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10 Favorite Cat Toys and Games to Keep your Cat Busy!
If you have indoor cats like I do, you will probably agree that they tend to get bored rather easily and are always looking for new things to do, or should I say, "trouble" to get into! Caring owners should strive to provide a variety of toys or activities to keep them stimulated and occupied!
These are 10 of my cats' favorite toys or activities! (I thought my list might help give someone some new ideas of fun stuff their cat might like to do!)
1) Boxes
It is no secret that cats love boxes! The best thing about using boxes is they are usually free and come in a wide variety of sizes. Discard or recycle old ones after he becomes bored with them and replace with new sizes periodically. You can turn them upside down and cut an entrance "hole" in them and "windows" for a fun little cathouse. There are many possibilities and ways you can get creative and use boxes to entertain your cat! Caution: use supervision when letting your cats play in boxes that may still be filled with packing peanuts because there is always the risk he could eat or choke on them.
2) Laser Pointer
Used safely, the laser pointer can be a very stimulating and interactive game you can enjoy with your cat! It can make even the laziest or oldest cats get up and play- chasing that dot across the floor, around furniture, or up a wall! But it could also make an already active young pet a little too active or hyper. Do your research on the laser pointer before deciding to buy one for your pet. Use them with caution and do not give to children. The beam from a laser pointer can quickly damage the eye and should never be pointed at the eye. Also, never aim the laser at surfaces that would reflect the light back, such as mirrors. Follow the warnings and precautions on the product you buy.
I have used the laser pointer with my previous two older cats (12 to 16 years) and my current two younger cats (1 to 3 years). In my experience, the first time the cats are introduced to it, they are usually most excited. My cats calmed down more with each episode but continued to show an active interest in it. I use it today with my young cats (2 years old) every few weeks or maybe once a month. I feel if they see it every day, they just won't be as interested in it, and it's good exercise for them.
The photo above is a little unusual because normally you will only see a tiny "dot" of light on the floor or wherever you point the beam. Moving it quickly sometimes gives the appearance of a line, but not as clear as the photo shows. The camera happened to take the picture right as the beam of light was moving fast; you can also see where his front paw had been a split second before! Isn't that cool!
3) Cat Video or DVD
Does your cat ever watch the nature channel with you on tv? How about getting him a movie of his own to enjoy! Did you know there have been a couple videos made specifically with cats in mind? It's true! They show birds, fish, mice, squirrels and more! (My relatives think my cats are so spoiled because they have their own movies!) The first show I ever got for my cat was a VHS tape which I eventually loaned to a relative, but my cat loved it! The first time he watched it, I had placed his cat bed in front of the tv for him and he sat straight up and alert in that cat bed and watched the whole program! After that, he usually lost interest after 10 or 15 minutes. (I guess re-runs are never as fun!) I eventually got a DVD to replace the video tape but I can't remember if it was the same program or not. Now with my current two cats, one will watch parts of the show at a time, while the other has no interest in it! (It all depends on the cat, I guess!) I have also popped in the dvd to "catsit" my kitty during times I was trying to "work" and he was climbing all over me, trying to get me to play with him! The best solution is to play with your cat! But if that is impossible, then try the next best thing and get something to keep him occupied!
My review of the specific product shown in the photo above: It is nice, but it could be even better. The nature sounds playing in the background don't always match the animals moving about on the screen. My cats are much more interested during the scenes where the sounds actually match what's being shown on screen!
If you are really into pampering your precious feline, get a cat video and see what happens!
4) Paper Bags
The paper bag is probably the most recognized "cat toy" of them all! From the time the first grocery store began to supply paper bags for customers' groceries, consumers were probably letting their cats play in the bags long after the groceries have been put away! One of the best things about paper shopping bags is that they are usually free! Although the majority of grocery stores today may automatically bag your groceries in plastic, what you may not realize is they often have a stack of paper bags nearby and will be more than happy to bag your groceries in paper if you request it!
Whenever I go shopping I get most of my groceries in plastic bags (because they are easier to carry and I recycle them), but I also make sure I bring home at least one bag of groceries in a paper bag. In this way, I am able to bring home a free cat toy every time I go grocery shopping! By the time I'm ready to go shopping again, that bag has already been pounced on, crinkled, ripped, poked through, and chewed up and it's time for a new one!
For an extra special treat, you can hide some different toys in the bag every time for them to "discover!" Another fun game is played after they are in the bag, or at least can see into the bag. Use your finger (if you are brave) or something else (like the handle of a wooden spoon for example) and "draw" imaginary lines over the bag. Your cat will be able to see the shadow of your finger through the paper bag (as well as hear the scraping sounds) and will not be able to resist pouncing to catch the shadow! That is one of my cats favorite activities. If you have multiple cats, they may enjoy discovering their own games to play with each other!
5) Feather Wand
Ahh.... feathers and cats! Feathers satisfy that "hunting instinct" in a safe way! Although cat toy companies have come out with all sorts of cat toys that might resemble "prey" to us humans such as soft cuddly stuffed birds and mice, for the cat there is no substitute for the real thing - or at least part of the real thing! That's right - a feather! Cats instinctively know there is something special about the feather. My own cats prefer the feather wand over a single small feather because the wand is more interactive and unpredictable! I can make the feather "dance" around while they try to catch it.
The feather wand usually refers to one or more feathers attached to a stick or handle! I have seen and used many different kinds of interesting feather wands. Some have just one feather on the end, while others have multiple feathers and a little jingle bell. Usually the feathers are attached to a narrow plastic stick or handle, but sometimes the entire feather is the wand. Yes, I have seen huge feathers (such as peacock feathers for example) more than 20" long! Such feathers are long enough so that they do not need to be attached to a handle. You just hold the feather itself as a wand! This specific kind of feather is a big hit with my cats. The first time my youngest cat saw such a magnificent feather, he quickly claimed it as his own. One bite later and he took off though the house with this huge feather sticking out of his mouth. It protruded out sideways to the left and right of his face, quickly getting him "stuck" in a doorway! He paused when he realized he couldn't proceed through the doorway. After a few tries he pushed his way through, and down the hallway! He was on "Cloud 9" but of course there was a permanent kink in the feather after that!
Hint: When playing with your cat with the feather wand, let him catch the feather every once in a while to build his self-confidence, but not so often that he loses interest!
6) Furry Mice
Furry mice are quite plentiful in pet stores. They are a good buy compared to other cat toys which are usually more expensive. Sometimes you can get a whole pack of 10 or 12 mice for the same price as you could if you bought just one of the other toys. There are dozens of different colors and varieties of mice. Some even make a noise when the cat bats it around. I have found that the preferred furry mouse with my own cats is one that is made of real rabbit fur. For me, it is not too difficult to distinguish between real fur and synthetic because of its softness. I don't judge it by the color because even real fur can be dyed any shade, but I feel it with my fingers. Of two of my cats, one shows no interest in playing with furry mice while the other loves his rabbit fur mouse and likes to strut around with it in his mouth, as if showing off to say, "Look what I caught!"
Something to think about: I used to think that little toys made with rabbit fur were simply by-products of the meat industry. In the process of writing this guide, I learned this may not be true. Therefore, I feel compelled to suggest doing some research before deciding to purchase new products made from real fur.
7) String or Twine
What cat can resist reaching out to catch a moving string? It is also one of the cheapest "toys" you can find to entertain your cat with. Maybe you have some yarn, twine, or clothesline around the house. You can cut off a section (2 to 4 feet is enough), drag it behind you around the house, and watch your cat get his exercise trying to catch it! Use caution and do not let your cat play with string unsupervised; he could potentially become entangled in it or even swallow it.
One of the things I found around the house to play with my cats is a flexible measuring tape! It is more durable than a piece of string (which can fray and break as the cat chews on it). It also seems safer, as my cat has never tried to chew on it, as he tends to do with string. For some added fun, you can vary the game by attaching a little toy (such as furry mouse or feather) to the end of the string before pulling it around!
8) Play Cubes
One of my recent "great discoveries" is the addition of play cubes to our house! They are sold individually, but they are connectible so that you can make a bigger funhouse for your cat! Each one is connected to the next by 2 velcro straps. Not counting the top or bottom (which don't have entry holes), 3 sides have entry holes and 1 side does not. You can periodically rotate the cubes around or even upside down to make a "different" maze of tunnels; Your cat will think it's a whole new toy! The cubes are very lightweight and fold down flat for storage (they are sold in a small plastic pouch and "pop" open when you open it!).
This is an amazing product, one of the best cat activity toys I've ever purchased. It feels like it is made of nylon (not sure)- whatever it is is terrific stuff because no matter how many times their claws poke through the fabric, it never seems to tear!
A fun game my cats like to play when in the cubes is to catch the handle end of the feather wand (yes, they sometimes prefer it over the feather!) while playing hide and seek inside their cubes. I began with two cubes. I wasn't sure if my cat would actually use them or whether they would just collect dust like some of the other toys. He so loved them that I couldn't resist adding another one a month or so later. Finally, a few months after that I decided to get two more for a total of five cubes! My cats and I love them so much that I'm thinking of getting a couple more before the end of the year- just in case they stop carrying them! (Is it just me or does it seem like whenever you discover a really great product, they stop carrying it?!)
9) Catnip Toys
Although we humans may have no reaction to catnip, felines usually become quite excited and playful upon being exposed to catnip! Catnip has the potential to make some cats overly excited or agitated so use caution and do a little research before deciding to introduce catnip to your cat.
Sometimes I let my cats take a whiff of the catnip to encourage healthy play. I store it in a ziploc bag up high in a cupboard where they can't reach it or tear open or eat the bag. Other times I use my catnip to refill the cat toys designed for this purpose. Many new cat toys at the pet store already have dried catnip inside of them and that makes new catnip toys irresistible! Some are "refillable" (usually through a velcro pouch) so you can discard the old catnip after a month or so and refill it with "fresher" dried catnip.
10) Ping Pong Balls
Table tennis or ping pong balls are an inexpensive way to keep your cat occupied! They are light enough so that one swat will send them flying. I have seen ping pong balls in pet stores now as cat toys; they have a little feather attached to them! If you have a hard flat surface such as a wood, tile or linoleum floor, ping pong balls may be the perfect toy to pass the time for your kitty!
Helpful Tip: "Rotate" your cats toys periodically by storing some of them out of sight for several weeks or more. When you feel he's getting bored with his current selection, swap some of them with the hidden toys so that he gets to play with "new" toys he hasn't seen in a while! This way he will maintain more of an interest in playing with his toys than if he had access to all of them all of the time.
I hope this guide has given you some good ideas and has inspired you to spend more time with your cat! Enjoy it and treasure every moment, because their lives are too short, and the time passes quickly! Take lots of pictures to preserve some happy memories (and to show off to others)!
You might also enjoy my other guide:
(How To Keep Your Cat Occupied Without Hiring a CATSITTER!)
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