The playfulness of kittens is irresistible. Crouching and pouncing on wobbly little legs, they chase each other and tumble in heaps, biting faces, paws and whatever they can get a-hold of with their sharp little teeth. Though it looks like play, the kittens are actually at work -- honing their survival skills as hunters. Once those skills are sharpened, felines don't seem to play as much… reserving their crouch and pounce behaviors for the real thing.

For most housecats, the real thing doesn't come along very often. They are at risk of becoming bored or crotchety couch potatoes. Doris Dingle's Crafty Cat Activity Book (Alaska Northwest Books, Seattle, WA. 1991. $12.95) can help remedy that. It tells how to create inexpensive, home-made, toys and games that will turn even the most crotchety senior cat into a kitten again. Take Bathtub Jai Alai, for example. Just pop a ping pong ball into an empty bathtub and let your cat go at it. My cat swats the ball, then dashes to the tub drain hole and puts her paw in it to block the ball from lodging there and scoring a "goal." If the ball gets to the hole first my cat throws a fit just like a real goalie might. Bathtub Jai Alai is good for at least 10 minutes of vigorous exercise for her and laughs for me! Another fun game is to wad up old newspaper or catalog pages and toss them a few inches over your cat's head into an empty box. My cat loves this game and now she can even catch mosquitoes on the fly!

A simple toy with a feather or bag of catnip tied onto the end of a long wire or fishing pole will please many cats. Drag the feather along the floor, varying speed and direction, to give the cat a chance to crouch, pounce and chase. Create some challenge - she'll get bored if it's too easy to catch the "prey" - and let her experience the thrill of success, too. Build her confidence and praise her. In no time at all your calm, sophisticated cat will be bouncing around like a kitten.

All of the toys and games in Dingle's book are easy enough for the most lazy or fumble-fingered person to create. Following her directions, I took a small cardboard box, cut mouse hole flaps on the sides and put a ping-pong ball inside (any "mystery" object will do). My cat quickly became obsessed with getting that ball out of the box. When she'd finally succeed in getting it out, I'd just pop the ball back in the box and she'd have another go!

To keep your cat interested in her toys, it's a good idea to stash them in a box and put it away when playtime is over. When it comes time to play again, she'll start getting excited as soon as you head for the toy box!

Doris Dingle knows that loving your cat is one thing: keeping her mind active is another. Check out the book, or invent your own games. With a regular play period each day, your cat will remain as playful as a kitten. You'll have fun, improve her health, agility and stamina - and strengthen the bond you already share.