For those of you who own cats, you know that the cats actually own you. They believe they are royalty (we like to call it the Cleopatra complex). So they may have you thinking they require the most exquisite and expensive toys available in the pet store to keep them happy. Well, we’re here to tell you that isn’t true! One human’s trash is a kitty’s treasure…
Mogli may be our clinic cat, but he is really our clinic Guinea Pig! Living in a clinic may seem exciting, but even Mogli isn’t entertained by the busy days of his humans. We have to come up with cat enrichment ideas for him all of the time! Here are some of the things we’ve made from simple and inexpensive objects to keep Mogli entertained…since he obviously isn’t working. SLACKER!
This is probably one of the easiest ideas for cat enrichment EVER! You know those drink carriers you get from the fast food restaurant when they think you can’t quite handle the number of drinks you have to carry? Typically, those end up in the trash or the void of your car’s back seat, right? Hang on! Sprinkle some catnip into that drink carrier and you’ve got a great cat toy! (Keep reading to see a great video of Mogli drinking up his catnip!)
One of the best sources of entertainment for any animal (including us!) is FOOD! Mogli has mastered the art of a food toy. He knows exactly where to put it so we kick all the food out for him on a busy day. But really, it makes breakfast and dinnertime much more fun than just sitting at a dish. We have tried lots of different ways of making food toys for him. The best one? All you need is a toilet paper roll, scissors, tape and your cat’s favorite treats. Watch this DIY video on how to create hours of entertainment!
When you’re coming up with some thrifty DIY ways to entertain your cats at home, always keep in mind – safety first! Never give your cat a toy that could get them stuck, give them something small to eat, or poke them with sharp corners. There are tons of creative and simple ways to entertain your cat…we’re smarter than we look, felines!