A cat dancer is a stiff piece of wire with little cardboard pieces on the end. One rolled up piece on one end, and 3 or 4 rolled up pieces on the other end. I keep ours coiled up when it's put away, so it's nice and bouncy when I bring it out. Terry will only let me play with it and Tubby for a little while because he says Tubby is old and can't handle all that excitement. I think it's good for Tubby to be getting the excecise and to be excited about something for a bit.