Like others have mentioned, flexible straws are the plaything of choice for Charlie. He fetches them–I toss it into the kitchen and he skids across the floor trying to keep it from going under the stove. Then he brings it back, and meows until I throw it again. We always have two or three straws just lying around on the floor. We think nothing of it, but visitors puzzle a bit.
Last summer, the ladies who clean my house every other week were here on a hot day, and one of them left her Coffee Coolata on the kitchen island while she went upstairs. Yeah, Charlie stole the straw immediately and I was left to apologize for my klepto cat who thinks every straw belongs to him.
Xena (RIP) used to fetch Q-Tips. I would lie on the bed, toss it into the air and she would leap four vertical feet, catch it in her mouth and be ready to go again.
Bought him off a fellow employee whose kids were bored with him a couple years ago. I’ve heard the same thing about housebroken hedgehogs, but the little guy just tends to poop on the go, which contraindicates carpet.
For fun and maintenance value, I’d say they’re about the same as a hamster, or your choice of caged pet. I mail-order special hedgehog kibble, so it’s a bit more expensive than, say, cat food. And there’s an exotic animal vet near here who has experience with hedgehogs, so I’m all set.
PS – if you’re really thinking about getting one, there’s a lengthy set of Usenet FAQs floating around on hedgehog care and caveats that I highly recommend you look at first thing.
I see you’re in the UK – don’t you have the wild kinds over there? IIRC there’s a hedgie rescue centre somewhere.