toy

Our Favorite Reviews

January 7, 2016 by Kat Maran Leave a Comment

“Your product speaks for itself. No offense, but I really wasn’t expecting much when I placed my order. Team Mookeet is so very picky about their catnip, I’ve pretty much stopped buying other brands. Just about everything I’ve tried has ended up in the trashcan. They are seriously that picky. When your package arrived, they barely even let me open it. They were tearing into the package and just about had it open on their own. Their previous brand of choice has always been safe in the ottoman. They never try to get to it. Not the case with your nip. They tore the lid off the ottoman repeatedly. It’s now in the cabinet above the refrigerator because that’s the only place they can’t get to it. Paws down the best catnip I’ve ever purchased. And that’s saying something as I’ve bought just about every brand you can think of. So long story short, thank you for making the best nip toys in the entire world. We are looking forward to your spring line of goodies.”

— Jacqueline Bond & Team Mookeet (10 cats) on Instagram)

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Catnip Joints

“Hands down you guys have the best catnip! Of all the catnip toys we have it is the joints that continue to provide entertainment – to them and to us. We usually put all of the toys in the cat house in the AM and again in the evening before we go to bed. Throughout the day we usually see one of the cats sitting in the party house, a little latter we may hear a sneeze and then shortly thereafter they explode out of the house running or they go to find/stalk the other cat. It is so fun to watch. After Christmas I ordered a kicker from one of the other vendors and they seemed to really like being able to hold on and kick it, but it only lasted a short while, they still lay on it in the cat house, but the joints are still providing delight – we find them all around the house.

Thanks again for all of the kitty goodies…it is a gift that provides delight every day.”

— De Ann Doonan, via direct email

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Batnip in Black

“Barely got the box open when my cat pounced on this thing. She’s super-finicky about what she’ll play with, so I have to admit I was hesitant to pay this much for a cat toy. Order came lightning fast and my cat is obsessed! Very well-made and works even better with the Telescoping Wand with Clip & Cord. Definitely worth every penny – it’ll surely last a long time and keeps Stella’s interest for a long time! She’s a bit tubby, so keeping her active is critical. Can’t say enough good stuff about this product or this company. Won’t ever buy cat toys or catnip anywhere else again!”

— Lisa (verified owner) review on product page

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Lots of Etsy Reviews

Paraphernalia Pack

February 14, 2015 by Kat Maran Leave a Comment

Telescoping Clip & Catnip Joints

Reach out to your cat!

* Save on Band-Aids: the telescoping wand prevents scratched hands.
* Jiggle the clip under a throw rug or towel, like prey.
* Tie a ribbon around a toy; dangle it from the clip.
* Clip together loose feathers that fall off other toys. Voila! A new cat toy.
* Jingle the bell: it’s time for Catnip Joints.
* Clip on a treat like freeze-dried chicken; drive kitty nuts.
* Make boring toys fun by tossing them around with the clip.
* Wiggle your wand: Exercise your cat!

Wolfie & Telescoping Wand — Wolfie biting Catnip Joint on Telescoping Wand

Play with your cat by moving the wand over, under, or inside a…

* Paper bag (with cat in it)
* Box (with cat in it)
* A cracked-open door (with cat on the other side)
* A throw-rug, blanket or towel

Our Paraphernalia Pack with telescoping wand and Catnip Joints makes a great gift – it’s always the “hit” of the party!

Click here to order

Note: Bells are selected randomly (from magenta, teal, purple, and chartreuse. What kitty gets will be a surprise! (If you have a burning desire for a specific color, leave a comment in your order; no guarantees, but if we can make it happen, we will. We want happy cats!)

Chloe’s First Joint

October 14, 2014 by Kat Maran Leave a Comment

Stark Raving Cat’s customer Chloe grooves on her first catnip joint. Wow, does she like it! She even attacks the packaging. Catnip joints are legal in all 50 states. Available only at StarkRavingCat.com. Thanks to PrintsForPaws on Etsy and Instagram for shooting this video. High fives from another satisfied customer!

Buy Catnip Joints.

Ten Tips About Catnip: Legal High for Cats

August 26, 2014 by Kat Maran Leave a Comment

Tamale: caught in the catnip plant again!

Follow these tips to give your stark raving cat the best catnip experience.

Try our special 5-Star Catnip

First, what is catnip? Call it cat weed, cat mint, or catnip, it’s the stuff that makes some cats wacky. And as with any herb, freshness matters.

What does catnip do to a cat? I’m asked this all the time, usually by spouses who tolerate a partner’s cat (or rather, the cat tolerates them). I even had a vet ask me this question. (Gaahhh! Don’t they cover catnip in vet-med schools?) Here’s what I tell them…

Ten Tips About Catnip

Catnip is an herb related to mint. It’s safe and natural. Catnip works in both dried and fresh forms.

1. Catnip stimulates the pleasure-seeking pheromones in a cat’s brain. Result: Rolling, rubbing, purring, wild-eyes, racing, friskiness and frolicking – for about ten minutes, before the cat abandons the catnip. (Some cats get aggressive, so watch your fingers.) The crazy-session is followed by a crash: sedentary zoning or naptime – which can be handy if you want your cat to be tranquil for a spell.

2. Most cats, but not all, respond to catnip. Experts say 70-75 percent of cats inherit a “catnip gene” which makes them responsive to catnip. Kittens and cats younger than six months don’t respond to catnip. (Perhaps, like kids, they’re naturally high.)

Pookie and Catnip Joint — Video still of Pookie playing with Catnip Joint

3. Let your cat inhale! Cats get their kicks by inhaling the vapor from the catnip oil. Chewing, pawing and slobbering on a catnip toy helps release the oil’s vapor. (With our Catnip Joints, we recommend running the joint under the cat’s nose, like a fine cigar, to get them engaged, before tossing the joint in the air like prey.)

4. Stale catnip won’t work. Which is why cat toys that have been on the shelves for months lose their potency; mass-market brands often start off with cheap, inferior catnip. No wonder kitty won’t play! Don’t waste your money.

5. Smell the freshness. Catnip’s essential oil “nepetalactone” makes the magic happen, and it’s found mainly in the leaves and buds. When the oil dries out, no more magic. It’s just like the herbs in your kitchen cabinet. If your herbs or catnip don’t have aromas, throw them out. They’re duds.

6. Quality matters. Again, as with all herbs, there are weak strains of catnip and stronger ones. Soil, sun and growing conditions make a difference between “premium catnip” and inferior catnip. (At Stark Raving Cat, we use only premium catnip.)

7. Freeze dried catnip airtight to keep it fresh. This includes catnip toys. (If you buy a multi-pack of Catnip Joints, freeze a few for later use.)

8. If a catnip toy needs reviving, roll it in dried catnip (stuff that’s not stale). Don’t just sprinkle the catnip: crumble it on scratching posts or toys to release the potent oil.

9. Is catnip safe to eat? Yes, but best in small amounts. It acts like a sedative, making cats more sleepy than frisky. Large quantities may cause digestive issues. Don’t set out a platter of catnip (I’ve seen this happen on the Interweb; the cat was passed out for days.)

10. Desensitization happens. Problem: My cat stopped playing with her catnip toy. Solution: Remove catnip toys after playtime. Cats’ noses get desensitized when they’re always around catnip. Bring the toys out again in a day or so. To revive an old toy, rub loose catnip on the outside to refresh the aroma.

Catnip plants are as easy to grow as mint. But beware: your frenzied cat may crawl right into the pot! I’ve discovered Pookie nesting in the catnip plant on more than one occasion.

Or you can try our special 5-Star Catnip.

– Stark Raving Kate

A Public Service Post by Tamale at StarkRavingCat.com

7 Tips: How to Get Old Cats to Play

May 13, 2014 by Kat Maran

Wake Up, Geezer Cats: It’s Time to Play!

By Pookie and Wolfie, Senior Advisors

You’d probably not toss Frisbees to your great grandpa, or chase grandma around the block, so why would you do that to your old cat? (Okay, the Frisbee is a more of a dog thing, but you get the idea.)

Myth: Old Cats Won’t Play

Old cats will play – if you remember that they’re old.

Don’t expect old cats to play like they used to. Arthritic joints, stiff muscles, poor eyesight and other signs of aging change how a cat is able to play.

Why play with an old cat at all? Geezer cats sleep a lot and need their rest. But just because that lump of fur hasn’t moved for hours doesn’t mean it shouldn’t play. Change how you play with your cat, and you may find regular play keeps your senior cat younger and fitter.

“Regularly engaging your cat in moderate play can promote muscle tone and suppleness, increase blood circulation, and help reduce weight in cats that are too heavy, ” according to Petfinder.com. Plus, play is a mood-booster that helps banish boredom.

Remember: old cats don’t usually initiate play. You need to be the spark that fires up their attention and interest.

Our Senior Advisors Pookie and Wolfie offer these tips for playing with older cats:

1. Warm up before starting. Let the cat wake up, get the blood flowing, and stretch a little before starting to play. Best time to play: after a cat’s done grooming herself.

2. Use soft, gentle toys. Smaller toys are less intimidating and easier on the paws. Hard toys can be painful on aging teeth and gums. Good toys: soft toys that move in the air, like our Baby Batnips attached to a Telescoping Wand with Clip and Cord.

3. Old cat? Old prey. Jerk the toy like prey, in short bursts, but closer to the cat’s paws. Younger cats will dart across the room, but geezers may not move off the couch. Make small movements with a toy under a blanket, towel or throw rug, as if the prey is peeping out; cats of all ages love this.

4. Let the cat win…sometimes. Cats like a challenge, but one they can occasionally conquer. Near wins are good too.

5. Air-play is OK! It’s fine if just the paws play. Running and jumping is not required. Older cats may just swipe with a paw or two. Or roll on their back and play with their paws in the air. They’re still mentally and physically engaged.

6. Mood-boost before play. Scent up the toy. Catnip makes some cats frisky; and freeze-dried treats, crumbled and rubbed on the toy, can entice a cat’s sense of smell, just as prey would.

7. Know when to stop. Don’t let play turn sour. Your cat will let you know when it’s tired or annoyed, so take a time-out or try again the next day, maybe with a different toy. Keep play new and fun.

Finally, reward your cat after a “prey” capture or when a play period ends. Your affection, praise, and a treat can make your cat feel rewarded. Savor the victory together.

Our exclusive Telescoping Wand with Clip and Cord is ideal for senior cats, and fun for cats of all ages. Most of our cat toys have loops on them – tie one end of the cord to the loop and attach the other end to the wand and you’re all set for playtime!