this thing, works, and it’s a toy that lets you play with the kitty.

When the cardboard tubes wear out, you can make yarn poms that work too… if you happen to know a knitter/crocheter they probably have an entire wall of yarn.

Anything similar, really… including any kind of rod and string and ball-ish thing… my time share cat

Also, if your cat likes cardboard scratchers, you can make strips from Amazon boxes, by getting a 2x4 cutting a corner off and using a screw to hold down a utility knife. Just run it down the edge to create strips.

All cats will be different, though, I had the advantage talking with the old man’s cat dad about it :)

If it’s a shelter cat, they might have an idea.