Cats love toys! It is in the nature of cats to be hunters. So cats are always seeking ways to refine their hunting skills, often through play. Cats are also very curious, so anything new is a new reason to explore, usually to see if your cat can make play out of it. Even an empty paper bag will invite a cat into exploration. They, like young children, do not think or even realize there are dangers. Cats believe that what we leave around must be for their total enjoyment and is safe, otherwise....."why would you leave it out for me!".... So, please be careful.

  Cats enjoy the most simple of toys the best. Anything that makes noise when played with or can be pounced on make great toys. Especially involving movement of any kind. Cat eyes are tuned towards movement. The slightest movement and here comes kitty. Cats prefer toys much smaller than themselves. This can also get cats in trouble, as they can swallow toys or parts that are too small. Some of these can cause permanent damage to a cats digestive track or other soft tissue.

* Below are cat toys, most you can make, some very simple and some you probably already know.

Also are listed the danger toys.

  You don't have to spend a fortune on toys, just leave a few around for kitty to play with and then rotate with another set of cat toys when kitty becomes bored of them. This way, kitty will think it always has "new" cat toys to play with.

Paper cat toys

  Anything to do with non-dyed paper. A balled up sheet of paper is a favorite. Just ball it up and throw it across the room, then watch kitty fly. When kitty is done, leave it lying around and kitty will swat it around later. A PAPER grocery bag. Just leave one sitting around in a room. Kitty will eventually play with it. If you can not find your cat, check the bag, cats like sleeping in bags. Do not kick an empty bag without first checking it for kitty!

String cat toys

  Here is an all time favorite for cats. Anything to do with a string or long piece of yarn. DO NOT use nylon or fishing type lines as they can cut a cats soft tissue. Lay out a string and twitch or slowly pull it towards you. Cat will go nuts. Hang it on a doorknob and kitty will have something to play with when you're gone. Sometimes tying a small cloth object or a stick to the string and then hanging from the door is a great "swat" fun toy for your cat. Another idea is to tie a long piece of yarn to a very limber thin stick or rod, that way you can play "cat fishing" with your cat.

Stuffed cloth toys

  A cloth stuffed mouse or any small stuffed cloth toy is excellent with cats. Beware of some import cloth toys may have an insecticide sprayed on them that can harm a cat. This is required by some importer laws, so check them carefully. Also make sure there are no pieces that kitty can swallow. Usually a plain "rag" doll type of toy works best. Nothing fancy, no eyes or buttons. The softer, the better. Kitties like to bat them around and sometimes the toy will even become personal to the cat, like a young child's security blanket is to them.

Noise maker toys

  Another cat favorite. Not too much noise though, or kitty will be scared. Usually something like an old film canister with a little pebble or a penny inside makes a great cat toy. Anything plastic that has a top that can be securely fastened will work fine. For the rattle, do not use dry cat food, as this will make the cat try and open the toy to get the food. The plastic pieces can hurt your cats digestive track.

Plastic ball toys

  One of kitties favorite toys are "ping pong" balls. They are cheap entertainment for your cat. The plain old white ones work the best. They make a lot of noise skipping across the kitchen floor as the cat swats them around. Watching a cat swat a ping pong ball really illustrates how accurate cat swats can be. They come in packs of many, so you can leave a couple in each room. Rubber balls are good but you must make sure the rubber gives off no bitter taste. Place your tongue, after cleaning ball of course, to the ball and if you taste any bitterness or tartness, the ball is not safe for kitty. Also make sure the ball can not be swallowed by the cat. It should be the size of a ping pong ball or larger. Do not use balls or toys containing any type of glitter or liquid inside or on the outside the toy. Little bells are OK.

Cardboard toys

  Old toilet paper rolls are great cat toys. Cats can swat them around and pounce on them. When the cat begins to tear the cardboard apart, just throw away and replace with another one as you finish with the paper part. Very cheap and a house full of kids always have an endless supply.

Metal Toys

  Use ONLY non-painted toys that your cat can not swallow. Small capped, smooth canisters can make excellent toys for cats to swat around. Painted toys can be fatal to cats.

Old socks

  An old white sock is a great toy for cats. Just tie the sock into a knot and leave around the house.

Scratching posts

  A cat scratches at things not only for play, but to strengthen its "grip" and other muscles. It is natural for cats to scratch and a cat "cannot" be made not to scratch. Even de-clawed cats will attempt to scratch and claw objects. Teaching your cat to use a scratching post can save many pieces of furniture.

  To make a scratching post just attach a piece of carpet around a piece of non-treated wood. The "carpet" side goes against the wood, and the underside is what the cat will scratch on. You can attach that to a flat base. You can also just attach a piece of carpet to wall in the same manner. It should be high enough to allow your cat to extend it's body while scratching. Another idea is to get jute rope wrap it around a log, glue in place with non-toxic glue, a lay it in an out-of-the-way place.

Ribbon toy

  NO RIBBON should ever be used as cat toys. These can be shredded by you cat and can have serious effects to your cats digestive track and can be fatal. This includes any ribbons attached to cat toys as well as ribbons used for Christmas or other gifts. Easter grass is a ribbon also. All ribbons should be cut off any cat toy having them. Ribbons are not safe for cat play.

Light toys

  Cats love chasing a light beam across the floor of a darkened room. A pen light works great. Really, any small flash light (NEVER a laser pointer, can do tremendous damage to a cat's sensitive eyes) with a focusing beam of light works well. Even a reflection on the floor from another light source. Cats will chase all over the place.

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