There’s no need to waste money on expensive towers or cat toys when you’ve likely got dozens of things in your house already that will keep your cat entertained. Here are ten of them.

10. The Laundry Basket

Fill it up with fresh warm clothes (if you cat isn’t a big shedder, that is) and it will be kitty’s new favorite place on Earth. Bonus if you’ve got a collapsible mesh laundry basket that you can turn sideways  for her to crawl in.

9. Feathers

Whether you’ve got craft feathers, an old dream catcher you made at camp, or a feather duster, your cat will love clawing, rawring, and batting at feathers.

8. YouTube Videos

Use a video of other cats (like lisala’s post about the surprised kitty) to amaze and excite your cat. If he isn’t interested in that, he might just be after your…

7. Computer Mouse

We’re living in a digital age, and your kitten is no exception. She may love chasing after your mouse as you move it across your desk. Or, if she’s like one of my cats, she’ll be in awe of your blinking cursor and bat at the arrow as it darts across the screen.

6. Blankets

Throw a small blanket or quilt on the floor and see what your cat will do. Chances are he’ll either A. lay on it contently and purr away the day or B. scramble beneath it and claw it from the bottom as if he’s attacking a giant squid.

5. Fish Aquariums

Not only are these household additions good for your health, they’ll also help entertain your cats! They’ll keep you calm while they drive your cats nuts. It’ll be just like watching your father watch NASCAR, only with fur flying instead of beer droplets.

4. Open Windows

If you normally keep the windows closed, try opening them for a day and see what the cat does. Many cats love to sit in an open window. The breeze, exotic sounds of nature, and the occasional squirrel or bird sighting drive them wild. If your cat really enjoys it, you might want to consider installing a small perch for him to use while he watches the action outside.

3. Scrap Carpet

If you’ve got leftover carpet from a recent installation or you’re getting new carpet soon, save a few squares for your cats. This makes excellent scratching post material. Just nail it down over the area you’d like your cats to scratch—maybe on a piece of plywood, or if you want to get creative, several stacks of plywood arranged as a tower—and gently remind him to scratch there every time he goes for your Spongebob slippers. If you have some fresh catnip, sprinkle that on the post (as well as beneath it, if you’re nailing it down) to encourage him to go there as well.

2. Baby Toys

If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a parent, it’s that most pet and baby toys are interchangeable. Sure, you buy the rattle for your tyke and the bell-filled balls for your cat—but somehow they end up switching their toys at some point with each other. Many discarded baby toys will work well for both cats and dogs.

1. You!

Yes, it sounds like a cliché—but it’s a good cliché! You are your cat’s best and favorite toy, and playing with him every day will remind you both of the fact.