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Review of the 4Cats Valerian and Catnip Toys
Clare Hemington DipCAPBT When the Jörg Frank, the Deputy Managing Director of 4Cats (an established producer of cat toys) asked me to review some of their valerian and catnip toys I enthusiastically agreed. As a Cat Behaviourist I’m always on the look-out for superior quality cat toys I can use to help enrich the environment of the cats I see. Such was his obvious passion for his products that he even persuaded me to taste a catnip seed from their own special blend.
I was relieved that it didn’t have the same effect on me as it does on our family felines. I love watching cats roll around on the floor drooling when presented with a catnip toy, but draw the line at doing it myself. |
Catnip has long been known for its positive effect on cats, but there is another herb that can produce the same euphoric response - valerian, and I’ve been using it on cats for several years. However, whilst toys made with catnip are widely available, I’ve found it difficult to source toys containing valerian. So, I was delighted to find out that all the 4Cats toys come in both catnip and valerian varieties.
The 4Catsnip is high quality 100% organic catnip whilst the valerian root is completely natural and free from alcohol and artificial colouring.
When the toys arrived, they had to undergo their first strict quality control test, conducted by my cat Billy. Unfortunately, Billy is one of those cats for whom catnip and valerian only provide a cursory interest, so I was pleased at his obvious eagerness to investigate them as soon as the box was opened.
The 4Catsnip is high quality 100% organic catnip whilst the valerian root is completely natural and free from alcohol and artificial colouring.
When the toys arrived, they had to undergo their first strict quality control test, conducted by my cat Billy. Unfortunately, Billy is one of those cats for whom catnip and valerian only provide a cursory interest, so I was pleased at his obvious eagerness to investigate them as soon as the box was opened.
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So, let’s take a closer look at the toys.
There are two ranges, the Basic and the Premium. The Basic range toys come in an assortment of shapes, sizes, designs and colours, all equally attractive.
Whilst the material used in the Basic range appears to be very strong, I was told that the Premium range uses even higher quality fabrics to ensure their durability.
The Premium range comprises four different types of toy. Attached to three of these types are thick strings to provide additional stimulation for those cats that like to chase and chew.
In my experience, cats love nothing better than to play with string, so I was delighted to see this feature being incorporated to toys that also contain their favourite herbs.
The colours available for the Premium toys are red, blue, grey and beige. 4Cats have cleverly colour-coded the strings to enable owners to easily differentiate between the catnip and valerian products. The Premium range also happens to be protected by some of the nicest packaging I’ve seen used for cat toys, and this is also colour-coded for valerian and catnip.
Once the boxes are opened however, it’s easy to distinguish between the toys containing catnip and those containing valerian. They smell very different, and this is where some cat owners might struggle. Whilst catnip has a subtle aroma, valerian produces a distinctive smell which might just offend our human noses. On more than one occasion I’ve heard it described as being like the smell of old socks! Those with teenage children might be used to this, but for others it can be off-putting. Nevertheless, cats seem to love it, so for me watching them get so much enjoyment from valerian is certainly worth putting up with the smell for!
Below are examples of just some of the designs within the Basic range that were sent to me:
There are two ranges, the Basic and the Premium. The Basic range toys come in an assortment of shapes, sizes, designs and colours, all equally attractive.
Whilst the material used in the Basic range appears to be very strong, I was told that the Premium range uses even higher quality fabrics to ensure their durability.
The Premium range comprises four different types of toy. Attached to three of these types are thick strings to provide additional stimulation for those cats that like to chase and chew.
In my experience, cats love nothing better than to play with string, so I was delighted to see this feature being incorporated to toys that also contain their favourite herbs.
The colours available for the Premium toys are red, blue, grey and beige. 4Cats have cleverly colour-coded the strings to enable owners to easily differentiate between the catnip and valerian products. The Premium range also happens to be protected by some of the nicest packaging I’ve seen used for cat toys, and this is also colour-coded for valerian and catnip.
Once the boxes are opened however, it’s easy to distinguish between the toys containing catnip and those containing valerian. They smell very different, and this is where some cat owners might struggle. Whilst catnip has a subtle aroma, valerian produces a distinctive smell which might just offend our human noses. On more than one occasion I’ve heard it described as being like the smell of old socks! Those with teenage children might be used to this, but for others it can be off-putting. Nevertheless, cats seem to love it, so for me watching them get so much enjoyment from valerian is certainly worth putting up with the smell for!
Below are examples of just some of the designs within the Basic range that were sent to me:
Pictured from Left to Right:
Bow Tie/Knots, Rustling Cushions,
Cuddle Heart, Small Cuddle
Cushions, Fried Egg, Cat Wrestlers
Bow Tie/Knots, Rustling Cushions,
Cuddle Heart, Small Cuddle
Cushions, Fried Egg, Cat Wrestlers
Next it was time to put each of the toys to the test starting with the Basic range.
Small Cuddle Cushion
Small Cuddle Cushion
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These are the smallest cushions in the range and are a good option for kittens and petite cats as well as those that enjoy tossing their toys in the air. They come in a range of colours including a new ‘Wildlife Edition’ design.
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Fried Egg
This is a lovely novelty design, and despite it being covered in fleecy fabric, Teddy (pictured below left) obviously thought it looked real enough to try and eat it!
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Cuddle Heart
Made from soft velour fabric, the Cuddle Heart has similar proportions to the Fried Egg, large enough to be grasped and ‘raked’ and small enough to be thrown around.
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Rustle Cushion
This is a much larger version of the cuddle cushion but has been filled loosely to make it very lightweight. Both the catnip and valerian ‘flavours’ also contain Styrofoam beads which produce a rustling sound. All but one of the cats I tried it on loved playing with it. That cat was Connie (pictured below right) who interestingly, would only play with the Premium version of the same toy!
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Cat Wrestler
Grasping large objects and kicking them with their back legs is a behaviour that cats perform during play as well as when defending themselves from attack. It’s therefore an important behaviour for them to practice and these cat wrestler toys are the perfect size and shape for this. The 4Cats Basic range Wrestlers come in attractive faux fur designs.
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Bow Tie/Knot
These large fleecy toys are great for cats who prefer something lighter and more flexible to grasp and kick and come in a variety of colours.
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So far, so good. Let’s move on to the Premium range of toys. As already mentioned, the colours available for the Premium toys are red, blue, grey and beige and they come in high quality colour-coded packaging.
Cuddle Cushion
This cushion is the same size as the Basic Cuddle Cushion but is made from highly durable material. This is the only toy in this range not to have a string attached, so it’s perfect for cats that prefer their toys ‘string-less’!
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Motif Cushion
Made from the same fabric, but slightly larger than the Premium cuddle cushion, this toy has the addition of strings and comes with attractive bird and paw print motifs.
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Rustling Cushion
Of all the toys I tested, this large Premium Rustling Cushion was the most universally enjoyed and easily withstood being grabbed, thrown, bitten and kicked by several cats for extended periods.
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Cat Wrestler
The packaging used for the Premium Cat Wrestler was the most impressive of all the products. Colour coded, embossed and with attractive cat photos on the lid it replicates the quality of the product inside. These Wrestlers are incredibly sturdy and suitable for even the largest (domestic) cat. They also have the strings to provide additional enrichment.
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Cats all have their own unique temperaments and their preferences for toys can be as individual as they are. However, with their different textures, fabrics, scents, sizes, shapes and designs, these 4Cats toys appear to cater for every feline taste. They even converted my cat Billy, as demonstrated in some of the photos!
As well as temperament, there are other things to consider when buying toys, such as the age and size of the cat, the number of cats in the household and whether the cat has any deficits or disabilities. The cats in my sample group included:
As well as temperament, there are other things to consider when buying toys, such as the age and size of the cat, the number of cats in the household and whether the cat has any deficits or disabilities. The cats in my sample group included:
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Old Cats
Small Cats
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Young Cats
Three Legged Cats
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Large Cats
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Cats that Lick
Cats that grasp and rake
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Cats that Chew
Cats that just want to use the toys to relax!
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Multiple Cats
It’s important to be aware that when cats get over stimulated temporary tensions can arise!
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During the trial, I found that some cats deliberately chose one ‘flavour’ over the other. The wonderful thing about all these toys is that every toy in each range has catnip and valerian versions.
In Conclusion
Play is an incredibly important activity for cats. It helps reduce stress, replicates natural feline behaviours and keeps cats physically active and stimulated.
These 4Cats toys have clearly been made not only using the highest quality materials and raw ingredients, but with expertise, passion and importantly an understanding and respect for the cat as a species.
The toys will be available to buy in the UK from November 2017.
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