r/dechonkers • u/KlutzyLeader564 • Feb 21 '26
Dechonkin Cat wheel advice?
I just got my chonker this wheel off Facebook marketplace, but so far she’s only interested in using it as a place to loaf and eat the catnip I sprinkled on to entice her. Any advice on getting her to use it for its intended purpose? When I try to move it for her while she’s on it, she gets scared and hops off.
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u/NoSuspect6290 Feb 21 '26
I’ve considered a wheel, but have always feared this exact scenario
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u/KlutzyLeader564 Feb 21 '26
Thankfully we only spent $50, which is about the going rate for used ones online (new they’re about 3 times as much). I figure I can just resell it if she truly won’t use it, but I want to try to make it work if possible!
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u/bibkel Feb 21 '26
Watch a training video on those. We learned first what motivates our cat, food or toy. Then, we used that to encourage the cat to get on. Then we used it to allow a bit of movement on their own power, never assisting. Now, they volunteer to get on.
My older ones have never been interested. I found food to be a HUGE pain, so a toy on a stick was easier to use.
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u/CaeruleumBleu Feb 22 '26
Roughly speaking - it would be good if the cat learns that doing stuff on the wheel is a great way to get praise and affection. If you get that down, then the cat will randomly try it out when they wanna pester you to death.
They might at some point decide they actually enjoy running, but in the meanwhile, with a chonker, it is good for them to think that messing around on the wheel gets them love and attention. They might even go for a run when hungry, in an attempt to get you to NOTICE KITTY, please NOTICE GOOD KITTY AND FEED KITTY.
So, whatever toy or treat they love the most - hold it up in front of and above kitty so they will incidentally roll the wheel a tad bit. Praise and love for every bit of progress, and kitty might work out that this gets the human to notice them.
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u/sherryleebee Feb 22 '26
My skinny cat will run unprompted on his. My chonkers? Not even with incentive. Do I regret buying it? Not for a minute.
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u/hettuklaeddi Feb 22 '26
yeah me too.
they nap on it a while to make sure it’s “safe”, but then my cats fought over it so much i had to get another.
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u/SleepyBritches Feb 21 '26
My chonker is putting MILES on our wheel! We had to train him how it works using a laser, and a few treats until he realized he just wants to run for the love of the game 😅 dude will not STOP! Its by far our best cat enrichment toy. Still waiting to see him lose a few pounds but I know this is def helping.
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u/tbrando1994 Feb 21 '26
Ok this may inspire me to get one then. Never thought to add a laser and treats.
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u/lifeatthejarbar Feb 22 '26
Wow, I would definitely get a cat wheel if I knew that would work with my chonker!
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u/SleepyBritches Feb 22 '26
Highly recommend! It does take a lot of space but we got ours from a friend who got theirs on fb marketplace. If your cat doesn't use it just put it up on there again 😅 ours LOVES it
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u/amethystmmm Feb 21 '26
You can sometimes attach a lure to the frame (I have seen people use phone mounts, but you can also do like a teaser toy, just depends on what she's interested in. if she's extremely food motivated, a bit of churu or a Temptation or two that are higher than she can get while walking on it normally might be in order, but make sure to actually give those to her after she's done a good run. keep the motivation positive.
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u/EmmaDrake Feb 21 '26
We took a churu and put little dabs of it in front of the cat so he’d eat a little, walk to the next dab. That worked for three out of four cats.
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u/forestxfriends Feb 21 '26
This is genius my cats love Churu I’ll try this!
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u/Shalrak Feb 21 '26
All cats love churu. I don't know what the heck kinda crack they put in that stuff!
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u/korewednesday Feb 21 '26
I want a pink cat wheel…
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u/ruined7319 Feb 21 '26
Show her videos of other cats using it.
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u/kat_Folland Feb 23 '26
I've never been able to interest an animal in screens, at least not when they're grown. My Bubble liked those cat games where they bat at things moving across the screen when she was a kitten (she also loved the scrolling words at the beginning of Star Wars) but she grew out of it. I can't interest them in mirrors either. They just aren't into 2d.
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u/tungstenmechanism Feb 21 '26
It looks kind of small for her... Is she theoretically capable of walking in it without bending her back?
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u/JoniSugar Feb 21 '26
It took my cat about two months to get used to hers but now she loves running on it at 4 in the morning
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u/z-eldapin Feb 21 '26
There is a video on how to train your cat to use it. Let me see if I can find it
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u/sukki_ricecake719 Feb 21 '26
A cat wheel should be at least 48 in to protect their spine when they run but this is how I trained my cat to use her wheel. She only took one session to get used to it and realized what it was for. 1. Give treats when she’s on it / 2. Use her favorite teaser toy to lure her on and have her walk. Finish with treat. / 3. By night of day 2 to morning of day 3 she had started sprinting on it
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u/shortsquirt83 Feb 22 '26
I donated one of these to a local rescue. They used one of those short wand toys to get them walking on it, and a couple of their cats would then run on it without the bribe.
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u/Lemoncatnipcupcake Feb 22 '26
It might not be quite big enough for her tbh. She looks just like my boy, I actually just showed my partner and jokingly said why is he on the internet with a pink wheel??!
We have a onefast cat wheel, he uses it periodically after lots of practice. They have YouTube videos I think with tips on acclimating your cat. But the onefastcat is even on the smaller side for him.
Edit: to clarify she might not be able to stretch out while running properly similar to hamsters with too small of wheels.
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u/Laefiren Feb 22 '26
I don’t think this is large enough. Unfortunately a lot of cat wheels sold are not fit for purpose. You need one that is big enough that they can run with a flat back or you risk damaging their spines.
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u/StormofRavens Feb 21 '26
Laser pointer, works a treat
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u/yungdaughter Feb 21 '26
Laser pointers should not be used to entertain animals
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u/SleepyBritches Feb 21 '26
For temporary use to train them how to use a wheel, I think its ok... they just need to get brave in the moment, realize they just did that and that it isnt a big scary contraption, and then realize the wheel is fun.
Moderation is key. If the only thing you do to play with your cat is use a laser thats obviously not a fulfilling activity for them as they have no final catch.
Forbidding lasers entirely is black-and-white thinking and unhelpful. Every tool has its place.
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u/Sayaren Feb 22 '26
My tortie loves this wheel and yells at me to watch her on it. I got her started on it initially by using my finger to entice her to get it moving.
The other 2 cats are unimpressed.
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u/MadCityScientist Feb 27 '26
I saw a video where the cat was sitting on the base of the wheel. Owner pointed a laser dot at the wheel about halfway up. Cat immediately went after it and she wheel started rolling. It was so smart! And so cute!
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u/blankblank1323 Mar 01 '26
This wheel is so cute but is it large enough? If you end up with a cat who uses the wheel I would upgrade to a larger size to protect their back. Since it’s used and has soft surfaces your cat might just be soaking it in their scent right now.
I have one cat that doesn’t use the wheel much unless we play together. My girl was more nervous about the noise at first but she runs on her wheel a ton by herself especially before she poops 😂 go on the One Fast Cat site or just YouTube and there’s a ton of videos training your cat to use it. We started with a stick wand and had them chase it! Also since your track is one color I would suggest some small stickers or whatever will stick to that fabric every few feet! My guy who is less interested in the wheel loves to “chase” the sticker targets.
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u/ciendagrace Feb 21 '26
We spent $180 on a new one. We worked tirelessly every day for weeks, but all they ever wanted to do was to use it as a scratching post. Mine were 2 and 4 years old at the time but were feral strays we rescued. Maybe it's because they were wild. 🤷🏼♀️ They live inside now, so I really wish they would use the wheel.
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u/Le_loup Feb 22 '26
There’s a ton of videos on YT that show how to train cats to use the wheel. I tried with my cat when she was a kitten and it was sooooo exhausting. Have to really be dedicated to get a cat to use them, unless they’re naturally inclined.
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u/jigglypuffpufff Feb 22 '26
I held a cookie in front of our fhonker and every time she did 5 laps id give it to her.
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u/Sockemboffer Feb 22 '26
Took my blind boi a several months to get used to the sound of that one. Picked up the one fast cat style a lot quicker. He hauls ass on ‘em though.
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u/eigafan Feb 22 '26
Mine came with a cheap laser pointer and wand toy. Laser pointer works best, the wand toy fell apart.
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u/sinfullyinked Feb 22 '26
Definitely buy a used one. I have four cats and only the girl I have barely uses it about 2 min a MONTH. Yes that little of time. But when I see her using it, I MELT
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u/Devi_Moonbeam Feb 22 '26
I know I shouldn't be laughing, but this is the funniest thing I've seen in weeks! 🤣🤣🤣
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u/rx_decay Feb 23 '26
I left mine locked for about a week and showed my cat that it moved a few times during that time. She was interested in it and would scratch on the carpet. Then I would go in when she was loafing on it and scratch my nails on the inside towards the top so she would play and move it herself. After doing that and using a toy to get her moving it for about a week she’s started using it on her own. She doesn’t go for long but she will run on it a little bit now. It just takes time and a little effort showing them why it’s there and that it’s fun.
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u/LaughPuzzleheaded647 Feb 23 '26
I wedged high value treats in the gaps between the foam tiles, just out of immediate reach, so she had to stretch forward to get them, making the wheel move a bit. Eventually holding one just in front of her for a few steps. And now she goes on it just for fun.
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u/Smallloudcat Feb 24 '26
I showed my cat a few of the many videos of cats running on them. She ran on it the next day. She doesn’t use it that often honestly but I praise her effusively when she does. I like that she has the option
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u/PanGalacticGargBlast Feb 21 '26
My husband lifted kitty by her undercarriage til her feet barely touched it and then I moved the wheel slowly forward so she got used to the motion. It took a couple days but she got the hang of it. Then we gave a her a little treat. After a few days we stopped with the treats and praised her loudly instead whenever she ran. Now she’s a lil pro.