Do you tend to get silly over cats? Do you find yourself spouting gibberish in an insanely squeaky voice to communicate with them? When asked about your boss, does your mind go to your cat? Does a considerable percentage of your income go to cat care?
No, there’s nothing wrong with you. Cats rule, so this is all expected and normal. Not to alienate the cat haters out there, but there’s really something wrong with you if a cat doesn’t manage to worm its way into your heart before melting it completely.
Yes, I’m a huge sucker for cats. I have eight. We were only supposed to have three, but then suddenly we had eight. It wasn’t really that sudden, but there’s really no point in going into that and analyzing things.
As it is, they’re already expensive just with the cat food and the litter, but I still wish that I could spoil them with more stuff. I’m not really a materialistic person. Oh wait. I might be, but not in its usual connotation. I don’t have many clothes or shoes. I’m not hankering for the usual luxuries, but I’m a collector (some have unkindly referred to it as hoarding) and a pack rat, so that’s still material stuff.
Anyway, I’d like for my cats to have snazzy ‘fits and ‘tumes. Okay, ‘tumes is not a thing. At least, I don’t think so. That’s just my deludedly hip way of saying “costumes.” I have cosplaying children, so it just follows (not really, but whatever) that I have cosplaying cats too.
And the toys! Few things are more entertaining than a cat playing with a toy. Have you seen them react to catnip? So adorable. Anyway, my cats do have some toys, but I quickly learned that they didn’t need store-bought stuff for their play. So many items readily available at home are a thrill for them.
If you have these at home, then you can give your fave felines a good time at zero cost.
- Cardboard box – There’s nothing like a cat with a box. This is an excellent treat for your pet. Not only can she curl up in it, she can also use it as a scratching board. This reminds me of that video of big cats exhibiting cute cat behavior with boxes. So cute! I’m inwardly going crazy just thinking about it. (You actually lost me for quite a while here because I went to YouTube to look up said video, which led me to that mountain lion that discovered how a tree swing worked, then to big cats acting like house cats, etc.)
- Balled up paper – Leave a wadded up piece of paper on the floor and your cat won’t be able to resist batting it around. It’s especially cute when cats act as though the thing is also attacking them. Actually? They’d probably do that to any small item they find on the floor. I was going to do hair tie next, but it basically works on the same principle.
- String or ribbon – Is there anything more fun than capturing a dangling piece of string or ribbon? Maybe a cardboard box or balled up paper. Still, you can have so much fun watching your cat obsess over catching that string. She may be domesticated, but the apex predator is always lurking underneath that spoiled, overfed cutie, just waiting to pounce on some hapless ribbon or candy wrapper your children couldn’t be bothered to throw in the trash can.
If you can afford it, go ahead and spoil your cat with stuffies, rattles, tunnels, fake fish bowls, etc. If you can’t afford it, however, it’s all good. That’s the catch in cat toys. Pay good money for a toy and the cat will choose to play with the box it came in.
Essentially, your house is your cat’s playground and everything in it is a potential toy. If she feels like it. So, don’t sweat it. The above items and so many more seemingly innocuous household items will serve in a pinch.
What non-toy is your cat’s favorite plaything? I’m so afraid that somebody will answer “roach.”
Speaking of toys, here’s a fun little reel from my cats to you! Oh, and if you’re on Instagram, I’ll be so thankful if you follow them.
This Small Life 