Who the kicker is for, how the first tea bag goes in, what a response looks like, and how to keep, refresh and wash it.
Does your cat grab a toy with both front paws and kick hard with the back legs? That kick is the move cats use on prey, and a cat with nothing the right size to hold will aim it at a cushion, another cat or your arm. A kicker gives that move a target: long enough to hug, firm enough to take the kicks, with catnip or Silvervine inside to draw your cat to it. Your MoriCat kicker arrives with the herb packed separately, so the first thing you do is put it in.
What Is This Toy?
The MoriCat handmade kicker is made for cats that grab, wrestle, hold and kick their toys. A standard herb plush sews the herb into its stuffing, so when the scent fades, the toy is finished. The kicker is three parts you can take apart and put back:
- Outer shell — handmade in a long, holdable shape for grabbing and kicking. The short form is about 12–13 cm, the long form 23 cm or more.
- Inner infill — a soft insert that gives the kicker its cushioned shape.
- Herb tea bag — a sealed mesh bag of catnip or Silvervine, your choice. You can see the leaf through the mesh, and it never spills into the fabric or onto your floor.
The box holds the kicker, infill already inside, and the tea bags, one per light-blocking foil pouch: three for the long form, two for the short. None is inserted yet.
Best Suitable For
- Cats that grab and kick. A shape to hold with the front paws while the back legs work, rather than something to bat at.
- When the scent fades. A fresh tea bag brings a familiar toy back to life, instead of a new toy your cat has to warm to.
- Keeping the toy your cat knows. The handmade shell stays; only what's inside changes.
- Washing without waste. Tea bag and infill lift out, so the shell is washed on its own.
How to Use
Put the first tea bag in
- Open one pouch. Open a single foil pouch and leave the rest sealed. The tea bag inside stays closed.
- Tuck it in. Open the kicker at its zip or hook-and-loop closure, slide the tea bag in so it sits between shell and infill, and close it fully.
- Start with one. One tea bag is enough for most cats. The long form can take a second if your cat seems unmoved, never more than three.
- Set it down and step back. Lay the kicker where your cat already plays and let it come over in its own time.
Keep sessions short and watched
We recommend the kicker for cats from 6 months of age, with you in the room. A good rhythm is 10 to 15 minutes, once or twice a week. Put it away when time is up or when your cat walks off.
Know a response when you see it
A cat that responds may sniff, lick and chew the kicker, rub its face on it, then hug it and kick. Not every cat responds, and no two respond the same way.
If your cat isn't interested
Seal it and try again another day. After two tries on different days, the other herb is worth a try. Play doesn't need scent either: veterinary guidelines for cats (AAFP and ISFM, 2013) recommend games that let a cat act out the hunt, and a feather wand drawn slowly along the floor does that too.
Herb Options
Catnip. Choose it when your cat already shows interest in catnip. Good to know: in a 2017 study of 100 cats, 68% responded to dried catnip; about one in three did not.
Silvervine. Choose it when your cat shows little interest in catnip, or already responds to Silvervine. Good to know: Silvervine and catnip are two different plants, and Silvervine leaf comes from Asia. In a 2021 study, an extract of Silvervine leaf drew face rubbing or rolling from 18 of 25 cats.
Keep It Sealed Between Sessions
Between games the kicker goes into a sealed bag or an airtight container. The less air reaches the tea bag, the longer its scent stays in it. Spare pouches stay sealed, out of direct sun.
Cleaning Tips
Swap the tea bag 2 to 4 weeks after opening, sooner if your cat plays hard and often. Take the infill and tea bag out before cleaning, then machine-wash the empty shell on its own; the infill and the tea bag are never washed or opened. Let the shell dry completely before the inner parts go back in. Wash only when it's dirty, not after every session.
Why We Designed It This Way
Most herb toys combine the toy, the filling and the herb in one piece. When the scent fades or the toy needs cleaning, there is little you can do. We built the kicker differently:
- Made for kicking — the long, holdable shape suits grabbing, wrestling and back-paw play.
- Refresh only what fades — replace the tea bag, not the toy.
- Choose your cat's herb — catnip or Silvervine, whichever your cat responds to.
- Keep the handmade shell — the same design your cat knows, with new scent inside.
- Remove before cleaning — herb and infill come out, so only the shell gets washed.
The result is a kicker designed around how your cat plays and how you look after the toy over time.
Materials
- Outer shell: handmade fabric shell. Long form: 100% cotton, as plain canvas or as a rainbow twill printed to MoriCat's own design; short form: soft teddy fleece. Each design is MoriCat's own, and the face is an embroidered patch.
- Removable infill: a soft polyester insert that gives the kicker its shape and cushioning.
- Herb tea bag: a sealed insert with 2 g or more of your chosen herb.
- Closure: a zip or a hook-and-loop opening, depending on the style.
Safety & Supervision
For pet use only. Not suitable for children! Supervised play recommended. No toy is indestructible. Do not allow your pet to continue using a toy that is damaged, broken, or has parts missing. If your pet swallows small parts, contact a veterinarian immediately. Keep away from heat sources and open flames. Dispose of the product and packaging materials in accordance with local standards and regulations.
Inspect Before Use: Check the shell, seams, closure, appliqué, tassels, and loose fibres before each play session. Secure the Closure: Make sure the zipper or hook and loop opening is fully closed before play. Refill Safely: Remove the toy from your cat before replacing the infill or herb insert. Store Refills Safely: Keep unused refill parts away from pets and children when not in use. For Cats Only: Designed for supervised cat play.
Front paws in, back legs ready: let the bunny kicks begin.