Frequently Asked Questions
Are the toys filled with catnip?
Yes. Each toy is carefully filled and lined with catnip as it gets stuffed and hand sewn shut. The fill used in there is also saturated in catnip spray.
Is the catnip organic?
Yes. I use high quality organic catnip, especially of the silver vine variety for both my dry flower used, and the catnip spray to saturate the fill and give toys one final spritz after coming together.
Why are prices moderate to higher end?
In short, each toy is not only handmade by me, it is a very high end quality toy.
Long answer, pricing is always a very difficult thing to decide upon, especially as a small business, more so as an individual. Reason for my pricing is to not only cover costs for the materials used with each item, but to also get some form of payment back to me as the creator and employee as well. Plus, lets be honest, I spent years developing these skills, I put a lot of time and effort into designing and creating each item. While I myself and the products are worth much more, especially time and quality wise. I am still trying to keep these items as affordable as possible. However, these toys are much higher quality, than your average cat toy you can find in most chain stores or even local boutiques which will carry bigger brands from chains usually.
Are these dog toys?
No. These are not dog toys. Yes, your dog can technically play with them, but they are not intended for the doggos, sorry.
Can you make dog toys?
Yes and no. This question is almost as hard to answer as the pricing one. Yes, to an extent I can make a dog toy. Will that toy last your dogs play level? I can not assure that. I am very fortunate that our dog does not destroy his toys, very rarely does he destroy a toy from the get go, otherwise it takes ages for a toy to get a tear in it, and when it does it breaks his heart. Most dogs though, go for the kill and destroy toys and that is perfectly ok! I am not here to judge, that is just part in the nature. However because 98% of dogs will destroy and go for the kill, it makes it hard for me to spend time and effort making batches of dog toys to price either incredibly low or at a fair price for the work put in, to know I am basically ripping people off then, knowing the toy may not last more than 30 min - one (1) hour with most dogs.
Do you plan to make dog toys?
Honestly, more than likely no. While I would love to make dog toys part of my product line, the process needed to make better quality toys is something out of my reach for now. Maybe one day I could, but they would still be small to limited batch items. Percentage wise I will say it is a 98.9999999999% chance Acutealypse will never offer dog toys. For that I am truly sorry.
Will you ever make anything for dogs?
Yes! In fact I have plans to work on accessories for dogs, primarily some bandanas, and booties - with a focus on sleep/nap/spa time slipper booties for doggos! Not only are there plans for accessories for our canine friends, but I intend to make bedding options not just for our feline friends but available for our canine ones as well!
Why do we see the same gray cat all over the website and on 98% of social media posts?
Because that is my cat Storm, she is my main model, my number one (1) control group tester, and she is amazing and loves to show off.
Do you have a physical storefront to visit?
At this current moment in time, no.
Will there ever be a storefront?
Maybe one day, it has always been a dream of mine to have a brick and mortar business, where people can visit me and browse my creations, and studio work space. However, with a physical building comes many other aspects to consider as well. So for meow, Acutealypse will remain online, and at in person market events.
Why is shipping only U.S. based with restrictions?
Honestly, for ease of stress and shipping costs. Especially being a small business still at its beginning stages, there is a lot of decisions to be made, and things to consider. Each choice and factor is just as important and difficult to decide as the next, let alone the order we handle it in. For this very reason, right meow to allow some ease on Acutealypse and myself I currently only offer domestic shipping with some restrictions on zones. Purely because of financial reasons. While I am still trying to figure out the pricing, I also need to consider the shipping. Which is more pricing, or pricing extended you could say.
Will you ever offer shipping internationally?
That is the goal. One day I would love to offer international shipping, so just because I can not ship them meow officially does not mean that it can't or wont change in the future. I want to see cute cats everywhere enjoying these creepy cute creations.
What makes them creepy cute, - because they are cats?
The toys are creepy cute, because well they are creepy cute! Not because cats are "creepy" though they can have those connotations, especially due to halloween, and horror movies. Let alone human mindset that goes back a century or so. These toys are creepy cute, because 1.) they are based on "creepy" items or symbols - usually halloween/death/horror based to some level 2.) I can not help myself but to make everything creepy and cute 3.) when you see a cat playing with the toys, you can't help but go "awww, how cute!" So I guess in the end they are creepy and semi cute mostly due to me, and the cute really comes from the cats themselves.
Do you make the toys or does someone else?
I make every toy. My tiny delicate hands, touch every single toy from start to finish. Occasionally my partner helps to flip or fill some of them. However, I do 99.9% of the physical work that goes into making the toys. I refuse to outsource my products, which is part of my pricing dilemma. Each toy goes through a quality control check done by me. Inspecting every corner and stitch as I go to make sure each toy is to the highest quality standard I can provide.
Do you even have a cat or any animals?
Yes. This question feels wild every time I hear it. The sarcastic part of me wants to say "no, I just like to take advantage of sheep" but I don't I stay professional. I do have a cat though, and other animals. If you must know, I have one (1) cat at the moment, one (1) dog, and one (1) ball python snake.
Do you know what cats like?
Well I have a cat, that is the most cat you have ever met, and yet so different from other cats. So yes I know what cats like and are looking for, plus I know numerous cats in my life so I have plenty of control groups for testing and questions to find what they do and don't like and how to improve upon toys. I love cats. I love all animals, but cats are one of the most important creatures and friends in my life.
