Human beings often like to lump us cats into one homogenous group…cats! But we are way more complex than that. After all, we’re not dogs, who are all just…dogs! We have different personality types, and in recent years professors have decided (in their wisdom) that there are five of them. Understanding these five cat personality types can help you make our lives that little bit more stimulating and secure – which we know is your entire life mission – and to give you an example of how, we’re going to outline the five types, and suggest the perfect catnip toy for each.
The Five Feline Personality Types
The five key cat personality types are:
- The Skittish Cat
- The Outgoing Cat
- The Dominant Cat
- The Spontaneous Cat
- The Friendly Cat
Let’s take a look at each in turn – can you find your furry friend(s)?
The Skittish Cat: Nervous Nellies
The Skittish Cat will be found hiding under the bed during a thunderstorm, or darting away at the slightest sound of a popping toaster, or a cell phone alarm going off. These cats are sensitive, and need a safe space to retreat to and play/rest in, on their own terms. But don’t worry, with the right catnip toy, even the most jittery kittycat can feel relaxed and happy.
Perfect Catnip Toy: Kicker Toys
Why: Kicker toys allow Skittish Cats to engage with something soft and comforting. The action of grabbing and kicking the toy can be a great way for them to release pent-up energy and stress. Adding some cat nip can make them even more appealing.
Example: Soft, plush kicker toys filled with catnip provide comfort, and help calm those frazzled nerves. Does catnip calm cats? Absolutely!
The Outgoing Cat: Friendly Furballs
The Outgoing Cat loves to explore and meet new people. They’re confident, curious, and always looking for the next adventure.
Perfect Catnip Toy: Dangle Teaser Toys
Why: Outgoing Cats thrive on interaction and movement. Dangle teaser toys - which require you, the human, to engage - mimic the unpredictable movements of birds or insects, making them irresistible. Plus, you’re involved too, witnessing our acrobatic brilliance, so it’s even better. These toys - especially when infused with catnip - can keep Outgoing Cats entertained for hours, until eventually your arm falls off.
Example: A feathered dangle catnip toy is ideal - the combination of the fluttering feathers and the catnip coolness is a recipe for endless fun.
What is Catnip?
Before we move on, let’s answer a common question: What is catnip? Catnip (free hit) is a harmless herb from the cat mint family which contains an active ingredient called nepetalactone, which triggers a delicious natural buzz in pussy cats. And why do cats like catnip? Catnip stimulates our pleasure receptors, mimicking the action of feel-good pheromones and making us feel dreamy. Dribble.
The Dominant Cat: Bossy Boots
The Dominant Cat likes to be in charge. They’re confident, assertive, and sometimes a bit bossy. These cats often take the lead in multi-cat households, so enjoy toys which challenge them.
Perfect Catnip Toy: Interactive Toys
Why: Interactive toys challenge their minds and bodies. They love puzzles, laser toys, and anything which allows them to assert their dominance and intelligence. Alternatively, just place us near a placid Labrador.
Example: A laser pen and catnip dispenser is purrfect. It lets cats chase the light while occasionally rewarding them with a burst of cat nip. What’s not to love?!
The Spontaneous Cat: Whizzing Whirlwinds
Spontaneous Cats are unpredictable, full of energy, and love to surprise you with their antics. They need toys that can keep up with their high energy levels and satisfy their spontaneous nature.
Perfect Catnip Toy: Animal Toys
Why: Animal toys that mimic prey (like mice or fish) are perfect for these natural hunters. When infused with catnip, they provide an extra level of excitement.
Example: A catnip-filled mouse toy is ideal – death to all mice! The combination of the hunt and the catnip high can keep energetic cats entertained and active.
What does catnip do to cats?
When cats smell catnip (free hit), it binds to cat-specific receptors in their noses, creating a temporary feeling of euphoria. This can result in behaviors ranging from high-speed mania, to mellow, relaxed, dribbling.
The Friendly Cat: Cozy Companions
Friendly Cats are affectionate, love snuggles, and enjoy being around their humans. These cats like toys which enable bonding and play with their favorite people.
Perfect Catnip Toy: Homemade Toys
Why: Homemade toys can be made from items which smell like you, and combined with catnip for extra joy.
Example: A sock filled with catnip and tied off. It’s simple, cheap and smells like your foot – yummy!
Customizing for Your Cat’s Needs
Whilst these five cat personality types are a useful guide, no two cats are truly the same, and we also like different things on different days, so customization is key, as is mixing things up a bit. Here are a couple of things which can help:
- Add catnip: if a toy isn’t getting much attention, try adding some catnip spray or filling it with fresh catnip
- Mix and match: combine different types of cat toys to see what your cat prefers
- Rotate toys: keep us interested by rotating cat toys regularly to maintain their novelty
The Five Cat Personality Types – Which One is Your Furry Friend?
So there you have it, humans! A comprehensive guide to the five different cat personality types and the perfect catnip toys for each. Where does your furry friend fit in?
Remember, this is mostly about types of toys – if you prefer, you don’t have to buy catnip toys, you can always just use regular toys that meet your cat’s needs, and then add catnip to enhance the playtime experience. That way, you can ensure you’re using a highest quality catnip like Cat Crack (free hit). Always look for a catnip that is 100% natural, with a high nepetalactone content (78% is the number to aim for) – this ensures you’re sharing the real deal with no pesticides or padding! Good luck!
For more info on finding the perfect plaything, check out our previous article The Ultimate Guide To Catnip Toys.
Show us your cat’s favorite cat toy in action here.
Or for a deeper dive, you can read more about the five feline personality types here and here.
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