Pet expert Arden Moore shows several purrrfect ways to pamper a finicky cat, and best of all her ideas are very inexpensive.
- A great toy to for keeping a cat occupied is to cut out the plastic lining of a tissue box and drop a few golf or Ping Pong balls inside (figure A).
- Cut a hole in the underside of a paper bag (figure B). Use a shoelace or other long string (an old string toy is perfect) and go "fishing" with your cat. Try to entice the cat to chase the toy into the paper bag. The best way to pamper a cat is with your time and attention.
- Another homemade toy can be made with a potato-chip clip and 24-gauge steel wire (available at hardware stores). Attach fabric or a discarded soft toy to one end of the wire and the other wire end to the clip (use pliers to press in any loose wire ends). Act as a marionette for your cat or clip the toy to the counter and watch in amusement.
- Pamper your cat by giving it a mini-massage and a mini-sauna. Spritz a thick towel with water and put it in the dryer for 10 to 15 minutes until it's toasty. Wrap the cat in the towel to aid in relaxation, blood circulation and joint flexibility. Massage the cat with a hand-over-hand rub down the length of the body, then use the thumb and the forefinger to gently rub the spine.
- Catnip is a great idea after a long day for both you and your cat. Sprinkle dried catnip on a scratching post to get your cat frisky and excited. Believe it or not, catnip tea for a person is both minty and relaxing (steep as you would any dried tea). When it's time to relax, your cat will have played itself into a calm state, so you both can settle in for the evening.
