While you’re away from the house, your cats will probably spend their time sleeping. In fact, on average cats spend about 17 hours a day snoozing. However, if you’re worried that your cats will be bored or lonely while you’re absent, you can keep them occupied with home-alone toys and activities. Not only are these entertaining, but toys help recharge a lethargic cat and tone down the energy level of a frantic youngster. Here is a rundown of some of my cats’favorite playthings:
Cat swat toy. Take an old shoelace from a pair of sneakers. Tie one of your cat’s favorite toys on one end and wrap the other end around an interior doorknob so that the toy dangles about 4 or 5 inches off the floor. Most cats can’t resist walking by this toy without giving it a good swat.
Nothing to sneeze at. Think of this homemade toy as the Rubik’s Cube for cats. Take an empty tissue box and insert a Ping Pong ball inside. Your cat will spend hours trying to fish out this rolling sphere from the narrow opening. It’s a real cat teaser, and it gives a second life to a dispensable item.
Kitty treasure hunt. Before you leave for work in the morning, take five or six of your cat’s favorite toys — catnip mice, paper wads, shoelaces, whatever — and hide them around your house. Hide a few treats, too. Great hiding spots include under the couch, behind a pillow, and on the windowsill. Play this game with your cat a few times so that she gets the idea. Then, once she is ready to go solo, always praise her for the booty that she finds when you come home. My cats like to dump their found loot next to the scratching post in the living room.
Cat’s in the bag. Place a brown paper shopping bag on its side on the floor of your living room or dining room. Be sure tocut off the handles so your cat won’t accidentally choke. Just before you head out for work, sprinkle a teaspoon of fresh or dried catnip inside the bag, far in the bag. Your cat’s super scenting ability will drive her right into the bag for fun. A sweep of the broom or a quick vacuuming will clean up the mess in seconds.
Cardboard box. Cats like nothing better than to cozy up inside a small area. Stick a medium-sized cardboard box on the floor when you leave. When you get home, don’t be surprised if your cat is snoozing inside with some of her favorite toys that she’s stowed in with her. My cat Callie lives for cardboard boxes. Separated from her mother at two weeks old and found wandering the streets of Miami, Callie was never weaned. So, she loves to chew on the cardboard box and spit out the pieces, littering the floor. My vet has checked her teeth (tartar-free) and says this is a harmless pastime for a slightly neurotic cat.

Cats love to explore any cavelike structure. For hours of home-alone entertainment, leave a paper shopping bag on the floor for your cats. Toss a teaspoon of catnip in the bag before you leave the house.
Fish aquarium. Cats can spend hours watching fish weave back and forth inside a tank. Make sure that the aquarium’s lid is securely attached to avoid any cat pawing episodes. And place the aquarium in a sturdy location to avoid any tipping-over incidents.
Light and sound show. Set your lights and radio on timers so that your cat will hear sounds and see lights coming on and off to make her feel more at ease.
The catnip sock. This is the easiest cat toy ever. Fill an old cotton sock with tissue paper and a pinch of dried catnip leaves. Tie the open end of the sock into a knot. Give it to your cat just before you leave. She’ll spend hours batting the sock about the house.

Toys to Avoid
These toys are unsafe for your cats:
Plastic bags with handles
Twist-ties for plastic bags; cats love to play with them, but if accidentally swallowed, twist-ties can cause serious damage to a cat’s throat and stomach.
Soft foam balls that shred easily
Toys with itty-bitty parts or glued-on pieces that can be swallowed
Empty cellophane cigarette wrappers, which can cause choking
Coins
             Dental floss
Kitty Tetherball
You can buy one of these clip-on toys or make your own. The lightness of the wire makes the attached fabric ball move erratically, drawing the curiosity of your predator-minded cat. If you opt to make it yourself, just follow these easy steps:
1. Cut a piece of fabric 10 inches square. Fill the center with cotton balls or batting and tie the ends closed with sturdy thread.
2. Cut a 3-foot-long piece of 22-gauge steel wire (available for under $5 at your local hardware store). Attach one end of the wire to the cotton-filled fabric. Use heavy thread to secure its attachment.
3. Attach the other end of the wire through the hole in the handle of a plastic potato-chip-bag clip. Use needle-nose pliers to fasten it snugly so that there are no pointed ends. Connect the clip to a doorjamb or edge of a sturdy piece of furniture.