Catch a Mouse by the Tail - Wool Cat Toy by Cat in the Box

Fulfilled by our friends at Cat in the Box

Is your cat a hunter at heart? Does your little predator love the thrill of the stalk, the drama of the chase, and the joy of the pounce? Your kitty can chomp down for a satisfying bite on this special wool mouse, and it'll still "live" to play another day.

Catch a Mouse by the Tail is no ordinary mouse toy. It's handmade by felt artisans in Nepal of 100% pure New Zealand wool, and gets its vivid coloring from azo-free, cat-safe dyes.

But the best feature of this mouse is its approximately six-foot long tail! The tail, which twists and tangles, and trails along behind your cat, is super exciting for solo play.

But it's even better when you play, too! Drag this toy by the tail to simulate a scampering rodent, and you'll stimulate your cat's natural hunting instinct. Indoor cats, especially, need opportunities to act out their natural hunting instincts and to get the kind of exercise a toy like this can provide.

Catch a Mouse by the Tail comes in its own zippered pouch, which you can keep and use to store this special toy when it's not in use.

When you purchase this toy, you help others

We partner with a special World Fair Trade-certified non-profit organization in Nepal to make this toy.

Low-income artisans, mostly women, get a living wage when they make this toy. They also get a retirement fund, medical allowance, and financial incentives to keep their daughters in school.

Buying this product helps real people support their families and plan for their futures.

This is a photo of Mrs. Chandra Kumari, felting wool for a Catch a Mouse by the Tail toy.

What does azo-free mean?

Many textile dyes in use today are known to cause cancer and birth defects. These dyes, known for containing carcinogenic chemicals called "azos," have been listed under California's Proposition 65 Warning. They have also been banned by the European Union, and some other countries, including Japan, India, and Vietnam.

"Azo-free" dyes do not contain any of these dangerous compounds. They are more expensive to use, but they're better for the environment and may be better for humans who are allergic to, or sensitive to dyes. 

We only use azo-free dyes to make Catch a Mouse by the Tail toys.

Hand-sewn details

Each mouse is completely handmade, right down to the hand-sewn details on the face. 

An artisan painstakingly creates the mouse's cute features, including two black eyes and an adorable button nose. 

The whiskers are firmly anchored beside the nose. Give the whiskers a good tug and you'll see for yourself how carefully they've been sewn.

Here's a photo of Mrs. Sabina Maharjan using her skill with a needle and thread to add some personality to the face of a Catch a Mouse by the Tail.

Why New Zealand wool?

Wool is a 100% natural and renewable resource. It's biodegradable and recyclable and it even has nutrients in it that are essential to plant life. And it grows back every year!

New Zealand is an ideal environment for sheep to live and grow. The air and water are pristine, the climate is temperate, and abundant rainfall ensures rich pastures for grazing. This, in turn, helps create some of the finest wool in the world: New Zealand is known for producing the whitest, cleanest wools that hold dyes better than other wools.

In New Zealand, sheep farming is a way of life. New Zealanders have been raising sheep for generations, passing down the knowledge and experience that contributes to a culture of excellence in this industry.

There's also a strong emphasis on sustainable and environmentally friendly farming practices, which help maintain healthy pastures and robust herds.

And finally, New Zealand has some of the strictest animal welfare laws in the world.  In 2007, New Zealand passed a law banning "mulesing," a cruel, mutilating procedure that is still performed on millions of lambs in other countries around the world. 

Available in three colorways

We're currently manufacturing this mouse in two color versions: we've got an all-red version, that has a bright red body with a tail to match.

We are also offering a mouse with a red body and a rainbow tail. 

Cats do see in color, although they have fewer cones in their retinas than humans. Cones are the color-perceiving cells, so this means that colors may not appear as vibrant to cats as they do to us. 

We do believe that cats see violet and blue tones quite well, and the rainbow tail on a Catch the Mouse by the Tail has both colors.

The rainbow tail also makes this a wonderful gift for the cat lover in your life who celebrates Pride.

Catch a Mouse by the Tail ships free with any box purchase.

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Mr. Whiskers was at my feet, trying to get my attention.

"Mrow," he said, and waited a few moments. "Mrow," he repeated.

I looked over. "Mrow," he said, adding, very plainly, "meoooooowwwwww."

"Huh? No! Are you kidding? Absolutely not!"

I couldn't believe my ears. Mr. Whiskers was asking if I could bring a few mice into the house, just for fun. He was bored, he said, and he promised he wouldn't hurt them. Not really, anyway.

"That's not the point," I explained. "We can't have rodents in the house. In fact, most people go to great lengths to keep mice OUT of the house."

His face remained impassive.

"You're an indoor cat," I reminded him. "A civilized cat."

I swear Mr. Whiskers rolled his eyes at me before sauntering over to my laptop.

I peeked over his shoulder and there it was, right on the screen. 

"Catch a Mouse by the Tail," I read. 

Well OK then. I guess there are some mice I wouldn't mind having in the house.