How to keep a cat entertained for hours

[foxgrrl]

So, I'm cat-sitting for some friends of mine, and the kitty wants attention, lots and lots of attention. And I don't have hours and hours to spend playing with this cat. I've been taking it out for short walks in the morning, when it's not raining. And playing with him late at night. I've discovered that his favorite toys so far are: Paper Bags, Small Boxes, and Balls of Aluminum Foil. He also likes to play tag, but I'm not that interested in chasing him around the house for very long.

So, Is there anything that doesn't takes lots of time but will keep a kitty happy?

Comments

[adularia.livejournal.com]

Laser pointer, when you're around. Small disco ball or other reflective, shiny thing in front of a light source. I don't know if you are actually interested in spending money on this cat, but there are these battery-powered plastic balls from toy stores that roll around and change direction on their own...

Joke answer: Sitting in view of the cat with your laptop and trying to type. Kitty will spend hours trying to jump on your lap. Exposed wrists that are not occupied with pettins are NOT ALLOWED EVER.

[foxgrrl]

Actually he likes to bite my feet while I sit with my laptop.

My last two cats liked to type on my keyboard too, and lay across my arms/wrists/lap whilst typing.

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

Hee hee. Willis likes to lay across my arms, lap and wrist as I type. I think he really thinks the more obstructive the better.

[iamradar.livejournal.com]

Laser pointer!

[ivy]

Laser pointer.

[luckytheevildog.livejournal.com]

get a zip tie. put one end thru, about half way up so there's a good 2 inch tail on it. then cut the loop, so there are now 3 tails. then toss it on the ground and let em at it. also that plastic seal ring from gallons of milk work as well. and... if you have a 5 inch long twist tie someplace, or one thats a bit long like that, roll it in to a curly q so there's some body to it, and give em that.

my cat goes NUTS for all of those things.

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

No offense, to you Lucky, but Julia... Don't do it. Stay away from twist ties, rubber bands, small plastic things from milk jugs. I had a friend in college who was in vet school and she used to tell me about all the things they would have to surgically remove from the bellies of cats. Bad. Bad. Bad. They will eat just about anything. Oh and string too. Bad. All this stuff can crunch up their intestines.... to say nothing of the vet bill.

[luckytheevildog.livejournal.com]

wow, well i stand corrected.

my cats been playin with that stuff for years and hasnt had any problems as of yet, so, oh well.

oh, but one thing, regrading they will eat just about anything. im gonna have to disagree with this, as my cat is extremely finicky (sp?) and wont eat anything except her food. but, he's a cat, so i kinda expect it. no?

[aazhie.livejournal.com]

some cats are smart like yours. some are just too curious or like to eat feathers and many household dangers can be a similar texture. Bored cats & other animals are more likely to eat wierd stuff

[robocoon.livejournal.com]

My cat absolutely loves the plastic rings from the top of milk/tea jugs.

[nasu-dengaku.livejournal.com]

- Hang a laser pointer from the ceiling, attach some thick paper to it to increase the surface area, and then point a fan at it. Instant semi-random motion.

- Crumple up some paper sheets into little balls and then toss near the cat.

- Buy some yarn.

[wolphin.livejournal.com]

My vote would be for a laser pointer, but if that's not available our cat loves boxes, especially if you put some bits of string through it and tie something to it to make noises. We set ours up with a box, put in bits of string on opposite sides and tied on some small plastic lids. He'd go insane leaping into the box, then leaping out again to find the noise outside before noticing the one inside was swinging.

Also anything that involves you concentrating and having to focus - using the computer, reading, soldering. Guaranteed to keep him occupied for hours in trying to take your attention away. Watching tv - never interested in you.

[tiggerfox.livejournal.com]

Get a half case of beer, take out beer ( drinking it is optional, although adds to the entertainment) put empty box on floor, enjoy!!.

Our cats love leather shoelaces. They are tough enough to take cat abuse. I tie one end to a good spring or a bundle of rubber bands, attach to ceiling and let it hang down till it is about 8" off the ground, I tie a cat toy of some sort to it and they love it. It's stretchy and lets them pull on it and swing it around.

[ilcylic.livejournal.com]

Clearly, you need to program a small robot to chase the cat.

[quorpencetta.livejournal.com]

I used to hang a shiny, feathery cat toy object from a string and attach it to the top of an open doorway. If you add a length of elastic between the string and the toy its extra fun for cats to play catch the bird. The downside is that the cat will eventually manage to remove the toy and it will have to be tied back on.

[tenbris.livejournal.com]

Cat Dancer. They run between $2 and $5 and I have never seen a cat who didn't love the hell out of it. Heck, my cat plays with it on his own even.

Good luck!

[kitten-goddess.livejournal.com]

Catnip, feathers, and scritchies!!! *ppprprrprprpr*

[eldriwolf.livejournal.com]

Things that -bounce and jump-- Danglely things in general-- spools hung from doorknobs, sheepskin or feathers on a cord, or spring, or springy rod.
You can put elastic *At the TOP* of the cord---you do not want them to be able to eat it--use cord thick enough they can chew through it...

Things to bat and/or chase...catnip mice, balls with bells or rattles, scraps of sheepskin(rubbed with catnip if you like), smallish stuffed toys to wrestle and kill, spots of light(laser pointers. disco balls ,crystals in the sun.

Things to watch... mice in a cage, (some mice even *like* to tease cats!) fish tanks, bird feeders outside a window---some cats watch TV...

Mystery--boxes with small holes, perhaps with a bigger than the hole ball/toy inside

[dv-girl.livejournal.com]

'feeder mice' are very cheap at most reptile stores.

2 words

[ff00ff.livejournal.com]

Laser Pointer.