Cat toy turns Forager because I'm a criminal ;)

[MomtoPercy]

I'm forever looking for new toys for Percy and found these cute cat toys in the store - of course, I could immediately see the foraging and puzzle solving potential. Naturally I had to make sure it was parrot safe metal...without spending more money...so I surreptitiously opened the packaging and set off for the kitchen department. There, I grabbed a fridge magnet off the shelf, again secretly opened a packet and did the magnet test. It stuck! So, it was SS - but was it coated in something? Off to the hardware section. Luckily here, I didn't have to mess with the products as the sharp ended screw drivers weren't wrapped. Scraped the toy vigourously under the guise of 'closely examining the screw driver'. Nothing came off so it passed the test! Very excited I went back to the pet aisle and took all five toys they had.
At home, I yanked out the furry mouse from each ball and washed them all.
I stuck a percy biscuit into the ball and offered it to his lordship. He was afraid of it until I started playing with it, exclaiming over what a wonderful thing this was. Of course, his curiousity got the better of him and he begged for it!
This is him trying to get at the biscuit.
It is my intention to string up a few, filled with veggies, etc.

 

[JerseyWendy]

What an awesome invention!!!!

Now I was actually under the impression that SS is NOT magnetic, so I did some digging and found these links.

Yes, I do have a headache after reading them:
Is stainless steel magnetic?

Stainless Steel - Magnetic Properties

 

[CathnPoe]

With the wire that thin, I doubt he'll focus on it, with the reward being more easily grabbed. Nice!

 

[MomtoPercy]

What an awesome invention!!!!

Now I was actually under the impression that SS is NOT magnetic, so I did some digging and found these links.

Yes, I do have a headache after reading them:
Is stainless steel magnetic?

Stainless Steel - Magnetic Properties

I googled it right there in the store so I thought I was doing the right thing!
Is there another way to check? I would be devastated if I gave him something that made him ill...or worse!

 

[JerseyWendy]

I googled it right there in the store so I thought I was doing the right thing!
Is there another way to check? I would be devastated if I gave him something that made him ill...or worse!

You know, I've been going around my bird cages with a magnet ever since I researched SS and magnets, testing the metal in their cages which I paid SS prices for. Some are semi magnetic, others are not magnetic at all. So I am a VERY confused gal this morning. :30:

 

[SandyBee]

Found this

There are several different types of stainless steels. The two main types are austenitic and ferritic, each of which exhibits a different atomic arrangement. Due to this difference, ferritic stainless steels are generally magnetic while austenitic stainless steels usually are not

So the magnet test is not conclusive, Please be careful with the new toy and watch for signs of flaking/breaking and corrosion.

 

[Megapixel]

Austenitic stainless steel is what surgical steel is, so I doubt many manufacturers would use that high of a quality ss on pet toys or cages.
As far as I'm concerned, it's all a big crap shoot when it comes to safe metals for birds. With so much of it coming from China, you just never know. And the only thing a magnet test will show is if something is steel or at least contains iron and it can still contain other metals.

 

[MomtoPercy]

So the magnet test is not conclusive, Please be careful with the new toy and watch for signs of flaking/breaking and corrosion.

I certainly will. Actually, I'm considering just tossing it in the bin

 

[kq_fan]

Great idea! Maybe I could try that..... hmmmm