Recession-proof cat toys

[Miss Mia]

Recession-proof cat toys

Brother, can you spare a twisty-tie?

Hard economic times can mean fewer holiday gifts _ for your pets, too. Fortunately, cats were into recycling and repurposing long before "green" became the latest buzzword.

If you've ever seen your cat walk past a nice stuffed mouse to bat around one of those wire twisty-ties that close a loaf of bread, why not take the hint? Here's what your feline family really wants you to do for the holidays:

_ Get milk! Or juice, as long as it's in a plastic jug. Those little caps make great toys, especially the kind with the tear-off plastic strip.

_ Drink wine to relax. If watching your portfolio crash means you're going through more wine these days, you've also got more corks for your cat to bat around.

_ Wear your wristwatch, even if you can't afford new batteries. On a sunny day, you can get the sun to reflect off it and make a spot of light that your cat will chase around the floor and walls _ just like a laser pointer, but totally free.

_ Let your hair grow long. You'll save money on haircuts, and once it's long enough for a ponytail, you can share your hair ribbons. Cassandra Zaruba of Westminster, Md., has a cat that loves a particular kind of hair ribbon.

"I keep them in a Rubbermaid box, and a sure way to lure her out of any hiding place is to pop the lid of that box," she says.

(Don't do this with rubber bands, which some cats might be tempted to eat.)

_ Buy presents for other people. Not because your cat is so generous, but because your cat will enjoy trying to help wrap presents. Tear off a piece of the wrapping paper and crunch it up on ball for her to chase around. When you run out, try aluminum foil or candy wrappers.

-snip-

More suggestions at link.  Monty loves the milk lid. 

[Sweet Dee]

Too cute

[Miss Mia]

Too cute

Mia loves the laser pointer.  Seriously, she can be asleep in the other room and hear me just move it and comes running. 

[Sweet Dee]

Mia loves the laser pointer.  Seriously, she can be asleep in the other room and hear me just move it and comes running. 

I remember witnessing that first hand.  You should sell tickets   ha!

[Miss Mia]

I remember witnessing that first hand.  You should sell tickets   ha!

Ahh, that's what I shall do when I get home.  There's nothing more entertaining that making Mia run in circles chasing that laser pointer.   

[Traveshamockery]

Two toys my cats love over anything purchased:

1.  Large post-it notes stuck to the wood floor and creased so part of it sticks up. 
2.  A piece of foil crumpled up and thrown. 

Those two toys will keep them occupied for a long time ~ above and beyond any expensive cat toy I have ever purchased. 

[terry]

One of my cats loves lipton tea bag wrappers.  I don't know if it's the tea smell or what.   She comes to me when she hears the kettle.  I crumple up the paper and drop it.  She will pick it up and take it to another room to bat it around.

[Chris_]

I never spent a lot of money on toys for my now departed babies.  They didn't know they were cats so their reaction was usually "I'll play with this thing for a few minutes -- OK, Daddy fdo you have anything interesting?" -- even as kittens.

We didn't have laser pointers back then.  We had to use RADAR pointers (ok -- flashlights).  Even then it was short-lived since they figured out that it was Mommy and Daddy making the light move.

Their joy was in being with Daddy and Mommy. 

And our joy was in being with them.

Damn how I miss them.  Every day.

(for those who don't know, i had Neysa for 18 years and Musica for 25 years -- that kind of love and commitment can never be forgotten in your heart)

[mamacags]

Mine has this cardboard scratching thing that came from Walmart.  I threw some cat nip in the box with it and my cats acted like crack heads for days.  They also love ear plugs and plastic tag things from clothes.

[Miss Mia]

Mine has this cardboard scratching thing that came from Walmart.  I threw some cat nip in the box with it and my cats acted like crack heads for days.  They also love ear plugs and plastic tag things from clothes.

Both my cats are crazy for cat nip.  I'll put some down in the front hallway an hour or so before I vacuum.  They go freaking crazy!!!

[Traveshamockery]

I never spent a lot of money on toys for my now departed babies.  They didn't know they were cats so their reaction was usually "I'll play with this thing for a few minutes -- OK, Daddy fdo you have anything interesting?" -- even as kittens.

We didn't have laser pointers back then.  We had to use RADAR pointers (ok -- flashlights).  Even then it was short-lived since they figured out that it was Mommy and Daddy making the light move.

Their joy was in being with Daddy and Mommy. 

And our joy was in being with them.

Damn how I miss them.  Every day.

(for those who don't know, i had Neysa for 18 years and Musica for 25 years -- that kind of love and commitment can never be forgotten in your heart)

Wow - you must have had a couple of healthy cats.  I've lost two cats in the last two years - one was my boy cat Grady who died of lymphoma at age 10 and less than a year ago I lost my little tiny Lilly because she had heart failure and she was only 4.  I still get teary-eyed when I think of both of them. 

[Traveshamockery]

One other thing - my cats love bubbles.  They come running if I say "bubbles."  I even had some catnip bubbles and even though they both love catnip, those bubbles didn't appear to make them goofy like real catnip does. 

[Chris_]

Wow - you must have had a couple of healthy cats.  I've lost two cats in the last two years - one was my boy cat Grady who died of lymphoma at age 10 and less than a year ago I lost my little tiny Lilly because she had heart failure and she was only 4.  I still get teary-eyed when I think of both of them. 

Because God gave us the ability to love our pets -- IMHO cats most of all since they don't ask it but return it so feverently.

If Heaven doesn't have my babies, then the Universe is just a big joke.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

(Author unknown)

[Traveshamockery]

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

Are you trying to make me cry?  I never had pets growing up and inherited a cat about 15 years ago and that did it for me.  I believe I will always have cats.

[Chris_]

Are you trying to make me cry?  I never had pets growing up and inherited a cat about 15 years ago and that did it for me.  I believe I will always have cats.

Maudlin is as maudlin does.

I is so maudlin...


Is your kitty still kickin? (I hope)

[Chris]

I wonder if you can wrap a balloon in foil?  That would be funny. 

[Miss Mia]

I wonder if you can wrap a balloon in foil?  That would be funny. 

You know what's funny.  Take a piece of Scotch tape and run it from the top of their head to the base of their tail. 

[Sweet Dee]

You know what's funny.  Take a piece of Scotch tape and run it from the top of their head to the base of their tail. 

LOL  you are terrible!

[Miss Mia]

LOL  you are terrible!

I did it once when I was in middle school.  They think they're under something and scurry around.  It didn't last long, but it was funny. 

[Crazy Horse]

You know what's funny.  Take a piece of Scotch tape and run it from the top of their head to the base of their tail. 

Rubber fishing worm fresh out of the package................throw at long haired cat................

[Chris]

Rubber fishing worm fresh out of the package................throw at long haired cat................

that ain't right 

[Atomic Lib Smasher]

I already know this... my cats LOVE the milk jug rings and playing in empty boxes. The dog, however, is another story. I'm thinking for something cheap, maybe an empty toilet paper roll with a hole in the middle and plugged at the end stuffed with treats, but he's more abusive to his toys and will have it ripped to shreds before you can say "Sto......"

[EastFacingNorth]

Honestly, I don't understand giving a cat toys.

Put him outside and let him catch a mouse.  Or a chipmunk.  Or a bird.  Or a squirrel.  Or a snake.  Or a rabbit.  Or a... well, you get the idea.

At least, my cat has always preferred that sort of play to any kind of toy.

[Traveshamockery]

Honestly, I don't understand giving a cat toys.  Put him outside and let him catch a mouse.  Or a chipmunk.  Or a bird.  Or a squirrel.  Or a snake.  Or a rabbit.  Or a... well, you get the idea.  At least, my cat has always preferred that sort of play to any kind of toy.

My cats would love that. Unfortunately, I have a Himalayan and Persian and they are prissy cats and are indoor cats only.  We get the occasional little gecko that sneaks inside and they will play and chase after that for awhile.  We also have those huge red-tailed hawks that circle around our property and coyotes looking for food and they seem to love cats and small dogs. 

[DumbAss Tanker]

Much like kids, our cats seem to prefer to play with the boxes.  Anything from an empty soda 12-pack upwards becomes either a feline hidey-hole or a concealed position from which to ambush other cats.