Image by: Dat
Cats are innately curious and playful creatures so it’s important that you try to accommodate this by having things available for them to play with throughout the day.
Equally though cats can be fussy, and what one cat may enjoy another may not. I’ve lost count of the amount of toys I’ve bought for my cat only for them to be sniffed at once, disinterestedly, and then left abandoned in a corner somewhere, until I’ve bothered to get rid of it.
My advice to you is to keep it simple. Push aside the annoyance of the past wasted pounds (at least you can sell unused toys ‘as new’ on eBay) and look to the ways you and your cat can really have fun without having to splash the cash. Here are five great ways to do just that!
Cardboard Castles
For some reason, cats seem to love cardboard boxes. Unpack one and leave it hanging around for more than a couple of hours, and it’s highly likely that by the time you come back it will have become inhabited by your furry friend. They can be a lot of fun too and there are a lot of ways to incorporate fun filled games into your basic box.
Get one large enough and you can transform it into your cat’s very own pet palace. Simply stack smaller ones inside it to create separate, secret rooms, or else stick smaller ones on top. You can add whatever you think your cat might enjoy, like old cushions or favorite toys. Just be careful when making it to be sure its secure and evenly weighted. You don’t want your castle toppling over with your cat still inside.
Tunnels
Along the same lines, homemade tunnels can provide your cat with an endless source of fun. Simply place your boxes side by side and cut holes into them to make an exciting, tunnel maze. To make it more interesting vary the size and the positioning of the gaps you’ve created for them to squeeze into, so that they have to work a little to make their way through.
Climbing Frames
Cats love climbing and generally being high up in the air. Unfortunately for any indoor cat the only chances they get for this kind of play is normally on your furniture, curtains or shelves, which can potentially cause a lot of damage.
If your cat’s love of climbing is constantly causing you trouble why not try making your own cat climbing frame? Perhaps the simplest way is get a very coarse rag of material, and fix it to the wall. Then build a couple of solid shelves, nail some more of the material to it and you’ve got yourself an inexpensive, but effective climbing frame.
Treasure Hunts
Food related games are another great way to make your cat’s otherwise mundane mealtime more exciting. Start small, by putting small pieces of food near to the cat. Then gradually, as they start to get used to the idea, space the food out further afield, until your cat is literally on the prowl. Next you can start to be more adventurous and place the food in harder to reach places, like chairs or shelves. By hiding the food completely out of sight they have to use their sense of smell, as well as their sight, to find dinner.
iPad Games for Cats
In this new technological era it was only going to be a matter of time before our funky felines got in on the act. There are now a number of game apps available on the iPad, specifically designed to entertain cats and test their reflexes. They come in a surprising amount of varieties, from scurrying mice and fishing games, to the perhaps more unexpected apps like Paint for Cats, an app that allows your cat to chase a mouse around the screen with their paws, whilst at the same time painting an image onto the screen.
A lot of these you can get for free, or at a low cost. Although you may want to invest in a screen protector before you download to protect your screen from playful claws.
Playtime is an important part of the day for any cat. It’s great exercise and can be a great bonding experience between you and your cat. What games do you and your cat love to play?
Liisa Silander-Hatch is an enthusiastic blogger and a self-confessed mad cat lady. She writes for Petmeds.
