by Robin Ragland

Created on: May 30, 2009   Last Updated: May 31, 2009

If you walk into any pet store in the country, you will be bombarded with choices, all promising to keep your beloved fur ball happy and entertained for hours. The options squeak, they crinkle, and they tinkle. They are made of feathers and of fabric and of fur. They can be batted, patted, chased, and climbed. They only thing they all have in common, except for being designed for cats, is that they are overpriced and, usually, not worth the money.

Buying cat toys isn't just about spoiling and indulging our furry family members. Cats need exercise and entertainment to be healthy and happy. Indoor cats especially need the stimulation of some excitement in their environment. But which cat toys are really worth the over-inflated price tags? The answer is, very few. There are few products you can buy at a pet store that you couldn't find in your own home at a much better price. Some are even free.

These are a few of my free, or almost free, favorites;

1. The plastic ring from around the top of the milk jug. My cat has jumped up on the counter to snag this tempting plaything and they will bat it around just as happily as the store bought toys.

2. Twist ties. Same as the milk rings, they love them.

3. Aluminum foil. A lightly packed ball of foil is a proven cat pleaser.

4. Candy or cough drops. My cat loves the small sugar-free candy wrapped in crinkly cellophane. The regular type is too heavy but the smaller sugar-free is just right for smacking across the floor and stalking.

5. Any small piece of cellophane, twisted, and wrapped with a rubber band for weight. You can also stick a feather in the rubber band and your cat will pretend he is stalking and killing a bird. The feather doesn't hold up for more than a use or two though.

6. A laser pointer (if you have one lying around) is a great way to get your cat running and climbing the walls. Which leads me to my all time favorite cat toy.........

7. The Disco Ball and Flashlight combo. This has brought my family as much, if not more, entertainment as it has brought my cat. Of course, not everyone has a disco ball hanging from their ceiling but we just happen to have one and I can tell you, Disco is not dead. We turn off all of the lights and then give the disco ball a spin. If you shine the flashlight on the spinning disco ball it will shoot spots of light all over the floor, walls, and ceiling. The cat goes nuts chasing them all and there is always another light spot to chase off into another new direction. Our cat has gone flying after light spots in the bath tub and up the walls. One caution though, keep bare feet off of the floor or you could get a nasty cat scratch as he runs across your feet.

There are some things that can't be found in the home. One is a good climbing tree. Another worthwhile buy is a cat scratching post. You have things around the house your cat could use for these items; they are called "furniture" but I don't like that option myself so I invest in the store bought type.

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