Key Points
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Playing with your cat for 15-20 minutes a day benefits an overweight cat.
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Ripple Rugs are made of recycled plastic bottles.
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The unique design and features of the Ripple Rug make it a perfect play area for your cat.
Is your cat bored with the same old toys? Do they need a fun play area?
If your cat loves hide-and-seek and needs some interactive play, the Ripple Rug is for them.
My cat turned five years old in June 2023 (Happy Birthday, Zak!), but he's still as playful as he was as a kitten. Whenever I roll out the Ripple Rug, he's raring to go! I barely get it set up before he wants to dart inside.
Do you want the same excitement from your cat? Read on to find out more about this awesome product.
by SnugglyCat
Key Highlights of the Ripple Rug
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Stiff material and velcro pads make it customizable, creating caves for your cat to play in.
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With the construction of recycled plastic bottles, the Ripple Rug is eco-friendly.
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Material is durable, long-lasting, and doesn't fray or unravel.
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Holes have slits for safety so your cat doesn't get stuck and the material is gentle on paws.
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Creates opportunities for an indoor cat to play and exercise.
Who Needs the Ripple Rug and Why?
The Ripple Rug is a play area for your cat. You make it into different shapes and your cat goes in and out, hiding and playing. If you have a lazy or overweight cat, they need exercise.
Freelance writer Kathy Hebebrand recommends daily playtime for your feline. In a February 2023 article for Fetch by WebMD, Hebebrand writes, "If your cat is overweight, dedicate 15-20 minutes a day to playing with your cat in ways that keep them highly active."
A few of Hebebrand's suggestions include chasing one another, playing peek-a-boo, and hide-and-seek. The Ripple Rug is perfect for incorporating these types of games.
If you have an indoor cat, they need opportunities to use their hiding and hunting instincts. Give them a chance to explore their inner wildcat with the Ripple Rug.
Several aspects of the Ripple Rug make it stand out. It's much more than an ordinary rug. In fact, it's nothing like one!
Colors and Material
The Ripple Rug comes in three different colors — smokey black, mocha chocolate, and oatmeal white. It also has two styles — rounded corners and square corners.
The rug has two 47" by 35" layers. The bottom layer is a solid piece of material while the top layer has holes.
Brandon Ellrich for Cattitude Daily
The top layer also has pieces of velcro on the bottom to hold it in place.
Brandon Ellrich for Cattitude Daily
The material's construction is recycled plastic water bottles and is made in the U.S. It's pliable enough to shape but stiff enough to stand up and create a play area. The velcro pieces keep it in the shape you want.
It also has a non-slip bottom. If you have hardwood floors, the rug doesn't go sliding around when your cat darts in and out of it during play.
I typically create a "cave-like" entrance for my cat to go in and out. Cats love to hide because it makes them feel secure and fosters their hunting behaviors.
The enclosed spaces they want are easy to create with the Ripple Rug. They hide inside while still being able to peek through the holes.
Brandon Ellrich for Cattitude Daily
The Holes
The holes vary and include sizes of one and a half, two, three, four, six, and seven inches in diameter. A couple of the largest holes are big enough for a normal-sized cat to enter and exit.
The larger holes have slits cut at the edges to give a little leeway when your cat crawls through them so they don't get stuck. For larger cats, simply cut the slits a little longer to suit their size.
Some of the smaller holes are just big enough for your cat to reach their paws through. They love this simulated hunting exercise.
Brandon Ellrich for Cattitude Daily
Benefits
My cat loves the Ripple Rug, but the benefits go beyond enjoyment. Several positive aspects make it easy to care for and have around.
Interactive Play
The Ripple Rug is a great alternative to your cat hiding and playing in your curtains or on the furniture. It's a wonderful enrichment tool and vehicle for interactive play with your cat.
Because you shape it in various ways, it's a different play experience every time.
Convenience
It doesn't take up much floor space, but it's easy to put away and store when not in use. You simply roll it up and stand it in the corner of a closet or put it under the couch or bed.
Easy to Clean
Shake it outside to remove loose hair and debris, and then vacuum it like any other rug. If you have spills, it spot-cleans easily with soap and water.
Its 100 percent extruded polyester fibers are mold, mildew, and stain-resistant. The polyester material also makes it quick-drying.
Durable
It withstands multiple scratches and rough play from your cats without fraying. It's long-lasting. I've had mine for four years and it's still as useful as it was the day I got it.
Cats Love It
This rug provides a great opportunity for your cat to play. If you're a multi-cat household, they love hiding from one another and chasing each other in and out of the Ripple Rug.
If the photos of Zak with the rug don't convince you, check out this TikTok video posted on June 26, 2023. It shows a cat named Kirby celebrating 1,000 followers with their Ripple Rug reward.
If your cat gets bored after a while, roll it up and put it away for a week. When you bring it back out they treat it like a new toy.
In a March 16, 2023 Cosmopolitan article, editors Megan Uy and Olivia Truffaut-Wong compiled a list of the 17 best cat toys of 2023. They dub the Ripple Rug as the "best cat play mat."
Use it in combination with some of their regular toys or dangle a string outside the holes. They love reaching their paws out to nab their "prey."
It's also great for senior cats with limited mobility because they don't have to climb or overexert themselves.
It's also a great place for a catnap.
Brandon Ellrich for Cattitude Daily
Drawbacks
Nothing is perfect, so it's not right to sing a product's praises while ignoring the negative notes.
Due to policy changes and copycats, the Ripple Rug is no longer sold on Amazon. It's available on the company's website, Chewy, and Walmart. Look for it in your local pet stores too.
The company offers free shipping to the 48 lower U.S. states as well.
One negative aspect is the price, which seems a bit steep for what looks like a simple rug. That said, it's well worth the price for as long as it lasts and the hours of enjoyment your cat gets from it.
Some cats are wary of new objects brought into the home. If your cat doesn't take to the rug right away, try rubbing some catnip on it. They're sure to be more attracted after that.
Once the initial hesitation passes, they have no problem incorporating it into their new playtime routine.
This Cat Play Mat Is Where It's At
This is one of the most creative and unique cat products I've seen. My cats love it and it's worth the purchase price. If your cat is bored with their regular toys, try the Ripple Rug.
Cats need physical and mental stimulation. Provide both with this fantastic product.
It's also a perfect opportunity to create a bonding moment between you and your cat. Zak loves hiding in the caves I make for him and pouncing at the toys I drop just outside the holes.
Visit one of the vendors mentioned or go to RippleRug to order yours today. You and your cat will thank me.
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