My Favorites to keep your cats occupied with

 This post is needed in this household though since adopting Maya (click HERE if you missed it). Just like the Bee Maya that she’s named after, she is a busy bee. With our old cats, we had become lazy and pretty much packed most of their toys away because they just didn’t care about them anymore. The new young family member needs to be occupied 24/7 so she leaves the old ones alone.

Today I want to talk about some of my favorites that have worked for us. Some are free and some are bought. So let’s get to it.

“The Ripple Rug”

(click HERE)

This one was recommended to me by someone on Instagram when I had asked the question about what to keep your cats occupied with. Maya loves this odd rug and when you read the reviews you can see how many other cats love it. There are even movies of cats using it.

I placed ours over our living room rug for now because she kept trying to sharpen her claws on my favorite rug. This solved the problem for now.

But she also loves just playing on it, crawling inside it, sticking toys in the holes and just clawing at it.

And she loves sleeping on it too. It was really worth the money for her.

iPad and Friskies Fishing App

This one is definitely also one of Maya’s favorites. She was immediately attracted to my phone and iPad when we adopted her and I downloaded her the Friskies Fishing App (click HERE it’s free). She now thinks that when I’m on the iPad that she needs to be involved. I shared a movie of it in my Instastories lately and people loved it. The only thing I wish they would change on the game is that it wouldn’t have levels and just continue to play without me having to turn it on over and over again.

As you could see in the above photo. She also loves when I put the iPad inside the Ripple Rug so she can hunt the fish through the carpet holes. It’s so silly to watch.

Lasers

Laser pointer (human help required 😉

(click HERE)

All of our cats have always loved it when we used the laser pointers to play with them. It’s just one of the best toys ever.

“The Bolt” Laser stand (no human help required)

(click HERE)

I bought this one a couple of weeks ago when Maya was still confined to the master bedroom and it does it’s own thing. It eliminates you having to hold a laser. She loves it too and runs to it when she hears it getting turned on. It’s definitely a great toy.

You Tube

Yes you definitely read this correctly. I used to have a cat DVD but we don’t even have a DVD player anymore. I use our smart TVs or apple TVs to play youtube for the kitties. There are many great channels depending on what the kitties like. The above video plays for two hours and they were loving it.

It’s odd because they can just go outside in their enclosure and watch real birds but they prefer to watch TV most of the time.

This one HERE is the one they are watching in the photos. HERE and HERE are some more videos for you to start with. Let me know if you find any other great ones.

Did you notice that Lucy let baby Maya sit next to her. That usually never happens. She hates her but apparently lets her watch TV with her.

This old lady loves her TV shows. I put a bar stool a little further away too but she didn’t want it 😉 she wants front row.

String Toys on a Stick

human help required

(click HERE)

Maya loves these and I usually play with her for a little with one of these or the laser in bed right before we go to sleep.

(click HERE)

Our cat enclosure aka “Catio”

(click HERE to see it if you are new to my blog, also find another great cat HERE and HERE)

I don’t think I need to say much about why they love this part of our home especially now that the days are getting warmer and nicer. Nothing beats being lazy in a sunny spot outside or sitting next to the grill while we are cooking out. It just so happens that the grill is right next to one of the tunnels and occasionally they get a piece of meat too of course.

Cat tree

I have never shared this one on the blog because to me it’s an eyesore. I built this cat tree 17 years ago after cutting down a tree in the woods. I don’t even know what type of tree it was. All I do know is that the bark peeled off like a banana peel. It couldn’t have been easier to take off. Then I cut out pieces of plywood and attached them to the branches with metal hardware that was later hidden by sisal rope. The upper hiding spot was a piece I had bought separately at the pet store.

As you can see our cats have loved it a lot over the years and the rope needs to be replaced again to keep Maya’s claws occupied and my furniture happy.

Maya hasn’t been interested in our furniture at all but she loves area rugs which is why I bought her the above “ripple rug“.

Maya sleeps all the way on top of the tree every night.

(If DIYing isn’t your thing then you can find a great tree HERE, HERE or HERE)

Hair Ties and Plastic Milk Jug Tops

In the below photo you see Maya going crazy over one of my black hair ties. Needless to say I can never find any when I need to tie back my hair. She carries them around everywhere.

Cat Nip

(click HERE)

I buy it in the winter and grow it in the garden over the summer. We love cutting it down and putting a bushel into the oven at about 200 degrees so it dries slowly and smells up the entire house. Our cats go crazy and have a “rub yourself on the floor” party. And no it’s not harmful to them.

pompoms

(click HERE)

These were always our white cat Lucy’s favorite things to play with by herself. She used to play fetch and bring it right back. Now Maya has filled that roll once again and eagerly plays fetch with me. She loves these fuzzy things just as much as Lucy once did.

Circle Interactive Toys

When my cats were young they used to love these circle toys but Maya doesn’t appear to care for them as much. We have several. One like you can see in the below photo (click HERE) and another one with a scratch pad in the center.

The Crinkle Tunnel

(click HERE)

Maya was scared to death of this one when we adopted her but quickly learned that its the best thing ever. She loves running through it and jumping into it. This tunnel which makes the noise of plastic bags has been a favorite in our cat family for years.

And I’m curious, what do you guys have to add to my list? Anything else besides cardboard boxes, grocery bags, and cat grass? Maya hasn’t been into cardboard boxes the way Lucy used to be when she was younger. And I always had to keep grocery and shopping bags away from her because for some odd reason she loves eating plastic and then would throw up. Not good!

Tschüß and have a wonderful weekend.

(Youleeya)

Check out my cat enclosure posts:

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