For cats, the carrot and stick approach is reversed, because they hate carrots and the stick is a Churu.

Just to save anyone else who has no idea from having to Google it: Churu are cat food treats.

Add a stretchy string to that stick, with a poofy thing or feather on the end of it, preferably with a little bell on it too, and that cat is gonna love/destroy that thing so fast!!

Plus, they're just darned contrarian by nature.

some cats love carrots, some cats fear sticks

Replace the carrot with a cucumber, as they perceive those as dangerous snakes