Snake shed as a cat toy?

[sufficio]

Hey, I have a weird question! So I have a ball python and a cat. My cat LOVES natural toys, things like rabbit fur and dried bird wings drive him nuts. When I was removing my BP's recent shed, my cat went nuts and wanted to play with it. I wanted to ask if any of you have tried this? I have it in the freezer now to (hopefully) kill off any bacteria that might be on it. I googled snake shed as a cat toy but found nothing! So I figured I'd ask here!

[Sunnieskys]

The only thing I worry about is creating a prey drive in the cat by giving it the snake skin. I myself would not because I do not want my cats associating playing with a skin with their smells still on it and then smelling the actual snakes and trying to "play" with the snake.

no way I would ever, even if not possible, put either animal in harms way.

[sufficio]

The only thing I worry about is creating a prey drive in the cat by giving it the snake skin. I myself would not because I do not want my cats associating playing with a skin with their smells still on it and then smelling the actual snakes and trying to "play" with the snake.

no way I would ever, even if not possible, put either animal in harms way.

That's a great point. At the moment my cat already thinks the snake might be something to play with, so any time I have my snake out, the cat is in another room. Same goes for feeding him, changing his bedding, etc! My cat just has a HUGE prey drive so I want to be 100% safe as I know how dangerous one scratch can be for any reptile!

Thanks for the tip though, that is a great point I didn't consider!

[Bogertophis]

One of my 2 dogs is very interested in snake sheds, and wanted to play with it, but I agree with Sunnieskys, it teaches them bad ideas about the snakes themselves,
if ever they come across one, whether your pet or outside, so for that reason, I'd advise against it. Not because of "germs"....I usually save shed skins* for "show &
tell" programs, school kids love to see them & even some adults. (*as long as they don't have any snake poo on or in them, of course) Suggest hand-washing or
offer hand sanitizer afterwards.

[Caali]

I might be wrong but personally I think it really depends on your cat.
A cat's prey drive will always exist and depending on your cat it will also try to hunt down your snake if it moves. Cats hunt moving things. If it doesn't move than it's not interesting. That being said, I don't think the smell associated with playing will make your cat hunt the snake. Your cat will hunt the snake if it moves, that's what cat are like. You know your cat best, so I believe your the best one to judge whether it would be okay for this cat to play with the skin or not. If you believe your cat would attack your snake, then don't use the skin.
My cat for example is scared of almost everything and she is really scared of my snake (she has watched him through the glass of his enclosure). No way in hell would she go near him (and I wouldn't let her anyway) or his skin for that matter. If you know your cat is quite bold, then don't try to encourage this behaviour. There are many ways to keep your cat occupied without using the skin. That's actually my main point. Is there any reason to use the skin other than that your cat was interested in it? Can't it just have another toy?
I don't believe the snake skin will make a snake murdering kitten out of one that would not have tried it in the first place. But honestly it is just not necessary to use the skin as a toy, is it?

[sufficio]

I might be wrong but personally I think it really depends on your cat.
A cat's prey drive will always exist and depending on your cat it will also try to hunt down your snake if it moves. Cats hunt moving things. If it doesn't move than it's not interesting. That being said, I don't think the smell associated with playing will make your cat hunt the snake. Your cat will hunt the snake if it moves, that's what cat are like. You know your cat best, so I believe your the best one to judge whether it would be okay for this cat to play with the skin or not. If you believe your cat would attack your snake, then don't use the skin.
My cat for example is scared of almost everything and she is really scared of my snake (she has watched him through the glass of his enclosure). No way in hell would she go near him (and I wouldn't let her anyway) or his skin for that matter. If you know your cat is quite bold, then don't try to encourage this behaviour. There are many ways to keep your cat occupied without using the skin. That's actually my main point. Is there any reason to use the skin other than that your cat was interested in it? Can't it just have another toy?
I don't believe the snake skin will make a snake murdering kitten out of one that would not have tried it in the first place. But honestly it is just not necessary to use the skin as a toy, is it?

Great points! You're definitely right, there's no need for it to be a toy, and if it could possibly endanger my snake, it's definitely not worth it. I just like to look for enrichment wherever I can for both of my animals, and I was curious to see if it was something others had considered!

Thanks for all the info guys! I'll be disposing of the sheds, kitty will be content with his other toys!

[Danger noodles]

It’s funny because my cats like 15 years old and is the only animal I’ll leave in the house while my snakes are out. The dogs go outside. The cat could care less, but I don’t have the cat close unless I’m like walking by it or something. The cat won’t even look up, but he is so lazy I have to check every now and then to see if he is still alive

[JRLongton]

I keep two cats and they are both fascinated by my corn snake, Cirice. She's on the lowest level and the only one that they can see. She's also the only one who moves very much.

There are times that I go into the snake/craft room and both cats are there standing with their hind legs pressed again the glass of Cirice's T8, their eyes following her every move. Its adorable, but I'd hate to think what would happen if they ever met without the glass between them!

[JRLongton]

On the issue of using a shed as a cat toy, personally I can't see the harm. I don't think it would make a very good toy any way as it lacks enough weight to have momentum and won't bounce and roll very much. Plus it would probably make a mess.

As for encouraging the cats to predate on the snakes, this is a personal thing, but I don't think my cats need encouragement to attack anything. If it is small enough, they want to kill it.

[Danger noodles]

I agree with that, if it moves most cats want to kill it! Mine is just about to dye from old age so we’re to those cool chill years lol