Frequently Asked Questions

Got questions? We've got answers. And probably a cat sitting on something we need.

Here are some of the things you might want to know about Purrbobbin Co., our handmade cat toys, our artwork, and how everything works around here.

Who is Purrbobbin Co.?

Purrbobbin Co. is a small mother-daughter business in Mangum, Oklahoma.

We're both artists, we're both makers, and we are both thoroughly obsessed with cats.

We have seven cats of our own, so cats are less of a hobby around here and more of an entire lifestyle.

We create our own artwork, design our fabrics, make our cat toys ourselves, package every order, and ship everything directly from Mangum, Oklahoma.

Are your products really handmade?

Yes!

When we say handmade, we mean that we actually make the finished products ourselves.

We cut the fabric, sew the toys, add the stuffing and selected features, finish them, inspect them, package them, and ship them.

There isn't a factory somewhere making finished Purrbobbin toys for us.

You can read more about our process on our Handmade Guarantee page.

Do you create the artwork on your products?

We do!

We're both artists, and the artwork and fabric designs used for Purrbobbin products are created by us.

One of our favorite parts of Purrbobbin is being able to take something that started as a drawing and eventually turn it into an actual handmade toy for somebody's cat.

Where are Purrbobbin products made?

Our handmade products are made by us in Mangum, Oklahoma.

They're also inspected, packaged, and shipped by us from Mangum.

What products do you make?

We're starting Purrbobbin with cat kickers.

Starting with one product lets us concentrate on making it well while we get our little business off the ground.

We absolutely have ideas for the future, though. Lots of them.

Possibly too many of them.

As Purrbobbin grows, we hope to add more handmade cat toys, accessories, designs, and other cat-related goodies.

What is a cat kicker?

A cat kicker is a longer toy designed for the way many cats like to grab a toy with their front paws and rapidly kick it with their back feet.

If you've ever seen your cat grab something and suddenly unleash the fury of approximately seventeen rabbits, you know the move.

That's bunny kicking.

Kickers give cats something appropriate to grab, wrestle, bite, and kick during supervised play.

What options can I choose for my kicker?

Available options will be shown on the individual product listing.

Depending on the product, you may be able to choose between different fabrics or select features such as:

Catnip
Crinkle
A bell
Other options we may introduce later

Please review your selections carefully before completing your order.

Does every toy contain catnip?

No.

If catnip is available for a particular toy, the product listing will tell you whether it is included or available as an option.

This means you can choose the option that makes the most sense for your cat.

Does every toy have a bell?

No.

If a bell is available, it will be identified as an option on the applicable product listing.

Please remember that bells and other internal components should remain safely enclosed inside the toy. If a toy becomes damaged and an internal component becomes accessible, take the toy away from your cat immediately.

What is the crinkle option?

Crinkle material creates that crunchy, rustling sound that some cats find completely irresistible.

If crinkle is available for a particular toy, you'll see it among the product options.

Some cats go wild for it.

Others will stare at you as though you have personally offended them.

Cats.

Are your toys indestructible?

No. No cat toy is indestructible.

Cats have teeth and claws, and some cats are much harder on toys than others.

Always supervise your pet during play, inspect the toy regularly, and remove it immediately if it becomes torn, opened, frayed, damaged, or if stuffing, thread, a bell, crinkle material, or another internal component becomes accessible.

Please read our Product Safety & Use Disclaimer before giving a Purrbobbin toy to your cat.

Can my cat play with a Purrbobbin toy unsupervised?

We recommend supervised pet play.

Every cat plays differently, and even a well-made toy can eventually become damaged.

Regularly inspect your cat's toys and retire them when they are no longer in safe condition.

My cat destroyed the toy. Is that a defect?

Generally, no.

Cat toys are made to be played with, but they're still subject to wear and tear.

Bite marks, claw marks, pulled threads, punctures, fraying, torn fabric, or opened seams that occur during pet play are generally considered normal wear or pet-caused damage rather than a construction defect.

If you believe your product arrived with a genuine defect, please contact us before giving it to your pet.

Will my toy look exactly like the one in the photograph?

Not necessarily, and that's part of handmade!

Our fabrics may contain repeating artwork, so the exact placement of characters and other design elements depends on where we cut the fabric.

You might get a kitty in a slightly different spot, more of one little illustration, or less of another.

Small differences in shape, stitching, dimensions, stuffing distribution, and pattern placement can also occur because we make our products by hand.

Your Purrbobbin is yours.

Why does the fabric placement vary?

Because we're cutting actual fabric rather than printing the artwork individually onto each finished toy.

Imagine a large repeating pattern and then a smaller toy-shaped piece being cut from different areas of it.

Each piece captures a slightly different part of the design.

That's why two toys made from exactly the same Purrbobbin fabric can still be a little different from each other.

Can I request a specific part of the fabric pattern?

Unless a product listing specifically offers this option, we cannot guarantee the placement of a particular character, illustration, or motif.

We want to keep our handmade process manageable and avoid promising something that a particular fabric cut may not allow us to provide.

Do you take custom orders?

We are not offering custom orders at launch.

Right now, we're concentrating on our own collections and available product options so we can keep our handmade production manageable.

That may change someday, but for now we're keeping things simple.

Are Purrbobbin toys made for children?

No.

Purrbobbin cat toys are pet products and are not children's toys.

Please keep them away from young children and review our Product Safety & Use Disclaimer for complete safety information.

Can dogs play with Purrbobbin toys?

Our cat toys are designed and sold for cats.

Dogs can have very different chewing strength and play behaviors, and a toy appropriate for a cat may not be appropriate for a dog.

Please use products only for their intended purpose.

How long will it take to make my order?

Because we make our products ourselves, orders may require processing time before they are ready to ship.

The current estimated processing timeframe will be provided on the applicable product listing or during the ordering process.

Remember that processing time and shipping time are separate.

Processing is the time we need to prepare and make your order. Shipping time begins after we hand your package to the carrier.

Where will my order ship from?

Every Purrbobbin order ships directly from Mangum, Oklahoma.

We make it here, pack it here, and send it on its way from here.

Will I receive tracking?

When tracking is available for your shipping method, tracking information will be provided after your package is prepared for shipment.

Please remember that a newly created shipping label may not begin showing movement until the carrier physically receives and scans the package.

My tracking stopped moving. Can you see where my package is?

Unfortunately, we generally see the same carrier tracking information you do.

Once your package has been handed to the shipping carrier, we don't have a secret Purrbobbin package radar. We wish we did.

If an in-transit package stops updating or develops another carrier-related problem, the shipping carrier is generally the best place to begin because they physically have the package.

Our Shipping Policy has more detailed information about tracking, delays, missing packages, and deliveries.

My package says delivered, but I don't have it. What should I do?

First, check around your delivery area, mailbox, entrances, parcel lockers, household members, and nearby neighbors when appropriate.

Occasionally carriers also scan packages as delivered before the recipient actually finds or receives them.

If the package still cannot be located, contact the shipping carrier directly using your tracking number.

Please see our Shipping Policy for complete information about packages marked delivered.

Can I return my order?

Eligible products may be submitted for return consideration if you contact us within 14 days of delivery, but there is one especially important rule:

The product packaging must remain unopened.

Because we sell products intended for pets, once the packaging has been opened, we cannot verify whether the product has been handled by or exposed to a cat, pet hair, dander, saliva, allergens, odors, or other household contaminants.

For health, hygiene, and safety reasons, opened products cannot be returned for an ordinary refund.

Please read our Refunds & Returns Policy before opening your product if you think you may want to return it.

What if I open the package and discover a defect?

That's different.

If you open your product and discover what you reasonably believe is a genuine construction defect that existed when you received it, contact us.

Opening the package does not prevent you from reporting a legitimate defect.

We may ask for photographs and other information so we can evaluate the problem.

Approved damaged or defective product claims are handled under our replacement policy rather than as ordinary returns.

What if my order arrives damaged?

Please take clear photographs of the product and packaging and contact us.

If the shipping package is visibly damaged when it arrives, photographing it before opening it is especially helpful when reasonably possible.

Please don't give a visibly damaged or potentially unsafe toy to your cat while you're waiting for us to review the problem.

Do you offer exchanges?

No.

We do not currently offer exchanges.

If an unopened product qualifies for an ordinary return and you want a different product or option, you can place a separate order for the item you want.

Please see our Refunds & Returns Policy for the complete rules.

Can I cancel my order?

Because we're actually making these ourselves, work on an order may begin soon after you place it.

If we haven't started working on your order, we may be able to cancel it.

Once we've begun cutting, sewing, assembling, or otherwise preparing the product, cancellation may no longer be possible.

What if I entered the wrong shipping address?

If your package has not shipped, we'll make a reasonable effort to correct the address.

Once the carrier has your package, however, we may not be able to change where it is going.

Customers are responsible for reviewing their shipping information before submitting an order.

Do you sell anywhere besides purrbobbin.com?

We're beginning with purrbobbin.com and Etsy.

We also plan to venture out into in-person markets as Purrbobbin grows.

Wherever you find us, it'll still be the same two people behind the Purrbobbin table.

Well, unless the cats figure out how to work a cash register.

Then all bets are off.

Are your Etsy products handmade by you too?

Yes.

Our Etsy shop doesn't change who makes the products.

Purrbobbin products represented as handmade by us are still made by our mother-daughter team.

Can I buy your fabric?

Our original fabric designs are created for Purrbobbin and the products we make.

If we ever decide to offer fabric or other supplies separately, we'll announce that as its own product offering.

Purchasing one of our finished products does not include permission to reproduce or commercially use our artwork or fabric designs.

Can I copy or use the artwork on my Purrbobbin toy?

Our artwork and fabric designs remain the intellectual property of their respective copyright owner even after a physical product is purchased.

Buying a toy does not transfer copyright or give permission to reproduce the artwork, print the design onto fabric, manufacture products using it, or use it commercially.

Our DMCA & Copyright Policy has much more information about our artwork and intellectual property.

How do I contact Purrbobbin?

For questions about an order, product, return, shipping issue, accessibility need, or other Purrbobbin matter, you can contact us at:

legal@purrbobbin.com

Please include your order information when contacting us about an existing purchase so we can figure out what you're talking about without having to interrogate all seven cats.

Still Have a Question?

Send us a message.

Purrbobbin is a tiny mother-daughter business, so when you contact us, you're reaching the same people who draw the artwork, cut the fabric, sew the toys, pack the orders, and run the website.

We may be small, but we'll do our best to point you in the right direction.

Now, if your question is why your cat prefers the shipping box to the handmade toy inside it, unfortunately that's between you and your cat.