Simple, inexpensive things cats love to play with - Dr. Marty Becker

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Simple, inexpensive things cats love to play with

Thursday, Jan 20th, 2022 | By Dr. Marty Becker

If you want to keep your cats excited by their toys, you can either buy them new toys constantly, or try these much simpler solutions my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker, suggested to a reader with concerns about the cost of her cats’ toy habit.

Q: My two cats love to play with toys, and I’m going broke buying them new ones all the time. They become bored with them so quickly. Are there some inexpensive alternatives? (They have multiple scratching posts and places to perch and hide.)

A: Cats can definitely have a short attention span. That works to your advantage because you can put up all their toys and then dole them out two or three at a time. Every few days, swap them out for some “new” ones from the cat toy closet. You save money and your cats can play with something they haven’t seen in a while.

Different cats have different toy preferences, so make sure they have a wide assortment: catnip-filled, feathery, fishing pole- or wand-style toys, crinkle balls, tracks with balls inside that your cats can bat at, a tunnel for them to run through, toys that make noise (put those up at night), and electronic, battery-operated or wind-up toys that move, eliciting your cat’s chase instinct — the list is endless.

And yes, there are lots of toys you can make yourself. Some of the best you don’t have to make at all because they come readymade to your home: paper grocery bags, empty boxes, and empty toilet paper or paper towel rolls. Crumple up a piece of paper and toss it for them. Pull out a flashlight and let them chase the beam. You can find easy and creative ideas at foodpuzzlesforcats.com.

Finally, remember to make yourself a part of their playtime, too. Drag a toy through the house for them to chase, toss a small ball (Ping-Pong or small tennis balls are fun) for them to chase, set a toy in motion for them to bat at. Attention from you is a cat’s best “toy.”

There’s more in Pet Connection, the weekly nationally syndicated pet feature I co-write with Kim Campbell Thornton and my daughter, trainer Mikkel Becker.