Ink Floyd - A Wool Octopus Toy for Cats

Is your cat bored of all the kitty toys on dry land? Perhaps he could use a little under-the-sea fun.

Ink Floyd, an adorable octopus toy, might just be what a cat needs to perk things up on her end of the reef.

Ink Floyd has eight twisty tentacles, an oversized head to sink a full set of claws into, and a tempting 4-foot tether.

The tether makes this toy perfect for interactive play, too. A cat guardian can create oceans of fun by bobbing, tugging, and dragging the octopus to stimulate a cat's natural hunting instinct.

Ink Floyd is handmade by felt artisans in Nepal of 100% pure New Zealand wool, and Nepali silk, and gets its vivid coloring from azo-free, cat-safe dyes.

It 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. Dil Maya Tamang, felting wool for an Ink Floyd 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 Ink Floyd toys.

Hand-crafted details

Each octopus is completely handmade, right down to the exquisite whorls of wool and silk that give this toy its extraordinary appearance. 

Here's a photo of Mrs. Sabita Tamang using her felting skills to create the intricate swirls of color on Floyd's head and tentacles.

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.

Ink Floyd ships free with any box purchase.

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“What have you got on your head?” 

Mr. Whiskers seemed to be wearing a hat of some sort: white on the top, with a shiny black brim. There was a strand of gold braid along the front panel.

He didn’t even bother to look up. “Mrow,” he answered, forebearingly.

I stepped closer and tried a different angle.

“Is that a…ship captain’s hat?”

"Mrow," Mr. Whiskers replied, nonchalantly, as if a cat in ship captain's hat was as common as rain.

I couldn’t believe it. This cat of mine could be peculiar, but this getup was outlandish, even for him.

“What is this all about?” I asked out loud, while wondering, silently, how a cat, even one as clever as mine, comes into possession of a mariner’s cap.

“Mrow. Mrow. Rrroooowwwwww!” Mr. Whisker’s explained, with a note of impatience in his voice, as if I should have already known he was asking for, long ago.

“An ocean voyage? A sailing trip on open water?” I responded, incredulous. “You’re a cat,” I reminded him (and myself).

Well, a boating adventure was absolutely out of the question, captain’s hat or no captain’s hat. I get seasick in elevators and on city buses.

“I do have an idea though,” I suggested, tentatively. It’s not exactly the ocean experience you were hoping for, but…”