Five Cheap and Easy Toys for Cats

The pet store may have a ton of different play things intended for the felines in our lives, but are they really necessary? Could the same goal be accomplished for much less or no money? The answer, quite simply, is yes. Through the years, we have found several items that offer hours of uninterrupted fun for our cats.

Cardboard Boxes

Television or computer boxes, microwave boxes, almost any box that items of various sizes come in are an instant hit with the cats. They jump in them, they play around and on top of them, and sometimes they even sleep in them. If there is more than one cat in the house, they can play a wonderful variation of "King of the Hill", batting and wrestling each other over who gets to be inside, and who gets to be on top of the box.

Plastic Grocery Bags

While this of course may not be the safest option, our cats have been playing with them for years without incident. If a cat gets stuck inside, they usually just use their claws to rip their way out, and then continue playing with it. They love the noises bags make, they love how the bags move and float around, and they have endless fun batting them around.

Strings and Yarns

Of all the toys that cats love, the tried and true string or yarn toys work especially well. Simply cut off a few feet of the stuff, and put it on the cat. They run around, they get tangled in it and they attack it in every imaginable way. A toy can also be tied to the end of the string or yarn, while the other end is tethered to a doorway or other high object. As the toy on the end swings around, the cats get more and more excited. This is also a fun game for us humans to watch!

Sponges and Makeup Pads

We have found through the years that these items are an instant hit with the feline community. Something about the way they feel intrigues the animals, and they will play with them for hours, sometimes hiding them around the house so that they can find them again.

Laser Lights

If you have never seen a cat chase one of these pinpoint laser lights around the room, you haven't seen anything yet. From the comfort of the couch, the computer, or your favorite recliner, you can press the button and aim the light at the floor, other furniture, even the walls. The cat is sure to chase the beam wherever it goes, and it is a total riot to watch. Of course, just be careful where you point it, because the cats are so fast they could chase it somewhere that is dangerous without knowing it.