Cats are naturally very active creatures that love to run, chase, jump and pounce. While a healthy cat usually gets plenty of exercise going about their day, a home environment with lots of opportunity for play is also essential for keeping them physically and mentally healthy. According to the Blue Cross, this is especially important for indoor cats, who don’t get the activity and mental stimulation of the outdoors. 

Don’t worry – cats don’t require toys with a hefty price tag. In fact, virtually anything can be an inexpensive toy for your furry friend. They can find joy in cardboard boxes, discarded newspapers and even ice cubes. So take a look around the house, use your imagination, and you’ll realise that there are plenty of cat exercise and play ideas that won’t cost you a penny! 

Here are seven free and fun games for cats to get you started…

1. Play “piggies in a blanket”

Cats love nothing more than to chase and pounce. Give them something to chase by sliding your hand underneath a blanket, and they'll be on the hunt in no time. If the claws are out, a thin blanket might not be enough to protect your fingers from scratches. If need be, use a stuffed animal or other object to protect your fingers from your fierce predator.

2. Toss crumpled pieces of paper

According to the PDSA, cats love batting at something that moves easily across the floor, such as a ball. Lightweight objects that can go far with just a small pat are best, so don't recycle that junk mail just yet; crumple it up and roll it in front of your cat instead. They'll likely bat it across the floor, chase it down and swat it away again. Your cat might even start "fetching" it and bringing it back to you to throw again and again and again.

3. Let your cat “read” the newspaper

Like with the blanket, you can move an object around under the paper (a spoon, pencil or chopstick) and watch it become an irresistible target for your cat! Or you can tent the paper and let your cat hide underneath while you walk by dragging a wand toy. Attack!

4. Bag it

There's something about a crinkly brown paper bag that can keep a cat entertained for days. It’s an ideal spot to hide until the perfect opportunity to pounce presents itself, and playing with small toys inside a paper bag keeps the fun going far longer. It's always a good idea to make holes on both sides of the bag and the bottom, just in case your cat tips the bag on top of themselves, so there’s no danger of them getting trapped inside.

5. Totally tubular

This cat workout takes a little DIY effort on your part, but you can do it! Here’s how to create a fun tube toy for your cat:

• Take a small box, like a shoebox or empty tissue box with the lid cut out.
• Add empty toilet roll tubes so they're standing vertically in the box (you'll need about a dozen to fill it).
• The tubes will end up all over the house! So if you’re not ok with that, use a hot glue gun to glue them together.

Now it's time to play! You can cut small holes out of the opposite end of the box and stick a toy through different holes for the cat to try to catch (think whack-a-mole) or you can put treats in the tubes and let your cat work to get them out. For cats who love their food and find this too easy, you can block the tubes with small crumpled up pieces of paper or cloth to challenge their hunting skills.

6. Ice, ice baby

Play a little ice hockey with your cat by sitting on a tile or linoleum floor and batting an ice cube back and forth. First one to score wins!