Anyone who has ever lived with a cat knows that they like to be entertained. Lots of them like to amuse themselves at 3AM. If you value your sleep or your cat has decided that you are a great hunting target, you may want to spend some time rescheduling and redirecting your kitty’s predatory behavior.
Cat toys don’t have to be expensive. Anything that seems even remotely animated is fair game to a cat. You can tie a piece of crumpled up paper or an old sock to a shoelace and drag it so it leaps and jumps across the floor. When you get packages in the mail, rip off any loose tape and throw the box on the floor. It’s almost guaranteed that your cat will emerge from wherever she’s hiding to investigate that box. Paper grocery bags are another big hit with the feline set. After your cat gets inside, scratch the bottom of the bag and watch her flail about in there. You can even use the beam of light from a flashlight as a toy. Cats love to chase the light across the floor. One toy to avoid however is you. Never wave your fingers or hands in front of your cat in a playful manner. If your cat considers your hands a plaything, she may get into the habit of scratching or biting you.
Another source of kitty amusement can be another cat. Although keeping up with two kittens or cats can be rough on the local human at first, two cats can keep each other company. Whether you know it or not, they’ll probably be roaring around your house, chasing each other with tremendous feline zeal while you’re away at work.
Playing with your cat can be a great stress reliever for you and great exercise for your cat. If you’ve been feeling harried or your corpulent cat is starting to resemble a fire hydrant, find some time to play.