My cat is very fond of the SmartyKat FeatherBalls Cat Toy. Although she has many toys to choose from, this is clearly one of her favorites. She does, however, tend to be really tough on the toy. Firstly, she chews all of the feathers off. Next, she bats it and "rabbit kicks" it whenever she sees it. Lastly, when she is ready to go upstairs, she will often times carry it with her, all the while making a very interesting set of sounds. Once at the top of the stairs, she often hurls it back down to the bottom and then runs down the stairs, only to repeat the process. However, despite all of the abuse she dishes out, the toy is remarkably resilient. She has several that have lasted over two years; albeit demonstrating a high degree of wear. I think this toy piques her predator instincts and so my little tiger can't resist it! I highly recommend it to get those lazy cats off the couch and into play.

Kikko

Sacramento, CA

My cat Mike loves toys and especially toys with feathers, so I thought these feather balls would be a surefire hit. When I first removed them from the package, Mike did seem pretty excited by them and tossed them up in the air several times. He also batted them around a little, but then he quickly lost interest. I figured he'd go back to the feather toys eventually, but he never really did. He might play with them for a few seconds at a time now, but that's about it. In addition, I've noticed that the feather balls have now started "molting"--the feathers have started to fall out and make a mess all over the house. This is clearly not due to being played with in a rough fashion, because they rarely get touched by my cat, much less any vigorous play. I'm disappointed in the toys and plan on discarding them so the feathers don't continue to fall out and create a mess. I know that cats may have very individual preferences for toys, but in my opinion, these are not very high quality toys.

mikers

Chesterfield, MO

When I saw these I knew I had to get some. Feathers and balls in one toy was just too good to be true for my cats! They love balls and they love feathers - together it just had to be a hit. And it was! While my cats have tons of toys around these are the among their favorites as they return to them over and over again. When I opened the package I was glad there were two in the package as I have two cats and they each got their own toy without me having to buy a second package. They each have to have one of each toy I buy. These seem to be a hit because they're nice and soft and easy to hold on to and chew the ball part or to hold the ball part and chew the feather part. These are very well made as well. The feathers are securely sewn in and I have yet to have one come loose. The ball part is well sewn and no stuffing has come out despite hours of rigorous play. I highly recommend these for any feather fan!

capers01

Vernon Rockville, CT

The big risk when buying anything for a pet is that you never know if they will actually like it or not. Like a little kid who gets an expensive toy but only wants to play with the box, sometimes my cat would rather jump into a paper bag than play with any of the catnip-scented toys I buy for him. Luckily I discovered the SmartyKat FeatherBalls cat toy line, which are toys that he actually likes! They come in a few varities -- with and without feathers, with removeable feathers, with jingle bells inside -- and he plays with them all. He likes to amuse himself by playing soccer with the kind without feathers and will even play fetch with the kind with feathers! I can't count the number of these I have bought. They usually come two or three to a package, which is good since he is always kicking them under a bookcase or the entertainment center. Every once in a while i will dig them out for him and see how long it takes for him to lose them all again. ****

jec

Chicago, IL

We recently adopted a new kitten. We found the toys these featherballs at the local store. They keep out her happy for ours. They are nice and soft so, I don't have to hear them on the hardwood floors and the feathers keep the cat's attention. She liked them so much, that I went out and bought another pack.

AishahMuhammad

Richmond, VA

We have tried lots of pet toys on our younger cat and this is the only one he really likes. We were even able to teach him to play a cat version of fetch with the SmartyKat FeatherBalls cat toy. There are a few variations on the featherball provided by smartykats. Some attach the feathers with velcro. Some have a notably larger base. Stull another has a jingle inside the ball. Our cat has enjoyed them all, but his favorite by far is the kind with the detachable feathers. I'm not sure if the feathers really even make a difference to him. When we toss the featherball for him with the feathers attached, he will chase it. When you take the feathers off, he will play soccer with the ball until he either wears himself out or manages to kick it under the entertainment center. He is less fond of the one with the rattling ball inside it, but he will still play with it. A great thing about the toys is that they are really sturdy. It takes quite a while for him to wear all the feathers out -- and he certainly gives them a beating.

dbm82

Pine Bluff, AR

my cats search for these and throw them in the air and chase like kittens. they are their favorite toys. dont kniow how well they would hold up with a cat that has claws though--- maybe less sturdy for them

pinardia

Stow, OH

I volunteer at my local anima shelter.  The kitties there, especially the young males, will play with these toys as long as you let them.  They all love the feathers and are so cute when they catch their "prey" in mid-leep.  Definitely a must have if you have energetic indoor kitties.

lesyost

San Gabriel, CA

As the mom of 11 cats, I am always trying to find something new to keep them busy.  Several of our cats are handicapped, so it must be something all can enjoy, whether they be blind or deaf . When I first spotted these feather balls, I figured that they would have the feathers off in just a matter of minutes, but I thought they would get a bit of entertainment out of them before they did. Well let me tell you, that has been almost 3 months ago and the feathers are still attatched.  The cats throw the balls thru the air using the feathers as the sling.  The blind ones can hear the feathers spin and are able to catch them before they hit the ground. Lately, I have noticed that they keep showing up missing.  Due to the rare places that I find them, like inside my shoes lol, I now know that some are hiding them. These are the best toy that I have ever found for them, and I will definately be buying more of them...thank you

thabull

Quincy, IL

Maybe my cats are unusual, but while the SmartyKat Featherballs were an instant hit, the fun didn't last. My cats are indoor only, but Tia is an agressive and gifted hunter. Woe to any bug that makes its way into our house! I thought they would enjoy these, and they seemed alright for Hermione, who is pretty laid back, but she didn't get to play with them long. Tia plays normally with things like catnip mice, but the feathers on these toys drove her wild. She pounced on them, growled if anyone, including her sister, came near, and had the feathers on all of them completely shredded within 15 minutes. These might work for calm cats, but if your cat has a strong hunting instinct, even if they are indoor only (I got my cats at 6 weeks old and they have always been indoors), these might not be the best idea. I'm not sure Tia's reaction was one of having fun, I think she was merely "killing" them.

ladywolfsong

White River Junction, VT