You’ve probably spent a small fortune on cat toys over the years. Plush mice, feathery wands, jingle balls galore. Yet somehow, your feline friend ignores every single one and instead becomes obsessed with a crumpled receipt or an old shoelace. Sound familiar?
Here’s the thing: your cat isn’t being difficult. Cats’ behaviors when playing are similar to hunting behaviors, and these activities allow kittens and younger cats to grow and acquire cognitive and motor skills. Sometimes the most mundane objects trigger those instincts better than anything you could buy at a pet store. Let’s dive into the secret world of household items that drive cats absolutely wild.
Cardboard Boxes
Leave a cardboard box on the ground and wait – a cat will be in that box in a matter of minutes, if not seconds, because cats love concealed spaces, and boxes offer a tight enclosure that acts perfectly as a mini cave. It doesn’t matter if it’s a small shoebox or a giant Amazon delivery container. Your cat will claim it.
Cats enjoy using cardboard boxes and other hiding places to play in because they love having enclosed, dark places to hide and observe the world, and when inside a box, they feel protected. The texture is perfect for scratching, and the confined space gives them a sense of security that expensive cat beds rarely match. Honestly, if you want to entertain your cat for hours, just leave out a box or two and watch the magic happen.
Bottle Caps and Ping Pong Balls
Bottle caps and ping pong balls are lightweight and easy to flick around the floor, and ping pong balls are amusing because your cat can chase them faster than bottle caps. These tiny objects become prey in your cat’s imagination. They skitter across hardwood floors unpredictably, mimicking the erratic movements of a mouse trying to escape.
The beauty of these items is their simplicity. They’re great because they move fast, are difficult for your cat to capture and are big enough that he can’t swallow them, and they’re especially fun for your cat around stairs. I know it sounds crazy, but some of the best play sessions happen when you simply toss a bottle cap down the hallway. Your cat’s hunting instincts kick in immediately, and suddenly you’ve got free entertainment for both of you.
Paper Bags
Paper bags are excellent options for extreme cat entertainment, and if the bag is strong enough, you can pick it up and take your cat for a ride, but use bags that don’t have handles to avoid your cat getting their head caught. The crinkling sound alone is enough to send most cats into a frenzy. It resembles the rustling of leaves or the sound of small prey darting through underbrush.
Shopping bags can be turned conveniently into something your cat can lay or hide in, but remember to chop off the handles and get some breathing holes before making a bag available. Cats will dive in and out of paper bags like they’re exploring mysterious caves. You can even add a few treats inside to make the experience more rewarding. Just never use plastic bags, as they pose serious suffocation risks.
Hair Ties and String
Let’s be real: if you’ve ever dropped a hair tie on the floor, you’ve probably watched your cat swoop in like a tiny velociraptor. String, yarn, and hair ties are irresistible to cats. String and rope perfectly resemble slithering prey, ready to be captured at a moment’s notice. The way these items move mimics the slithering motion of a snake or the tail of a rodent.
That said, there’s a major safety concern here. You should always supervise your cat during playtime because thin string can be very dangerous if your cat swallows it, so put string and rope out of reach when you are not around. I’ve seen too many vet horror stories about intestinal blockages from ingested string. So yes, your cat will love these items, but please be cautious and never leave them unattended with anything stringy.
Ice Cubes
Ice cubes make great summertime toys, especially on the slick kitchen floor, and you can flavor the ice cubes with tuna and chicken juice so your cat will have a blast and a tasty treat all in one. This one might sound bizarre, but trust me, it works. The way ice cubes slide unpredictably across tile or hardwood floors activates your cat’s chase response.
Yes, it’s a bit messy. The ice melts, leaving puddles everywhere. Still, on a hot summer day, this can be both entertaining and refreshing for your cat. Some felines are naturally drawn to water, and ice cubes offer a fun way to engage with it without getting completely soaked. If your cat seems hesitant, try adding a little flavor to pique their interest.
Toilet Paper Rolls and Cardboard Tubes
When you do run out of toilet paper, save the rolls because they’re perfect for hiding toys and snacks and are safe to chew, and they’re also lightweight, making them perfect for chasing around the house. These humble tubes transform into amazing DIY puzzle toys. You can cut small holes in them, stuff treats inside, and seal the ends with paper.
Toilet paper and paper towel tubes can be converted into treat dispensers by cutting out holes just big enough for a piece of cat treat or kibble to slip out, then filling the rolling tube with treats and sealing both sides with tape to create a food puzzle toy. Your cat will bat it around, trying to figure out how to get the goodies out. It’s mental stimulation and physical exercise rolled into one simple craft project.
Old Socks and Stuffed Animals
You can hide anything in an old sock, giving your cat a fun hunting experience, and hiding their favorite treats inside also gives them plenty of mental stimulation while they try to remove them. An old sock filled with catnip becomes an instant hit. Some cats will carry stuffed animals around the house like prized trophies.
A small percentage of cats will grow very attached to a specific toy, and some adopt a stuffed animal at just a few weeks old and play with it daily for years. The soft texture is perfect for those bunny kick moves that cats love so much. Just make sure any stuffed animals you offer don’t have small parts like buttons or plastic eyes that could be chewed off and swallowed. Safety first, always.
Conclusion
Your cat doesn’t need the latest high tech gadget or the fanciest feather wand to be entertained. Sometimes the best toys are the ones already scattered around your home. Chasing after a plush mouse or digging treats out of a puzzle aren’t just fun activities for cats, they’re actually beneficial for their health because cat toys prompt felines to mimic their natural predatory behaviors like pouncing and chasing.
The next time your cat ignores that expensive toy you just bought, don’t take it personally. Grab a cardboard box, toss a ping pong ball down the hall, or crinkle up a paper bag. You might be surprised at how much joy these simple items bring. Did you notice your cat going crazy over any household item we didn’t mention? What’s the strangest thing your feline has turned into a toy?
