"Cat toys? You want me to sell cat toys?" The question bounced around in my mind like a ping-pong ball. Sure, I was an advertising executive, but my product was cat nip, not cat toys. I had been selling cat nip since I was a young buck in my 20's. Now, the suits upstairs wanted me to shift gears and start from scratch.
"Yes, cat toys. Preferably, cat toys for bored cats," my supervisor, Frank, informed me.
"Isn't that implied?" I asked.
"I don't know, that's just what they told me. They said to get into the mindset of a bored cat and figure out which toys can stimulate them the most. They expect a preview on Monday."
So, that's it. Three days to come up with some mind-blowing advertisements for cat toys. As if I didn't have enough on my plate already. Well, I'm nothing if not someone who can overcome challenges. Brain, it's going to take all you got to get this done. Don't disappoint me.
Cat Toys for Bored Cats
Typically, the best cat toys for bored cats are those that mimic prey like mice. Puzzle games can also stimulate a cat's mind and keep them entertained. Catnip toys can use catnip as a reward for solving the puzzle, ensuring your cat will keep playing with it over and over again.
Monday came around, and I was practically sick to my stomach. Guzzling stomachache medicine like it was candy, and chewing on chalk tablets like, well, like they're also candy.
Three days to come up with three campaign slogans. All the execs were going to be there, including the top tamale, Mr. Edward Edwards. Mr. Ed we'd call him behind his back. And to his face. It was how he introduced himself.
Finally, it was my time to shine. I brought in my mock-up boards and hoped for the best.
"So, what have you got for us today?" Mr. Ed asked.
"Three campaigns for cat toys, sir," I replied. I still had a chalk tablet in my mouth, so I chewed it as quickly as possible.
He motioned to my covered-up boards. "Whenever you're ready." He smiled.
I pulled the cover off the first board.
"Cat Toys: Not Just for the Boys," I read aloud.
Stunned silence.
"I don't get it," Mr. Ed said.
"Well, you see, 'boys' and 'toys' rhyme, sir," I replied.
"Yes, I understand that. But I don't get the message. Why aren't our toys just for the boys?"
"Well, I suppose that girls can also play with our toys, too, sir. At least, I assume they can. Unless all of our toys are only meant for boy cats," I stammered.
"No, our toys are for all cats, regardless of age or gender. Our toys are for everyone," Mr. Ed explained.
"Exactly, so our toys aren't just for the boys," I replied.
"But that makes it sound like they were just for the boys before, and now they aren't." His voice became somewhat irate.
I looked at my mockup. "But the word 'boys' rhymes with the word 'toys,'" I replied, pointing to each word.
More silence. I couldn't tell if it was positive or negative.
"Let's see what else you have," Mr. Ed sighed.
Catnip Toys for Cats
Catnip toys are designed to hide catnip inside. Some of these toys are puzzles, forcing cats to solve the puzzle to get a free hit of catnip. Other catnip toys for bored cats are fun to play with once cats get a whiff of the cat nip. Since catnip triggers a playful response, these toys cater to your cat's natural reaction.
I pulled the first board off and showed off the second.
"Toys for Cats. You Like Dead Rats?" I read.
"That's even worse!" Mr. Ed exclaimed.
"How so?" I asked.
"That makes it sound like we sell dead rats! We don't sell dead rats!" His voice grew louder with each sentence.
"Technically, that's true. But we do sell that motorized mouse toy that mimics the movements of a live mouse. Cats pretend to 'kill' the mouse, so I guess this ad focuses on the end result more than anything else," I explained.
"It still sounds terrible. If anything, we should be asking if our customers like live rats. Who would want to buy a dead rat?" Mr. Ed asked.
"Again, this ad focuses on the result. As the saying goes, 'sell the sizzle, not the steak,'" I stammered.
"What steak? What are you talking about? We sell cat toys! Not steaks! Why did you use the word rats, anyway? We sell toy mice, not toy rats."
"Well, rats rhymes with cats, so," I explained.
"They don't have to rhyme!" Mr. Ed shouted. Another stunned silence. I popped a chewable chalk tablet to calm my nerves.
"Okay. You know what? Let's see your last ad. I think I've already made my decision, but let's see if you have anything worth salvaging," Mr. Ed said, exasperated.
Do Cats Get Bored?
Yes, cats can get bored when they don't have anything to do. Bored cats can turn to destructive behavior, such as scratching furniture or killing live animals outside. Cat toys, especially catnip toys, can help alleviate boredom and give your cats a better alternative.
"Okay, well to be honest, I'm not super satisfied with my last campaign," I explained, finishing the chalk tablet.
"And you were satisfied with these first two?" Mr. Ed asked.
"Kind of," I replied.
I showed the final board. "Catnip Toys for Cats. That's Enough of That!"
"What the heck does that even mean?" Mr. Ed stood up, enraged.
"Well, I couldn't really think of anything else that rhymed with cat besides rat or that," I replied.
"Chat, spat, brat, gnat, there are so many words! Plus, they don't have to rhyme, you dummy!"
"But all great ad campaigns rhyme," I explained.
"Give me one example." Mr. Ed crossed his arms and stared at me.
My mind went blank.
"Got Milk?" I stuttered.
"Get out. Don't come back until you have something good. You're hanging on by a thread, mister!"
Cat Toys for Bored Cats
If your cat gets bored throughout the day, cat toys can be a fantastic way to keep them entertained and protect your furniture from excessive scratching. Catnip toys offer the best of both worlds, giving your cat a fun experience while helping them calm down and find stress relief with high-quality catnip.
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