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31st Oct 2007
1. Find an old cotton sock and fill it with cotton balls. Tie it tightly at one end with a piece of cotton string and dangle it in front of your cat. Pull it away as he goes to grab it, but make sure you let him catch a few times so that he can feel like a successful predator!
Optional: Spray some catnip inside the sock.
2. Get a small container (preferably an empty plastic milk bottle) and fill it with dry food or treats. Make 3 - 4 holes around the bottle, big enough for a little bit of the treat to fall out. Your little friend will have fun rolling it around and eating the treats!
3. Get a small plastic container and fill it with dry beans. Roll it along the floor for your pussy cat to chase it!
4. Turn off the lights and shine a torch or flashlight on a nearby wall. Dangle some a toy mouse in front of the light and move it back and forth so its shadow races up and down the wall. Your cheeky cat will leap up at the wall trying to catch the mouse’s shadow!
5. Teach your dog to play ‘hide and go seek’! Walk away from your dog till you are out of sight. Call him/her to you and be very excited when you see him/her. Repeat this and make it more difficult by hiding behind walls or furniture.
6. How smart is your pooch? Get 3 dark cups and put a ball under one of them. Mix the cups up in front of your doggy and when he chooses the correct cup give him/her a treat! Your doggy will get smarter while having fun!
7. For your pet parrot – imitate him stretching and get him to imitate you, like raising your arm in the air. This is called the “I can do that too!” game.
8. Guinea Pigs are playful little pets, you can play treat games by hiding food (high quality hay) inside toilet paper or paper towel spools and get them to try and get it out –fun and delicious!
9. For you pet rat - try wrapping or folding a piece of paper in layers around a favorite treat; shredding and unwrapping the treat will keep your rat busy for a while!
10. Another fun free game is the paper grocery bag! Few cats can resist an empty paper bag..! Place the bag sideways and when your cat explores the bag, scratch and move your fingernails along on different parts of the bag. Your cat will try to paw your hand from inside the bag. Then take the bag and cut a few holes in the top and sides of the bag take a toy mouse and pull it in and out of the holes and watch the fun!!!
