Basically, there are five major ways cat owners can keep their cats entertained. There certainly are more (feel free to post your suggestions in the comments section!) but the following are most popular. Read on, McDuff!

#1 Catnip-Catnip is an all-natural herb. You can buy it at any pet store, herbal store, or even plant stores. It belongs to the mint plant family. Cats react to this herb through their olfactory glands. When a cat smells catnip, they go absolutely nuts!! They start sniffing things, trying to chew the plant or stuffed toy, jumping around, sliding across the floor, and just start acting like a fool. They love the feeling that comes with the catnip and you will get a kick out of watching them make a fool of themselves. It will truly be an entertaining experience. Now comes some scientific bad news. Catnip does not work on all cats. It has to do with cat genetics. Some cats are genetically immune to the effects of catnip. Some cats are genetically not immune. On average about seventy to eighty percent of cats will entertain themselves and you when they are exposed to catnip. Also cats younger than 3 months or older than 8 years usually do not react to catnip. Kittens’ olfactory glands have not yet developed enough to be affected, and senior cats’ olfactory glands have ceased to function after a certain point. They can still smell, but the chemical reaction that causes them to get “high” no longer affects them.

#2 Laser pointers: Laser pointers are an inexpensive way to keep you and your cat entertained for hours. You can buy a laser pointer at just about any toy store or electronics store - they’re really everywhere! Just bring it home and let the fun begin. She will chase that laser across the floor, into other rooms, up the wall, outside, into the dryer, around the corner, under the bed, and just about anywhere you point it. Try not to point it at other people (unless you really don’t like that person), on furniture, or anything you don’t want your feline companion to accidentally scratch or knock over. This can keep you and your cat entertained for hours, not to mention it is good exercise for your cat and good laughs for you.

And if you’re anything like me you too will enjoy playing for hours with that damned thing