Free (or mostly free) fun

I can't believe it's nearly been a month since I last posted! I've been really busy lately, and alas, all this doing of things means I have no spare money for catification. So, I thought a quick post on cat enrichment you can do on the cheap may be timely.

• Boxes. Any cat owner knows that the cat tends to like the box a thing came in more than the thing. I try to get rid of boxes relatively quickly as Opal and Mica are the sort to chew on them and spit cardboard every where, but I keep the sturdy boxes their Blink pouches come in and fill them with toys for them to fish out. If you're the creative sort, and you don't have spitters, you could make a massive box fort by carving them, cutting out additional holes and taping them together.
• Paper bag. Opal's the bag cat in our house. She'll shove herself into anything she can, including the paper that goes around beer cans. Paper bags are safer than plastic bags, but still keep an eye on kitty during play so they don't suffocate themselves.
• Paper packaging/pellets. I'm talking the crinkly paper packaging you're sometimes lucky enough to get in parcels. Stick packing pellets in a big box or carton for your cats to dive in like their very own ball pit.
• Wrapping paper. I swear I'm nearly done with the paper based ones now! Even Mali liked to be involved when I wrapped presents, but I could snip off a thin piece she'd be content with playing with. You know it's good if even a senior cat wants in on the action.
• Hiding treats. You don't necessarily need a treat puzzle. Hide some treats around and let the cat loose. Especially good for chonky cats that could do with some exercise before they get their reward.
• Folded up bits of foil. Especially fun if they used to have a chocolate bar in. I keep telling Mica that chocolate is toxic and never leave any out, but the smell alone seems to get him excited enough even before I've moulded the wrapper into a ball shape.
• Feathers. Since it's rare that feathers fly into the catio I collect these from my front and back garden and let the cats have them. I avoid the small ones now as Mica will swallow them whole. Opal will turn into a mighty huntress whenever she has one and takes it in and out of the cat flap. I've found the horrible spit soaked things in my bed before.
• Shoe laces or ribbons. Obviously supervised only, but a shoe lace or ribbon is just as good as a cat wand. I can't even put my shoes on without Opal 'helping'.
• Empty toilet roll holder. You can make these even more fun by stuffing them with toys or treats and folding them to form a light seal, or cutting them into different shapes.
• Bottle lids. Make a great sound on kitchen tiles and as equally fun to chase around as a ball.
• Bath/sink. If you have a cat that likes water, fill a bath or bowl for them to fish their toys out of. If you're feeling brave, let them in whilst you have a bath and let them hunt your kneecaps.
• Cat TV. You can put cat videos on your smart phone or download free apps for your cat to watch/play. I find the ones where a bug is scuttling across the screen is the most liked.
• Changing the bed sheets. J hates the cats' involvement but I find it hilarious. They will bite and scratch at the sheets the entire time and exhaust themselves before bed.
• Rugs/blankets. Putting a toy under a layer makes it that much more interesting. You can also drape multiple rugs/blankets to create areas for your cats to hide in.
• And lastly, anything you'd rather they NOT play with. If you don't want a cat near it, they're on it.

I've not included this one in the list as I think this may simply be Mica's weird fascination alone, but he really likes drinking straws. Plasic, paper, silicone, he doesn't care. He just really likes stealing straws.