Cats like a variety of toys to play with, some seem to get bored easily with the same toy. Cats are playful creatures, its seems they will play with most anything. You can even make cat toys out of yarn or little plastic balls. If you use yarn make sure the ends are tied tightly so the cat does not choke on it. Same with ribbons.

Toys recommend by: The Dumb Friends League/The Humane Society of The United States:

Active Toys:

• Round plastic shower curtain rings, which are fun either as a single ring to bat around, hide, or carry, or when linked together and hung in an enticing spot.

• Plastic balls, with or without bells inside.

• Ping-Pong balls and plastic practice golf balls with holes, to help cats carry them. Try putting one in a dry bathtub, as the captive ball is much more fun than one that escapes under the sofa. You'll probably want to remove the balls from the bathtub before bedtime, or you may lose some sleep, as two o'clock in the morning seems to be a prime time for this game.

• Paper bags with any handles removed. Paper bags are good for pouncing, hiding, and interactive play. Plastic bags are not a good idea, as many cats like to chew and ingest the plastic.

• Sisal-wrapped toys, which are very attractive to cats that tend to ignore soft toys.

• Empty cardboard tubes from toilet paper and paper towels, made even more fun if you "unwind" a little cardboard to get them started.

Comfort Toys:

• Soft stuffed animals, which are good for several purposes. For some cats, the stuffed animal should be small enough to carry around. For cats who want to wrestle with the toy, the stuffed animal should be about the same size as the cat. Toys with legs and a tail seem to be even more enticing to cats.

• Cardboard boxes, especially those a little too small for your cat to really fit into.

Catnip:

• Catnip-filled soft toys are fun to kick, carry, and rub. Catnip is not addictive and is perfectly safe for cats to roll in, rub in, or eat.

• Plain catnip can be crushed and sprinkled on the carpet or, for easier cleanup, on a towel placed on the floor. Catnip oils will often stay in the carpet, and although they're not visible to us, your cat will still be able to smell them.

• Catnip sprays rarely have enough power to be attractive to cats.

• Not all cats are affected by catnip. Some cats may become over-stimulated to the point of aggressive play and others may become relaxed.

• Kittens under six months old seem to be immune to catnip.

Get The Most Out of Toys

• Rotate your cat's toys weekly by making only a few available at a time. Keep a variety of types easily accessible. If your cat has a favorite, like a soft "baby" that she loves to cuddle with, you may want to leave that one out all the time.

• Provide toys that offer a variety of uses-at least one toy to carry, one to wrestle with, one to roll, and one to "baby."

• "Hide and Seek" is a fun game for cats to play. "Found" toys are often much more attractive than a toy which is obviously introduced.

• Many of your cat's toys should be interactive. Interactive play is very important for your cat because he needs active "people time" -and such play also enhances the bond between you and your pet. Cats generally engage in three types of play-"fishing, flying, and chasing"-and all types are much more engaging for cats when you are part of them.