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An indoor cat will need lots and lots of toys. One of the biggest concerns in having an indoor cat is not letting it be too bored in the enclosed environment it is living in.
It is just so sad when you see your darling cat sleep all day or sadly meow out of boredom. And yes it is fed, kept warm and safe but still, boredom can really make your cat unhappy. Since this site is dedicated to making your cat happy in the city I am going to compile all the free toys that my cat loved.
And being weird as cats are, sometimes a free toy/item is the one that your cat will love most. I’ve seen this behavior in toddlers too: you may buy an expensive toy and still, a simple, everyday item like your wallet may be the one thing that fascinates the toddler instead of the toy.
So one thing I’ve noticed is that cats love items that you use. Like my cat loves drinking from my cup although she has a special cup with water just for her. The water in my cup simply tastes better according to her :). So your cat’s next favorite toy may be an everyday item that you use and find very simple and unnoticeable.
A paper ball. This is really a good one! Cats are crazy for paper balls. They are small and light and can be tossed around, plus they make a sound. All the qualities of a great cat toy that will cost you nothing and is super easy to make.
Aluminum foil ball. This did not work for my cat but I know it was a good playing thing for other cats. You can give it a try.
Cardboard boxes. This is the most famous youtube filmed cat toy. Cats adore boxes and will use every chance they have to sneak into them. My cat is actually very picky about her cardboard boxes but still every now and then she’ll find one irresistible. As you buy things don’t throw right away those shopping boxes. Let your cat enjoy them for a while.
Plastic bags. Open them and filled them with air. My cat hides in them or puts her toys inside and plays.
Dripping water from the faucet. I don’t know if you can actually do this as it depends on the quality of your faucet. Mine is not the best as when I turn on the kitchen water heater it starts dripping for a while. This is a never boring game for my cat. She tries to catch every drop and she fails every time! It is hilarious.
Wrapping strings on pc or phone items. My Puffy never gets bored playing with them. They absolutely must be placed under the carpet in the end. As a successful kill, I guess?
Plastic drinking straws. Since they come in a pack and are quite cheap you’ll have a good supply of playing things for your cat for a long time.
Your favorite writing pen. You like it so your cat will like playing with it too!
A toilet roll tube. Strange but true!
Balloons. They are low-cost items and I don’t blow them fully so Puffy won’t pop them at the first grab. I make them like little balls filled with air. She is not extremely excited about them but they do hold her attention for a while.
Hair elastic. You use it so it must be good for play.
The little spring in a clothing clip. I disassemble a clip just to get to that spring. My cat loves playing with it and “killing it” under the carpet.
A gums pack. Any item I use that is easy to throw on the floor is a toy for her. And it must be thrown on the floor, preferably buried under the carpet.
A dental floss box. This is actually driving me crazy as I can’t leave my dental floss box anywhere in my cat’s reach. The second she finds it, it becomes her toy and ends up under a couch somewhere. If you’re out of ideas for cat toys try getting the smallest dental floss box just for your cat (and if it sees you using it then it’s a 99% hit).
Small Mice Toys Filled With Catnip
My cat loves little mouse toys just like these! They seem to be just the right size for her. Mine have something sound making inside of them but catnip should just as attractive. These little mouse toys are crazy cheap!
Wine corks – I haven’t tried this because my stomach can’t stand alcohol (I do drink rum occasionally as I love it too much to pass it by) but I’ve read that it is a great toy for cats. Next time you’re thinking about getting a bottle of wine buy one with a cork, such bottle feels more authentic any way 🙂
