by Pamela Baum

Created on: March 06, 2009

SIX SIMPLE CAT TOYS. Are you looking for an easy way to entertain your feline friend?

Sure, you could buy something, but in this time of economic recession, who has money for extras? Plus, there's no guarantee that the darling expensive battery-powered gadget from the pet store will even catch kitty's interest.

Instead, use what you may already have at home, saving money as you watch kitty have a blast.

Here are six ideas for free or inexpensive cat toys:

1. PLASTIC MILK JUG RING. Toss kitty the plastic ring that twists off when you open a jug of milk or orange juice. A set of paws can have amazing fun flicking this little plastic ring into the air.

2. SOCK STUFFED WITH CATNIP. Put a couple of sprigs of catnip inside a clean, worn out sock, tie or sew it shut, then wave the aromatic toy in front of kitty's nose. Your cat's eyes will glaze in delight, and soon he'll be rolling around in frenzied fun.

3. POM POM. Tantalize your kitty by juggling a 1-inch diameter pom pom ball from hand to hand before tossing it across the room. The best pom poms sparkle and you may have leftovers from a crafting project. If it rolls under the furniture, all the better kitty can pretend the prey is sneaking away.

4. HOUSEPLANT. Does your cat go wild with envy every time you water your houseplants? Wave a long, broken off piece of leaf or grass in front of her nose. If the plant makes crinkly noises, even better. Dried prairie grasses or airplane plants work well. Hint: make sure whatever plant you use for play is nontoxic to your feline friend.

5. PING PONG BALL. The attractive sound of a ping pong ball bouncing along a wood or tiled floor will inspire your kitty to spring after it with glee. A ping pong ball's advantage is that it's lightweight, so nobody gets hurt and nothing gets broken. Simple bouncy fun.

6. JINGLE BELL ON A STRING. Tie a jingle bell to a cord, ribbon, length of jute, or shoestring. For extra teasing, also tie on a couple of short pieces of ribbon or string toward the end. Next, trail this teaser across kitty's paws, and he'll skitter after it, eyes bright with the joy of the hunt. A child can entertain a cat this way for hours (and vice versa).

So there's no need to open your wallet at the pet store, since you can easily make these six simple cat toys from items you already have at home. Have fun, and share the delight with your favorite cat!

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