Petlinks Mousefull Refillable Catnip Toy

December 29, 2010 2:43 pm | By Zootoo Editor Emily S.

I never thought I'd have occasion to say this, but a rat has brought enormous joy into my home.

The makers of the Mousefull -- perhaps wisely -- do not identify their product by its rodent name; the packaging refers only to a "refillable catnip toy" with a "realistic size and shape", an accurate description, as far as it goes, but take note: realistically, Mousefull is the size and shape of a rat. He is eight inches of obese, grey, fur-covered fun, with a pointy face, little pink eyes, and a skinny, whip-like tail. He also has a Velcro-sealed pouch in his tummy for holding catnip (Mousefull comes with a tube of organic catnip).

My cat is head over heels in love with this toy -- often literally. Generally, Francie's moods range from "indifferent" to "hostile" to "asleep", but since Mousefull joined our household, she has shown affection I've never known her capable of. She never seems to tire of holding him in her paws and licking him passionately (Mousefull, in fact, is the only thing besides herself I've ever seen her lick, not counting the time I put cat food on my hand in a cheap bid for affection); even when she attempts to feign indifference towards him and walk away, she can never ignore Mousefull for long. Often, she can be spotted toting Mousefull around the house in her mouth (which can't be easy, since he's nearly half as big as she is). Simply put, she is crazy about this toy.

I am too. He's soft and sturdy -- despite being the subject of near-constant attention, he's showing no signs of wear -- and I also find him distinctly amusing, particularly when he's lying on his back with his little pink feet in the air, ready for catnip insertion. Mousefull might not be a great choice for a pet owner with a rodent phobia -- if I were afraid of mice, I could no sooner live in the same house with Mousefull than I could a giant stuffed tarantula -- but if you can get over Mousefull' much-vaunted lifelikeness, he is an absolute winner: like his flesh-and-blood counterparts, he seems impervious to destruction, but unlike them, he's endlessly refillable with catnip -- plus, he can't multiply, spread disease, or bite. Mousefull is my cat's new best friend and the best rat this writer has ever known.

Pros: Sturdy and soft; endlessly refillable.

Cons: None.