etsy t.
Brown Paper Cat Toys' Top Bird (now cork + feather) is my and our two kitties' (two & three years old) favourite. They both have a ton of energy, so we rely on fun, interactive toys to provide them with enough exercise at least 2-3 times each day. We've purchased several cheap wands with feathers via Amazon, to which the cats react half-interestedly. But something about the natural feathers in Top Bird and the way Paul recommends arranging them to make it spin, drives cats ABSOLUTELY NUTS. They are _so_ excited to play with this toy that they eagerly run to me every time I go to the closet where it's stored. The additional feather selection (included) and customisable nature of the Top Bird are a lifesaver for owners of cats who easily destroy toys. We also like knowing the girls are chewing on natural, non-dyed feathers vs something from China.
zanottery
This is a very special cat toy. The feathers twirl around when you swing the pole in a very unique way. This is one of the best cat toys I have ever purchased. Beautifully made. The seller is very nice also. I am so glad I bought this. My cat loves it. Thanks for everything and I hope to buy from you again!!
ramona m.
It's Feline Friday!
I rarely write product reviews so when I do it’s for a product that’s received the Tsarevich and Diva seals of approval from Ivan and Natasha, and me as Cat-mom.
While a vendor at the TICA cat show held this past January in Portland, OR, I received a “Top Bird” toy made by Brown Paper Cat Toys (now cork & feather), as a sample. Knowing that both Ivan and Natasha are feather fanatics I didn’t doubt they’d like it—I doubted how long it would last. My cats have polar opposite personalities and they have different play styles yet each is demanding on toys, especially feathers and “stringy” elements.
“Top Bird” is a chase toy for cats and replicates a bird. It has a bamboo wand which the company’s literature describes as “beautiful, sustainable and strong as steel.” What I like about it is the smooth feel in my hands, I don’t feel any rough spots and surprisingly there’s a subtle indention at the first joint of the wand that my thumb naturally rests against giving a comfortable grip. The wands come in two lengths: 36” for adults and 24” suitable for children, which is what I have. Each sell for $13.99.
Now, let’s get down to the action—the “bird.” The sample I have is the 3-feather design and thanks to the four swivel points of the toy, when it flies through the air it mimics a bird in flight with both spinning action and feather noise. Ivan and Natasha both love to run, jump and grab the bird in flight; and they both impressively clear the ground. Watching them is exhilarating because it’s like watching a caracal on the savannah leap high into the air after a bird in flight. It reminds me that there are predators in the house. Natasha is a huntress, stalking her prey and after catching it, loves to toss it in the air. She also likes to roll over and play on her back. “Top Bird” gives her full expression of her play personality.
Ivan’s play technique is chase, grab and bite. And bite, and bite and bite. He bites and chews everything to shreds, and I mean everything. His sharp teeth snapped through a pipe cleaner and easily turned a wooden coffee stir stick into splinters. After chasing “Top Bird,” he grabs it and chews mercilessly. I hear the quills crunching. So far the feathers and Dacron line are intact but should they be ultimately meet their end by feline, replacement parts are available.
All parts of “Top Bird” are replaceable. The 3-feather “Easy Spinner” can be purchased separately ($5.99) or you can buy a feather kit to build your own bird design ($8.99). The kit comes with an assortment of nine to 12 feathers varying in length from 8” to 10” and natural latex tubing. My first thought was that I don’t want to use adhesive—it’s messy, okay, maybe it’s me that’s messy—and I don’t want my cats to ingest glues or adhesives. Not to worry. Somehow, the natural latex tubing grips the feathers in place. Nope, no feathers have been pulled out of the sample I have despite robust kitty play. I haven’t specifically seen if the Dacron line is replaceable, but I hope it is because with Ivan it isn’t “if” it will need to be replaced but “when.”
I’ve attached pictures of Ivan and Natasha playing with “Top Bird,” the product itself and Natasha after playtime. Please pardon the poor quality of the play photos, I have yet to master the art of holding a camera, pressing the button and playing with a toy. Overall, “Top Bird” is a top choice for interactive play with Ivan and Natasha.
As I said in the beginning, I received my “Top Bird” as a sample at the TICA cat show. I have not received any monetary payment to write this review nor am I in any way affiliated with the product or company. Though I do get pleasure from watching Ivan and Natasha release their inner predator when playing with the toy. :)