Recently at Walmart, I saw a kittie servant (otherwise known a human) stocking up on all sorts of toys for her new cat. I tactfully informed her that she was wasting her money on that stuff. I explained that the best things are what she already has: ball up a piece of paper, paper bags, plastic cups, yarn and other miscellany will keep kitties occupied for hours on end. And, of course, potholders when its time for a time for arm-to-paw rasslin'. :)
Mine only likes pipe cleaners. She doesn’t really play with them though.
I think she thinks they’re her babies because she carries them in her mouth and takes them to the food dish.
You are so right-on with your advice to the fellow kittie servant. My two little mensches were playing with something on the floor tonight under the rocking chair, and it turned out to be one of my pens they had knocked off the table. Milk cap rings are also a fav. A fellow cat servant friend buys all sorts of toys for her kitties, and she gives them as presents to my two as well. I have told her the same thing you told the human in Wal-mart, and she does agree, but thinks maybe this time it will be different....
Ahh, my back is sooo itchy ;)
Paper balls drove mine nuts when she was still alive. If she even heard the sound of paper being wadded up she’d perk up and be ready to pounce. Anytime, anywhere. Add a stick and string and she would play with it for as long as you wanted to make it dance. It was Crazzzzy.
Hair ties.
My cats love my hair ties. They steal them from my nightstand and gather them all in various areas of the house.
Please be careful with things like string or yarn. If the cat swallows it, and many of them try to do that, it can lead to a painful death as the string or yarn can wrap around the intestines.
However, I agree that there are plenty of safe things around a house to provide entertainment and exercise for your pet.
The favorite toy of every cat we have ever had was pipe cleaners. Just curl one around your finger to form a cork screw shape and cats will go nuts.
One of our three will play with toy mice, so those aren’t totally wasted of our house. Of the other two, one likes to steal binder clips and pens and the other steals hair ties.