Not Really Wordless Wednesday – It’s the Simple Things in Life that Often Bring the Greatest Joy
Kizmet poses wistfully in front of a basket overflowing with cat toys dreaming of his elusive, but favorite toy… the pom pom.
In our house it would be 100% impossible to hide the fact we have cats. Cat condos, baskets and baskets of cat toys, cat beds, cat pillows, cat blankets, cat food dishes – in every room and every where you look, there is something directly related to making sure our cats are well-loved and taken care of.
Despite all that, we have one feline housemate, Kizmet, that would give it all up in a heartbeat, but for his favorite thing on earth – pom pom toys. There is not another toy that even remotely compares to his beloved pom pom and he would easily walk away from a meal for a whiff of that glittery round ball. Expensive toys, toys that were designed for cats by scientific engineers, toys dusted with catnip, traditional mouse toys – you name it – NOTHING can take the place in his mind of this cheap, less than pennies to make toy that operates on nothing but his imagination.
Throughout his life, Kizmet has had many of these pom poms come and go. Typically they last about 4 seconds and then are somehow absconded by UFO’s under the couch, very rarely to be seen again. When he inadvertently finds one, his entire body quivers with excitement and his favorite thing is to have you throw the pom pom to him so he can bring it back to you.
This is what you get when you move the couch… Doesn’t every self-respecting cat keep a stash of toys that he can’t get to under the couch?
This will go on until he either tires out or loses the toy. For Christmas, I decided the best thing I could do was search for a source for these endearing toys and I found one on Amazon – I ordered a wholesale bag of 100 for less than $5.00, including free shipping, and gave a few of them to him for Christmas. He lit up like a Christmas tree and most amazing of all, here it is January 6th and he still has them. He likes to keep them close by on the couch and will also bring them to me in my office when I am working during the day.
This is what 100 pom pom toys looks like. I wanted to show Kizmet all of them for the fun of it, but decided it was best not to. Wouldn’t want to blow his cute little kitty mind, so I’ve got them squirreled away to dole out when he needs a replacement!I
Bless his little soul – such a wonderful lesson to be learned that often it’s the simple things in life that bring us the greatest joy.
This has been Kizmet since Christmas day, 2015.
Happy Wednesday all and what is your cat’s favorite toy?
He’s darling, those fuzzy little balls are popular here as well. Felix is a huge long haired grey Tuxedo and he plays fetch too. Thank you for mentioning where to get them, my kids will be thrilled!
My son took me by complete surprise, telling me he’s leaving. Previously, he was staying thru his first 2 years of college.
I’m heartbroken, he’s changed so much, I don’t recognize him.
That is nothing to do with the kitties and their pom poms. It just popped out. Sorry.
Connie – I’m happy to know you will now have a source for your sweet Felix!
As far as your son leaving, I am so sorry. I miss my kids so much too and wish they could stay with me forever… I wish I had words to ease your pain, but know that I am here for you if you need me.
This is such a sweet story (I love Kismet so much!) Doesn’t it just warm your heart to see how such little things bring your cats such great joy?
Happy New Year dear friend!
Thank you Create With Joy – I know you’ve always had a soft spot for Kizmet and I can understand why!
Happy New Year to you as well!
My kitties love those too. They always seem to be missing. LOL.
Yes Sue – there must be a mountain a mile high somewhere with all those missing pom poms!
Oh that’s so true Deb. The little things truly are the BIG things in our lives I think. They enrich our lives and give us purpose, and the kitties that have picked us- and I truly beiieve that is how we connect with them- (although sometime I wonder what our lessons are when there are behavioral issues that can be frustrating to deal with) but we do learn so much from our interactions with our cats.
Those pom poms are great. I just wish I could have them around our house but Sir Hubble Pinkerton would eat them I am afraid.. Sigh.. it is so hard to find safe toys for him since he prefers to chew on them rather than play with them. We were given a few banana toys – nylon covered filled with catnip- and he can chew on that all day safely!! He loves them. Thanks for a sweet read this morning!
MOL Jo! I know what you mean about the lessons when it comes to behavioral issues, but as our wise and beloved Mr. Jazz and Dr. Hush Puppy would remind us, at least there are behavioral issues to deal with! The time we have with our precious babies is so fleeting, so we have to look for the good in the bad!
Darn it that Sir Hubble eats pom poms, but at least you have the banana toys to keep him happy!
ah the simple joys…..
100 for $5 – may have to look into that for future uses.
Daiquiri is obsessed with those foam soccer balls….chases them all over, plays fetch with them and inevitably loses them somewhere
Random Felines – not only is it a great price, but it brings so much happiness!
Kismet and Mudpie would be the best of friends…pom poms are by far her favorite toy too! She blogged about her green one today too!
Their sweet innocence just melts my heart.
Oh my gosh Melissa!! That is so cute regarding Kizmet and Mudpie – they really do melt your heart!
We never played with pom poms, it looks like a lot of fun ! Mum will surely appreciate the fact that it’s not noisy : we’ll ask her to get us some of them. Purrs
MOL Swiss Cats!! It is definitely not a noisy toy!!
Great story, Deb! My Purrl loves aluminum balls and has actually fetched a few times. These sparkly pom poms have some of the same enticing qualities. Thanks f the ordering info. I’ll let you know how it goes! Cheers to you and Kismet!
Your welcome Anna – I’d love to hear the follow-up!
oh you would have absolutely blown his mind if you had given them all at once 🙂
I love the sunken floor where the couch is, that is awesome!
It really would have blown his mind, Connie!! Sweet boy… just couldn’t do it to him!
guys…gram paw dude had bunches oh toyz two but hiz all time fav o rite
waz suede mouz….his veree furst toy ♥♥♥
de food servizz gurl keeped suede mouz….him haz no earz,
eyez… ore tail…but he haza a place oh honor ona shellves in R livin room ♥♥♥
pee ezz…kizmet …dood….ewe due noe ewe could use that spot ther… rite bye ewe
…..aza fishin hole…..fill it with water; add sum bloo gill N yur all set….how….kewl…..iz…
that !!!!
{ N how bout if we types R email in rite huh ~~~~~ ☺
Tabbies – Oh yes!! We love old suede mice with no ears, eyes, or tails too!! You have great taste (yum) in toys!
Our hiding spot is under the china cabinet. We need to go check out under there to see what’s hiding. 🙂
Kizmet is such a darling with his pompom balls. Flynn loves soft toys. His favourites are an old blue foam ball which has chunks bitten out of it and a soft white crochet ball from Ellen at 15 and meowing.
that is precious! That is how Cody is with his mice 🙂 You are lucky that the toy that Kizmet is most fond of is not only easy to replace, but affordable!
Kismet is absolutely adorable! I love that he is a simple sort of cat. My cats are that way too. Pom poms make pawsome toys! My cats also love straws, pipe cleaners, and feathers. They don’t need the expensive stuff.
Kismet is such a cutie pie!
Zoe LOVES those things, too. We’re always finding them under the couch and chairs. And then the fun starts all over again. 🙂
Adorable! Each of my girls has something they treasure above all else. Valentina likes her little mice but they have to be the sparkly ones. Coco likes, of ALL things, a tiny, key chain ballet slipper that was a freebie in a Halloween costume purchase shipment one year. She loved them so much I had to call the company and buy a few. She still has two and loves them!
Right now, the cat nip carrot and cat nip chili peppers are the Warehouse favorites. Everyone plays with those!
Happy Kizmet! Enjoy your poms!
That is so sweet. You are a great kitty Mom to find him such a big bunch of them.