Ways to Keep YOUR Cat Amused

Going to share some more ideas from my friend, Colin. There are easy ways to keep your cat amused and hard ways. Here's what he has to say.

A cat is an unique creature, as such all cats need unique entertainment. Below you will find a few helpful hints to aid you in entertaining a cat.

The lazy way:
A pool of catnip. If your cat likes catnip (what cat doesn’t?), a liberal amount of catnip will keep him or her entertained for hours.

The normal way:
A toy that you toss to your cat, he bats it around until he get bored and decides to take the toy to another room. The next step involves you running after the cat in a vain attempt to recover the toy. Don’t lose hope, you will get the toy back once your cat grows bored again.

A harder way:
Devise an elaborate maze to send a cat toy through, build it while your cat supervises and knocks things over. Don’t stop her, she’s having more fun than she will when the maze is complete.

The hard way:
Set fragile objects along various tables, sprinkle catnip around each object. Lure your cat near one of the objects with a toy, then sit back and watch as your cat enjoys tossing the objects off the tables.
Make sure you remove the broken objects before your cat plays with them again.

Thanks for reading. Please feel free to share any ideas you have about keeping a cat entertained.

Thanks, Colin!  You can read more of his great blogs at Mageowl's Blog. I'm sure he'd love to hear from you.

Marion Lovato is the author of Sam, the Superkitty.  Her book describes an ordinary cat changing into a superhero to protect his family from things that go bump in the night.  Available on Amazon as a paperback or Kindle edition.  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1604588667

4 Cheapskate Ways to Play With Your Cat

Our topics of conversation the past weeks have been about playing with your cat. There are four different kinds of play dates that describe how your cat likes to play. Your cat is friendly, lazy, bossy, or shy when it comes to the way they play. And, of course, they play with weird things rather than the wonderful new toy you found at the store. They'd rather play with the box! Would like to share some ideas from my friend, Colin Noel-Johnson, about cheap ways to play with your cat. Here's Colin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tonight I’m going to reveal four lost or no cost ways to play with your cat… perfect for any cheapskate or a laugh, your choice.

1. Get an extra long shoelace, put it in your shoe skewed to one side. Next walk or run past your cat and continue through your home.
Note: While a low cost option, this may result in bodily harm to you depending on how strong your cat is.

2. With the same long shoelaces, tie your shoes in front of your cat.
Note: This option will not result in major bodily harm, however you may experience bleeding on your fingers.

3. Grow your hair long, your cat will just love it!
Note: This option is also portable. Safety glasses are recommended. If your cat has extra sharp claws you can also portray Vincent Van Gogh.

4. Last but not least, an empty box with a cheap cat toy tossed inside can never go wrong.

Thanks for reading! Do you have any cheap ways to play with your cat? I’d love to hear them!

Colin writes a great blog! Please check out his writing at  Mageowl's Blog.

Marion Lovato is the author of Sam, the Superkitty.  Her book describes an ordinary cat changing into a superhero to protect his family from things that go bump in the night.  Available on Amazon as a paperback or Kindle edition.  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1604588667

Answers to: What Kind of a Play Date is YOUR Cat?

So what kind of play date is your cat? If your answers were mostly A's, your kitty is outgoing, amicable, and usually up for a good time. Mostly B answers tell you that you cat enjoys your company, but she REALLY enjoys her naps. Mostly C's indicate that your cat doesn't play by the rules! She makes the rules. (You probably already know that!) Finally, D answers show that the shy play date enjoys some interaction but isn't the one to initiate it.

1. You pull out the feathered wand toy and invite your cat to play. How does she react?

     a. She eagerly looks at you, ready to cut loose!
     b. She ignores you from behind closed eyelids.
     c. She sees you, spurns your invitation, and begins playing with a different toy.
     d. She looks interested and will join you after some coaxing and perhaps some baby talk.

2. Which human game would your cat most enjoy?

     a. Charades: She's incredibly animated and likes to have fun.
     b. Checkers: She'd mostly like lying beside the board and batting the playing pieces.
     c. Simon Says: She's always Simon, of course.
     d. Hide-and-Seek: She prefers the hiding to the seeking.

3. You return home from an outing. How does your cat greet you?

     a. She meows and rubs against your leg, noticeably happy for your return.

     b. She doesn't budge from her favorite lounging spot. After all, she just saw you a few hours ago.

     c. She runs into the kitchen demanding food.

     d. She carefully watches you from afar and joins you when she's ready.

4. How does your sleeping cat react when you pet her?

     a. She replies with the most adorable noises and stretches.
     b. She remains firmly planted in Snoozeville.
     c. She makes irritated sounds, telling you to leave her alone.
     d. She peeks at you with one eye, then curls up and goes back to sleep.

5. If your cat were a professional athlete, what would her nickname be?

     a. The Purr-minator: a competitor but always out for a good time.

     b. The Slugger: breaking multiple records for her slug imitations.

     c. General Na-paw-leon or simply the General: known for her controlling behavior on and off the field.

     d. Hide-y-Klum: can never be reached for interviews.

6. What would your cat's Monopoly strategy be?

     a. To engage you in a game of batting hotels back and forth.
     b. To see how much of the board she could cover with her entire body.
     c. To put all the playing pieces under the sofa and then stare at you until you retrieve them.
     d. To climb under the box's lid.

7. What's your cat's secret weapon "move" that results in your full attention every time?

     a. Pawing playfully at you and giving that irresistible "Puss-in-Boots" look.

     b. Rolling over and exposing her sweet belly.

     c. Incessant meowing and knocking things over.

     d. Curling into a tight ball and pulling her little paw over her face.

What results did you end up with? My Kirby is a friendly play date, but my Sammy is a shy play date. Makes sense since they're so different in personalities. Look forward to hearing your results!

Marion Lovato is the author of Sam, the Superkitty.  Her book describes an ordinary cat changing into a superhero to protect his family from things that go bump in the night.  Available on Amazon as a paperback or Kindle edition.  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1604588667

What Kind of Play Date is YOUR Cat?

We've been talking about playing with your cat and some of the weird things they like to play with. For example, the box the new toy came in rather than the toy itself! So what kind of play date is your cat? Choose an answer for each question and find out next week how your cat rates.

1. You pull out the feathered wand toy and invite your cat to play. How does she react?

     a. She eagerly looks at you, ready to cut loose!
     b. She ignores you from behind closed eyelids.
     c. She sees you, spurns your invitation, and begins playing with a different toy.
     d. She looks interested and will join you after some coaxing and perhaps some baby talk.

2. Which human game would your cat most enjoy?

     a. Charades: She's incredibly animated and likes to have fun.
     b. Checkers: She'd mostly like lying beside the board and batting the playing pieces.
     c. Simon Says: She's always Simon, of course.
     d. Hide-and-Seek: She prefers the hiding to the seeking.

3. You return home from an outing. How does your cat greet you?

     a. She meows and rubs against your leg, noticeably happy for your return.

     b. She doesn't budge from her favorite lounging spot. After all, she just saw you a few hours ago.

     c. She runs into the kitchen demanding food.

     d. She carefully watches you from afar and joins you when she's ready.

4. How does your sleeping cat react when you pet her?

     a. She replies with the most adorable noises and stretches.
     b. She remains firmly planted in Snoozeville.
     c. She makes irritated sounds, telling you to leave her alone.
     d. She peeks at you with one eye, then curls up and goes back to sleep.

5. If your cat were a professional athlete, what would her nickname be?

     a. The Purr-minator: a competitor but always out for a good time.

     b. The Slugger: breaking multiple records for her slug imitations.

     c. General Na-paw-leon or simply the General: known for her controlling behavior on and off the field.

     d. Hide-y-Klum: can never be reached for interviews.

6. What would your cat's Monopoly strategy be?

     a. To engage you in a game of batting hotels back and forth.
     b. To see how much of the board she could cover with her entire body.
     c. To put all the playing pieces under the sofa and then stare at you until you retrieve them.
     d. To climb under the box's lid.

7. What's your cat's secret weapon "move" that results in your full attention every time?

     a. Pawing playfully at you and giving that irresistible "Puss-in-Boots" look.

     b. Rolling over and exposing her sweet belly.

     c. Incessant meowing and knocking things over.

     d. Curling into a tight ball and pulling her little paw over her face.

Check next week for the results! Is your cat a friendly, lazy, bossy, or shy play date? Depends on your answers.

Marion Lovato is the author of Sam, the Superkitty.  Her book describes an ordinary cat changing into a superhero to protect his family from things that go bump in the night.  Available on Amazon as a paperback or Kindle edition.  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1604588667