Many people know that New York Times Hunt columnist Joyce Cohen is both a excellent reporter and blogger, but probably far fewer people know that she is also an excellent maker of cat toys.

To help welcome the three of us (Cheryl, myself, and Cimbi) into our new home at Saturday's housewarming, Joyce offered to make Cimbi a Cat Dancer. The toy is made by using a large needle to thread a long piece of florists wire through four or five inch and half long pieces of cut paper bag handles. It drives the cat nuts.

Cimbi was back on her haunches swatting at the toy before it was finished. She cried wanting to play with it as Joyce made sure the wire's end was safely tucked into one of the bag handles. After completing the Cat Dancer, our small animal took off jumping and swatting in a delighted frenzy.

Cimbi has spent the past few couple days crying for Cheryl and I to play with the dancer, and sleeping with it when she tires. At night and while we are gone, Cimbi puts the end with the bag handles on her chair and dozes with her head on top of it.