Find out some tips to keep your indoor kitty trim and happy in an article I wrote on environmental enrichment:

http://www.critterchatter.com/topics/cats/boredCat.html

Thanks for the website. My Benny is an indoor cat exclusively but he's not aggressive or destructive.

I like to go to PetsMart at least once a week to see what's new. His best toy is a paper bag on the floor after I have emptied it of groceries. He always goes inside of it and lays down for awhile.

Reminds me of my kids when they were young. An empty box was better than any toy ever made.

How is Mr. Benny?

I adore the curiosity of a cat. They are so smart and so noisy to boot. I have never seen a bored cat and as Ladybug says they can be happy for hours with an empty grocery bag. They are however very social animals, stand-off-ish at times but they love to be held and stroked and talked to....some even talk back.

Benny is doing just great Dianne.

I also took your advice about approaching the Umbrella Cockatoo to pet him. Guess what? He recognizes me! As soon as I approached his cage this week he sidled up to the bars and said hello and automatically tilted his head for me to scratch. While I was scratching his head he said, "I love you." While my son continued to scratch his head he said, "hey sweet baby." We cracked up. We definetely want this bird.

After a little head scratching, his crest shot up and he started sreaming like a monkey and hunching his shoulders up and down perfectly mimicking one. What an entertaining and sweet bird! He's won our hearts for sure. Oh yes, he also licked my index finger. I was expecting him to bite like my niece's green parrot (not sure if it's a Conure). Her parrot draws blood and isn't sweet like Kazooie (someone at the store named him).

And yes, Chatty, Benny does talk to me. He gets a special moist meal that comes in a foil packet at noon but around 11:00 a.m. he starts coming around rubbing my legs and meowing so loud you'd swear he's trying to talk.

When I ignore it he sits there and looks up at me with that angelic face. I usually cave in and give it to him before noon.

Are you going to buy the Cockatoo? I hope so!

My Italian Greyhound smiles when people come to the house. A really big smile, showing all of her teeth.

I don't think so Dianne. I'm afraid Benny would be scared to death of him. Even though I'll be heart broken to see he's been sold I'll also feel good that someone will love him now. He's been there way too long.

I do believe dogs smile, I really do. My neighbor's beloved Mia is just a mutt but when she's sees you she wraps her upper legs around your torso in a hug. Everyone love Mia.

My cats enjoy a toy called a turbo scratcher. I bought it at Wal Mart. It also has refills to put in the center. Most cats like catnip. I grow it in the summer and dry it. Yum !