Today we are all looking for ways to save money and I love this one. If you have a cat of any age, or especially if you have multiple cats, as I do, you will love this too. Cat toys are expensive but cats and kittens need to be able to entertain themselves so I am offering some tips today on how you can make lots of playthings from things you have around the house.
#1. Make paper mice...fold a sheet of paper in half, and half again (computer paper is perfect).Cut or tear on fold lines into 4 pieces. Roll each quarter sheet of paper into a small tight wad or ball. Hold in the open palm of your hand and with the fingers of your other hand flick it across the room while saying "Get the mouse!" Flicking it is important because it gets the cats excited. Cats love to retrieve things and they love paper mice. (If you see your cat trying to chew up the mouse, take it away and say,"No!".) You will find yourself making a lot of these. Cats and kittens especially love to play with these under chair rungs in the kitchen or dining room.
#2. Save paper towel or toilet tissue tubes...kittens love to pounce and wrestle with things. Be careful not to offer your fingers or toes for this purpose, because kittens have sharp teeth and claws. Cardboard tubes are perfect for wrestling. Rolled up socks are also good wrestling toys. You can also insert a paper mouse inside to make the tube more interesting.
#3. A brown paper grocery bag...can be a wonderful place to hide. Open the bag and stand it up so that you can roll the top down an inch or so making a cuff. When you lay the bag on its side it will help hold it open for play. Toss a paper mouse inside and watch the fun. Kitty will run in and out and bat the mouse around.
#4. Kitty House or Kitty City(drawing at left)...You will need a cardboard box big enough for the cat to move around in. Tape one long flap closed. and one or two short flaps closed. The other long flap can be left loose and used as an awning. (Not shown in drawing) This should leave an opening big enough for the cat/kitten to jump in the box when it is laid on its side. Have an adult carve a door on the opposite side of the box just big enough for the cat to go in and out. The house now has a front door and a back door. Holes a little larger than paw-size can be carved on either end. If you have the space you can put a group of these houses together and watch as your cats go in and out with their toys and have great fu
7 Comments on SAVE YOUR PENNIES - KITTIES PLAY FOR FREE!, last added: 2/2/2010
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Oh, this is great stuff. Cat towers and other toys are so expensive.
Thanks for sharing.
Cheryl
Cheryl
As an owner of two cats I must agree. But,like children, you find the cats would rather play with the packaging. LOL.
They love it. We have a whole cat city in our family room. We are entertained every morning as we drink our morning coffee. If you rearrange them a bit each day they are excited about the new arrangement and really have a field day.
0:-)Shari
Shari,
You are amazing.... Always creating... I love it.
;-)
Dixie
When I had a cat we made it a wood cat tree. A cheap way (FREE)to get carpet to cover the tree is to visit your local carpet store. Ask for the old carpet squares or remnants.
Happy Valentines Day,
J. Aday Kennedy
The Differently-Abled Children's Author
www.jadaykennedy.com
Here's one cats might like, but humans won't.
Years ago I had a cat was fascinated watching me use SOS pads to scrub the dirt off of pots. Whenever I wasn't home she would steal and hide the pads - in my bed! When I climbed in my feet would discover the wet things between the sheets.
Janet
Yuck! I can't recommend that one. I suggest using an old sugar bowl with cober to keep your steel wool pads away from kitty.
Shari
J. Aday Kennedy
You are very talented! That is a wonderful suggestion. Often places like wallpaper stores and carpet stores will let you have their samples for free. Great for craft projects.
Thanks.
0:-) Shari