my two definitely need something to expend a bit of energy, but I just dont know how much cash I can expend for them to do it!

Hi there,

I've also been thinking about an exercise wheel but not sure that my little one would use it.

My baby is now nearly 8 months old she had one at her original birth home but she didn't seem as interested in it as her brothers and sisters were.

She much prefers the hide seek games with a scatter cushion or scrunched up piece of old bubble wrap. I have put a couple of old handbag decorations on some ribbon and we spend hours together just pulling the toys under the bubble wrap while she pounces over and over again to try and catch them.

The other thing she never tires of is called a "boink" in the UK. They are tiny tubes of plastic netting which spring and bounce all over the place. I like many others have around 20 of them under every single piece of furniture in my house lol.

Let us know how you get on.

It is true that many cats do not want to use a cat wheel. Raiden got on his about 11 p.m. last night and walked on it for quite a while -- I was trying to fall asleep. Bengals love interactive play and it seems they can't get enough. I may try some bubble wrap and see if that entices mine. Last night we played "Put the baby blanket over me and I will run around like a crazy cat until I get it off me." Add a wand toy to the picture and he was happy.

Hmmm bubble wrap. I just got some the other day. I will see if they want to play with it.

Cardboard box? Invest in a good handheld hoover though... it makes all the difference :-)
THE TOY is the Da Bird thingy, it works wonders but at the rate they destroy it it ends up being expensive (I have started hand-making my own indestructible feather attachments and now they last weeks - they don't look pretty though)

We got a Maclaw Wheel (eyes water at the price) and only one of the cats uses it from time to time, well, "uses" it... she stands on it, looks up and signs "c'mon human, make it go", so as to go as fast as she can with help - just like children in a swing.
Echo actually goes on it to say "hi welcome home", trots for some seconds and jumps out... She also seems to self-medicate when she's bored, goes for a canter and jumps out.
Ishka doesn't like it at all though.

I put out a sheet of bubble wrap today and they have been attacking it and fighting over it for hours!