But what about play time? Most of us would play all day if we could, so we’re really appreciative of any dedicated play time you can give us. Make a point to schedule play time with your cat for the same time every day – that way he or she will have something to look forward to while you’re off bringing home the bacon!

Tailer is a cat from Sweden. You can follow him on Twitter here.

Attach the string to the wire, the feather to the other end of the string and make it dance in front of your cat. Then pull the feather around the room until he catches it.

Another idea is to use a sack or medium cardboard box. Put some light material, like a sheet over it, leaving enough space for your cat to slink under it into the box. Tap on the closed end of the sack or box and then the side, then the back again. Do this for awhile and your cat will be tuckered out from trying to catch the sound.

An old sock that smells like you works wonders, too. Add catnip and tie it off – your cat gets two smells in one.

If you cat IS finicky, try out each of the types of toys – you’re sure to pique his interest with one of them.

Kelly is a dog columnist and pet writer. She lives in the Boston-area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat.

Toys that require your interaction with your cat are great for bonding. Feathers on the end of a string on a pole is a great toy as is a laser toy. Treat balls also are fun. Playing also keeps your cat’s hunting skills in shape in case he needs to get that annoying fly.

Kelly is a dog columnist and pet writer. She lives in the Boston-area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat.

There are products available that you can spray on your furniture to deter your cat. No-Scratch and Bitter Apple are nontoxic and don’t damage fabric or wood. Scratch Strips which are sticky like tape, are unpleasant to cats. There’s also an electronic alarm that startles your cat when he comes close, claws extended. If you have a particularly diligent cat, there are slip covers. You can always remove the shredded specimen, or your cat, when company comes over.

Kelly is a dog columnist and pet writer. She lives in the Boston-area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat.

It’s easy to create a safe, outdoor enclosure on your porch or lawn so you can finally feel the wind in your fur. Complete with zippered doors, nylon netting for ventilation and visibility, and weight bags for stability, the Funhouse is tougher than it looks. It’s even safe for small dogs that need a temporary space or a breath of fresh of air, too. Find it at 
www.amazon.com/Feline-Funhouse.

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- Rotate your cat’s toys daily to keep her visually stimulated and interested in playing with them.

- Fulfill your cat’s hunting desire through daily play sessions with a feather wand, or other toys that allow your kitty to stalk and catch imaginary prey.

- Play a DVD created just for cats, like “Kitty Cat Daycare” or “Video Catnip,” which were produced to capture feline interest with images of birds and other small mammals.

Maryann Mott is a pet journalist and author. Her books and articles can be found at Petwriter.com and you can follow her on Twitter here.

Go to the pet store and buy the most highly recommended cat toy you can find. Don’t even try to pick it out yourself. Dog people will pick up a useless rope tug toy or a big heavy kong. Let the salesperson guide you. (And do not be cheap. Heaven forbid Kitty chokes on your cheap chicken feather covered scrap.) Then, enter softly, rustle the bag, and whisper, “Who’s your daddy?” as you bring out that catnip toy on a fly fishing rod. Bet you’ll have that cat eating out of your hand in no time.

Helen Fazio and her dog Raja are world travelers. Click here to visit their blog, click here to follow them on Twitter.

Why does this simple herb have such a hold on cats? There is a chemical in catnip that mimics the effects of a pheromone. It is nontoxic to cats and has some good uses – it can act as a stimulant and encourage activity, it can be used in training, and, for some cats, it actually mellows them out.

Of course, if your cat is climbing the walls or trying to fly, you might want to cut back for awhile.

For those of us who like to hit up a little catnip every now and then (and keep in mind that’s only about 60% of us), we like it fresh. So if you’ve got a bag of old stuff in the closet that’s been there for several months… toss it and buy some new stuff. Such an action will be highly appreciated.

So my human buddy will sometimes take one and attach it to a string and then tie it to a doorknob, so that I can lie on my back underneath and bat the heck out of it. Purrty fun!

Just make sure that you don’t tie up anything that has any closed loops or circles of fabric that you can get stuck in. Stick to soft fabric balls or little stuffed animal thingies.

OK! Can’t stick around! Lots of playing to do – see ya!