Cats Who Crush on the Hide and Sneak Tunnel: Why Your Cat is Flattening Their Toy and What You Can Do About It
If you are a cat owner, you might be familiar with peculiar behaviours that your furry friends exhibit. One of them is when your cat crushes their toys, particularly the Hide and Sneak Tunnel from Dezi & Roo. While this might seem a bit odd and concerning, there is no need to worry. In reality, your cat is just playing their own fun game with the toy, just because they can.
The Hide and Sneak Tunnel is a highly popular play tunnel for cats, known for its durability and entertainment value. However, some owners have noticed their cats hopping on top of the tunnel and collapsing it beneath their weight. While this might seem like a sign that your cat is disinterested in the new toy, it is actually the opposite.
Cats who like to crush their Hide and Sneak might be showing off or simply “knocking over sandcastles.” This behaviour is similar to children who like to build towers of blocks just to smash them or knock their creations to the ground. It satisfies an important desire that many cats have – to play and explore their surroundings.
In a recent blog post from Dezi & Roo, they mentioned 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. Some cats will use a play tent or play tunnel as a place to hide, hunt, stalk, and pounce. Others might need a little encouragement, like a wiggly toy or some Cloud Nine silver vine placed inside. Some cats like to chew on the paper, ripping and tearing at it like prey. Still, others will hide their “prey” inside, hoarding toys and treasured items from around your home. All of these behaviours are 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 do that, they will declare themselves “King of the Mountain” by crushing the play tunnel or sitting on a favourite toy. Once again, there is no need to worry. Crushing the Hide and Sneak is perfectly normal behaviour for cats and could simply be an expression of their dominant personality.
So, what can you do to encourage your cat to use the Hide and Sneak Tunnel in the more traditional way? Firstly, try to add some playtime activities that are in line with your cat’s interests, such as wiggly toys, silver vine, or even some treats. You could also try hiding some of their favourite toys or treats inside the tunnel to encourage them to play with it. Also, it is important to fluff up the tunnel and make sure it is secure so that your cat can play without it collapsing.
In conclusion, there is no need to worry if your cat is crushing their Hide and Sneak Tunnel. It is simply a normal and playful behaviour that some cats exhibit. However, if you want to encourage your cat to use the toy in the more traditional way, you should try some of the ideas mentioned above. Remember, cats have different personalities and preferences for playtime, so it might take some trial and error to find the best way to play with your furry friend.
