Kittens and cats love to play to satisfy their natural curiosity and chase instinct. The good news: Kitten toys are easy to make!

Cut a piece of rope for starters, and then experiment. Tie a knot around a small piece of paper to make a butterfly. Upgrade to an empty toilet paper roll or a worn-out hair scrunchy. Collect feathers to tie on in place of paper.

Go on a cat toy scavenger hunt around the house, and you will be amazed at what goodies you may find. Besides chasing string toys, kittens love to bat things around. Try pingpong balls, dice, poker chips and plastic container caps on a slippery floor.

Animal behavior experts Susan and Rolan Tripp are the authors of "On Good Behavior." For more information, visit their Web site at AnimalBehavior.net.