Be creative when finding toys for your cat

I often encourage feline fanciers to stimulate play with their cats by making old toys new by either reapplying catnip or putting them away for a while. Then, when they reappear, they are new.

You should not have to work too hard to get your felines to play with interactional toys. If your cats are disinterested in anything you can buy, they just do not respond to conventional store-bought toys. What can you find for them to play with that will be safe?

Use your imagination and enter your cat’s state of mind. If you think about it and watch your cat’s behavior, you will come up with some ideas. Don’t our felines always want something to play with that they shouldn’t?

An object is always more interesting if we are saying “NO!” Now the object is a must-have. Look for creative ways to make the item safe or only allow access when you can supervise.

I have a cat that always helps me when I put away groceries. There are two things she asks for when this happens. She watches me untwist ties from the bags from the fruit and vegetable department. She tries to grab them and run away with them. She is even smart enough to know where they are kept. She tries to open the kitchen drawers and cabinets.

She enjoys the twist-ties so much I allow her to play with them when I have time to watch her, to make sure she does not run off and hide the twist for later play. Ultimately, she would chew all of the paper off, exposing the wire if I let her have it for an extended period of time.

If I come home with paper-handled shopping bags her world is complete. The handles are cut off, and she proudly claims her prize by carrying them off and putting them in her toy box. Flat-handled paper is safer because it does not unravel like twisted handles.

Forget crinkled or fuzzy store-bought toys for my paper-obsessed feline. She prefers wadded note paper balls. She will fetch nothing else. She loves the texture and the sound.

This is a harmless toy to leave out as long as you check the condition of the paper daily. She hauls these paper wads around and proudly puts them in her toy box, so she does not have to share her toys with the rest of my cats who think she is crazy because they love the expensive store-bought toys.

If your cat does not like conventional toys, keep experimenting. You will find something they like that is safe and brings out their inner kitten.

AdoptablesOzzie is a neutered, white-and-black male that is barely a year old. His fur is medium in length and he sports an elegant plume-like tail. Ths guy will follow anyone around until they lavish him with the attention he believes he needs constantly.One of our volunteers found Ozzie with his brother, Inky, in the laundry room of her apartment complex abandoned in the dark. These two were at least left where someone could find and help them.Inky is a black, short-haired male that is also neutered. Inky is shy and appears to be troubled by his abandonment. He looks to Ozzie to see if he should trust someone. That is why we are looking to adopt them as a pair at a special adoption price. We want them to be placed in their new forever home together.Bowling For BuddyWe will be bowling from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, at AMF Rolling Meadows Lanes, 3245 Kirchoff Road. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door for adults; $15 for children 12 and younger.This donation includes three games, shoes and Moretti#146;s Italian buffet. You can raise additional funds for Buddy if you get sponsors to fill out a pledge sheet. You can stop by the shelter or call us with your credit card number.You can also help by providing us with a raffle prize if you cannot attend or sponsor a lane.Ÿ Contact The Buddy Foundation at (847) 290-5806; visit us at 65 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, or online at thebuddyfoundation.org. 24323648Inky