Question:
I have two wonderful indoor cats that I love to death. I do everything I can to entertain them. They have tons of cat toys and several tall cat trees but I’m thinking that sometimes they are still a bit bored since they can’t get outside – other than on my balcony that is! I was just wondering if anyone here has some great idea on how to entertain indoor cats as I am sure there are many things I haven’t thought of myself.


Answer:
I find what helps keep my guys amused is every four years I get a new kitten or two to chase and annoy the crap out of them

Seriously, though, I've just got loads of toys. Most of them are interactive, such as the ones on poles that you wave and they fly through the air trying to get (Aoife is usually far too dignified and disapproving to be seen playing, but she goes so wild and snaky when I start waving the pole toys around that it provides endless entertainment for the other cats ).

I also have a few motorized insect toys that look similar to these things that they like, but they don't go very far on their own and the cats lose interest unless you constantly set them going.

Once they got over the initial fright of this thing, some of my guys like it.

Laser pointers are a big hit with my guys, as well. All it takes is the jingle of the chain and they come running for it.

Hanging toys from chairs and doors keeps them occupied on their own, as well as a battery-operated motorized wobbly ball I have (like this one, only without the fake weasel) that they follow round the apartment for ages.

The three youngest cats love their crinkly balls and Isobel even plays fetch. She'll bring the ball to me when she wants to play. Isobel loves her crinkly ball, especially once she's dunked it into her water bowl *ewwww*. She even brings them to bed with her and wakes me up throughout the night, playing with it on the bed beside me

Then, of course, there is catnip. I usually have loads of homemade organic catnip pillows lying about (had to put them away when Dougal came to live) and one hit of that stuff and they find ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING amusing

I have GOT to get this 'Thing in a Bag' - that looks like it should be a blast for them!

I would love to have some cat trees for my guys but they're so pricey here :-( I've got some reasonably funky scratching posts, though, that they can climb over.


Answer:
Originally Posted by Banshee
Laser pointers are a big hit with my guys, as well. All it takes is the jingle of the chain and they come running for it.

I have GOT to get this 'Thing in a Bag' - that looks like it should be a blast for them!

I would love to have some cat trees for my guys but they're so pricey here :-( I've got some reasonably funky scratching posts, though, that they can climb over.
Laser pointers are the big thing in my house too - all I have to do is move it on the desk and I have four furry faces at my feet!
That "thing in a bag" looks like a great idea - That might be their christmas present this year! I bought some "kitty bubbles" - they stay formed and can be batted around - but apparently they are just good to be stared at from a distance!
I want a cat tree too - one of the big ones with a house built into it - but they are way too expensive right now.


Answer:
Liz, you've got to get one of those 'weasel balls' (just take the weasel off and use the ball). It is so hilarious to watch the cats' initial reaction to it, then watch them following it around until the battery runs out or I switch it off. The thing rights itself when it bangs into walls or goes into corners - it reverses itself and wobbles on its way. Terrific!

I'm intrigued by the kitty bubbles you mentioned - they stay formed and can be batted?

Have you guys seen this? My guys would love this! I'm going to add it to my Xmas list.


Answer:
I had typed out a long post earlier but then my browser window decided to throw an error and shut down on me.

Anyway, here's basically what I had started to type

I try and set aside 15-20 minutes a day to play with them, whether it's with a laser pointer, fishing pole or just smacking a toy around on the floor with them.

In the front yard I have a bird feeder hanging from a tree and they love to gather in he windows to watch the birds. I also have a Koi pond in the front yard too and they have a good view of the fish from the picture window.

I always leave a few different toys out but once or twice a week I rotate the ones they have access to so they don't get bored.

Fridays are cat nip days.

I've yet to try this but I've heard that Video Catnip is a blast for some cats.

That "thing in a bag" looks like a great idea - That might be their christmas present this year!
We have 'Thing in a bag' here and the cats love it! Some are more interested in it than others but Alanna & Moses adore it! I've got some great photos of them playing with it tucked away, I'll have to dig them out.


Answer:
*sigh* B.B. (older 8.5 years and rather plump ) is a challenge to get her moving. She will only play with the wand toys and most of the time I look like an idiot enticing her from around the corner only to find out she has lost interest and has gone in the other room! lol She will sometimes play with the laser pointer, but loses interest quickly.
She goes in the other room when the weasel ball is out. We bought it for the ferret and now both have lost interest in it.
Catnip makes her super paranoid. We do have a mouse hanging on an elastic string from the doorway. Everynow and then she will get a bug up her butt and play with it so I leave it hanging. She gets the zoomies and attacks it in the middle of the night or late at night. Otherwise her favorite pasttime besides eating is sleeping.
About the only thing that makes her move is running to her bowl when I give her ration of food or chasing Toffee (ferret) around. She loses interest in that easily too.
Every now and then I will leave a rubberband or a hair ponytail holder out and she will play with that. I bought one of those cat tents with the hanging mouse and that was a big hit for about a month. Now it just sits on the floor


Answer:
DoberPurr, I love the idea of those Video Catnip DVDs. I've heard of them before but haven't yet gotten any. Aoife used to like watching Postman Pat on television, but it hasn't been on for a couple of years

My Kitty Xmas List is growing by the second jess_denmark, thanks for starting this thread - it's an excellent thread for ideas!

Annie, it sounds like your B.B. is a bit like my Hamish. Hamish is such a chubby lazy boy that he will play for short periods of time, then will decide that it's easier to just bat the wand toy round whilst laying down It's hard to keep him going for some meaningful exercise.


Answer:
Thanks everybody I've definitely added a few things to my christmas list as well. It is always nice to exchange ideas with other cat lovers. Thank you all