Furbabies
Cat Care Site

Playtime

Cats and kittens are fascinated by moving objects. Interactive games can provide hours of entertainment for your kitten.

Rotate the cat toys - only leave a few out at a time and change them weekly - the cat or kitten is less likely to get bored.

Avoid toys that are small enough to be swallowed or choked on, and toys that have sharp parts. Some toys are designed for cats to interact with humans (elastic cords, shoelaces, ribbons and strings) and cats should never be left alone with them.

Inexpensive Toys

Toys don't have to be expensive. There are plenty of items lying around your home that can give your cat or kitten hours of fun.

Balls of aluminum foil
Balls of paper
Cardboard box - put a ball toy inside, close the box up and cut paw-sized holes in the sides so the cat can bat the ball
Cardboard box, left on its side as a place to hide
Dangle string, ribbons or shoelaces for the cat to chase
Empty cotton reels
Fuzzy balls/pompoms from the craft store
Paper grocery bag, left on its side so the cat can climb in
Ping pong balls (table tennis balls)
Plastic rings from milk or juice container tops (make sure playtime is supervised with this toy)
Shine a flashlight beam on the floor for your cat to chase (a low cost alternative to a laser toy)

References

Page S, The Complete Cat Owners Manual, Australia: Readers Digest, 1997

Stewart R, Envirocat, Melbourne: Hyland House, 1997

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