My Maine Coon Kitten Is So Obsessed with One Toy We're Forced To Hide It

Maine Coon cats are notorious for having energy to burn. When they aren't burning that energy, they get bored, and that's when they can get into trouble. My Maine Coon kitten, at five months old, wants to play constantly either by me playing with him or him playing with the other animals in my house. Because he's just a baby, he's not great at playing with my other pets because he doesn't understand not every animal finds it fun to have their ears chewed on.

Meatball (Yes, his name is Meatball) has a twin brother who lives in another state and belongs to my sister. She recently discovered a toy that her own cats go nuts over so she sent Meatball one, and told me that I had to limit playtime with it because it makes her own cats so over-amped. I did not believe her.

I was wrong.

Just look at those flips! You can also hear our dog barking in the background because it's basically his job to bark at the cats when they are playing. The first time I played with this with Meatball he was panting afterwards so I made sure he drank water and had a lot of chill out time. When you play with toys like this with cats it's also important to indulge their prey drive and let them catch it and pounce on it so they don't get frustrated. That's how they win the game.

This toy is basically a cat dancer but it's a wand type so you can retract it and it makes a whooshing sound. It also comes with interchangeable toy parts that are supposed to resemble real butterflies, birds flying, and worms crawling.

Here's Meatball after he was done playing with it.

Why Do Maine Coon Cats Need So Much Exercise?

Maine Coon cats are big cats, and males can weigh up to 25 pounds. Meatball, at five months old, weighs 12 pounds. These cats have such large frames that they need strong muscles to support them and contribute to their agility, balance, and overall physical fitness.

Maine Coon cats can also be troublemakers, and like I said above, they get bored easily. Playing with them provides mental stimulation and helps prevent boredom and behavioral problems. Play and physical activity stimulates their natural hunting instincts, provides enrichment, and prevents destructive behaviors. Because Maine Coon cats so smart and active, and insufficient exercise can lead to behavioral problems such as hyperactivity, aggression, or attention-seeking behaviors. Like scream crying at 5 am.

Because these cats are so big, they can also hold onto weight as they age which can lead to obesity and other health problems. Exercising your cat can help them stay in shape.

When I out this toy in the cupboard after playing with it, Meatball cries until I distract him. My sister's Maine Coon does the same thing. That's how much they love this toy.

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