Kitty City Swat Track And Scratcher

January 18, 2011 3:26 pm | By Zootoo Editor Mary T.

The 11" round Kitty City Swat Track and Scratcher includes a ball enclosed in a round translucent plastic track with plenty of access holes for kitty's paws and a "suspended ball" that stands at the center of the scratch pad like a startled cat's tail.

As advertised, this piece can be securely attached, vertically, to other Kitty City components, but when I secured it to the Climbing Hill (another piece from Kitty City's product line) our tester cats had difficulty figuring out how to still play with the ball and use the scratcher.

Hence, the Swat Track seems to function best when flat on the floor, although rambunctious play with multiple cats may send the toy flying across ground. However, this is a small drawback to an otherwise completely engaging product -- one that encourages long periods of play. One of the cutest sights this reviewer has seen is when one cat stoically sits on top of the toy while another one runs around and around and around in rapt, ball-chasing fixation.

The scratcher portion of the toy does have a limited life governed by the durability of the corrugated circle of cardboard, but even when the scratcher is spent, the ball and track continues to amuse cats.

Pros: Durable ball and track construction; affordable price.

Cons: Works better as a single item not attached to other Kitty City components.