Play is essential for your cat’s well-being. It mimics their natural hunting instinct, and it keeps your kitty occupied. And while pet stores (and our product guide!) are brimming with cute and innovative toys, cat toys don’t have to be expensive, and you don’t even have to leave the house to find new ones. If your cat hasn’t already shown you that there are plenty of household items that make great, and perfectly safe toys, here are some suggestions for you:
Plastic milk carton tops
These plastic rings make fantastic toys, especially on hardwood or tile floors. They bounce unpredictably, making the chase fun for your cats. Toss multiple rings and watch your cat chase them. You can even teach her to retrieve the toys and bring them back to you.
Q-tips
Q-tips can provide endless entertainment. If you have a cat who likes to eat the ends, you may want to pull them off before giving the Q-tip to her. Even though ingesting cotton will probably not harm your cat, it’s not worth taking chances. For added entertainment, place a couple of Q-tips inside the bathtub and watch your cat bat them around the smooth surface.
Aluminum foil balls
Wad up a piece of aluminum foil and watch kitty have fun as she bats it all over the house. Make balls in various sizes to keep things interesting for your kitty. The combination of shiny appearance and crinkly noise make these balls irresistible for most cats.
Paper shopping bags
Grocery bags or other paper shopping bags make wonderful cat toys. Be sure to cut off the handles so kitty can’t get her neck caught, and watch her dash in and out of the bag or use it as a safe hideaway. Never give plastic shopping bags to your cats; these bags can wrap themselves around your cat’s neck during play and present a choking hazard.
Boxes
Boxes seem to hold an irresistible fascination for cats. And size doesn’t seem to matter: some cats will fit themselves into boxes that seem way too small for them. Keep an assortment of different sized boxes out for your cat to enjoy. Rotate them occasionally to keep things interesting for your kitty.
Keep your cat healthy and entertained by providing new toys that don’t cost a fortune. If you view your home objects through the eyes of a cat, you may be surprised at what you can come up with.
This article was originally published on Answers.com and is republished with permission.
