? What are your cats’ favourite ways to use the Dezi & Roo Hide and Sneak (Worldwide Shipping or click here for US shipping).
