by J. van der Gaag

Created on: March 23, 2010

A great cat toy has two main requirements – it has to be fun and it has to be safe.  Other than that, the only limit is the collective imagination of you and your cat.  You can turn many common household objects into cat toys with little or no work or cost.  Here is a list of the top ten cat toys found around the house.  See how many of these you have around your home, and get ready for some fun.

1. Crumple ball – Some things get to be classics for a reason and the crumple ball is definitely one of them.  Safe, fun, and fast, you can make this toy simply by crumpling up a piece of paper or aluminum foil.  Try using different types of paper and making different sizes of ball to see what your feline friend likes best (make sure it is too big to swallow).  If you’re lucky, your cat might turn out to be a fetcher. 

2. String – Another kitty classic.  A string, shoelace, length of yarn or a ribbon will give your cat hours of fun.  Tie it to a doorknob so your cat can play without you, or engage in a game of chase.  Your cat will love stalking the wiggly end of a string around the house, and it’s great exercise for both of you.  For variety, you can tie a bell, button, feather, or scrap of paper at the end of the string.  Because some cats like to eat string, you might want to restrict this toy to supervised use only.

3. Flashlight – A flashlight or laser pointer will engage your cat’s hunting instinct and give her lots of exercise.  Run the light along the floor, up walls, and over obstacles.  If you use a laser pointer, be sure to avoid pointing it directly at your cat’s eyes. 

4. Ball – Golf balls, marbles, ping-pong balls, tennis balls, bouncy rubber balls – the options are almost endless.  Harder balls that don’t bounce are great because of the noise they make as they roll across a hard-surfaced floor.  One of my cats is in love with a large glass marble and the noise it makes on the hardwood floor.  Bouncy balls will give your furry acrobat a reason to test out his jumping skills.  Try letting once bounce down the stairs or toss it into an empty bathtub.

5. Milk rings and twist ties – Simple plastic rings from milk or juice containers are lightweight, bouncy, and easy for your cat to pick up.  You can bend twist ties into different shapes to give your cat variety and make the tie easier

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