Turbo Track Cat Toy

September 1, 2010 8:35 pm | By Zootoo Editor CynthiaLo

When I was seven, my orange tomcat Spikey loved to play with my big brother’s Matchbox cars. Spikey was pretty good at pushing them with his paw along the striped plastic racetrack but inevitably, the little hot rods would skid off the track and bounce to a halt on the bumpy carpet.

Luckily, today’s cats can enjoy the thrill of racing without the danger, thanks to the modern safety features of this paw-friendly racetrack. Like the traditional toy for humans, this modular system has lengths of track that can be arranged in various configurations. The key improvement for cats is the track’s curved edges that keep the vehicle on the road. The flashy hot rods have been replaced by a simple white ball. While the track is an attractive lime green, the ball clearly sacrifices style for safety.

However, my cats didn’t seem to mind the lack of candy apple red paint job and chrome exhaust. Cobweb, my most adventurous, was eager to give it a run. Two more cats joined in, soon leading to a rash of four paw pile ups. Drivers resorted to fisticuffs, particularly when traffic grinded to a halt, something that happened far too frequently in my opinion. It seems in their quest for safety, the designers made the ball a bit too snug for the track, impeding the smooth ride. This problem is compounded by the fact the track sections don’t snap together snugly.

I decided to pimp the system, replacing the ball with a smaller toy called a Pawbreaker, an orb of solid compressed catnip. It adds an element of danger but nothing my cats can’t handle. Some of my cats now enjoy licking their way along leisurely Sunday drives. Others take exciting high speed nocturnal jaunts, finally plowing through the roadway like Godzilla leaving a pile of lime green rubble in their wake.

This toy is highly entertaining for solo or interactive play. It’s also a crowd-pleasing spectator sport. I can’t wait to expand the set.

Pros: Holds cats' attention; expandable set allows for variation.

Cons: The track can be too snug for the ball; pieces can be difficult to fit together.