Like many shows or anything with a plot, My Cat From Hell focuses on things not going how we want or expect them to.  Never having owned a cat, I got really into the show when I moved into a home with a feline roommate.  One of the things that stood out to me in the show is how much cat owners forget that play is necessary for their pet.  It seemed that every pet that was acting out just needed an alternative outlet for their energy.  I'll give cat owners that it can be easy to forget when cats have a reputation for sleeping so much and ignoring us until they want something, but every living creature needs physical activity.

In the show the general recommendation was to play with the cat for 15 minutes twice a day, which is backed up by petMD.  Though they say a few times a day, so its a bit more vague, since every cat has different needs that makes sense.  And setting up a self-propelled toy or stationary motion toy doesn't cut it, though they can help supplement other play.  It needs to be play between the owner and the cat with a variety of toys so that your pet can stay as physically and mentally stimulated as possible.  Not only does this exercise the cat, but most toys engage their hunting instinct.  By having an outlet for this instinct they won't take it out on say...the furniture...or you.

The humane society recommends a few different variety of toys, and not having all your pet's toys available to them all at once.  That way your pet doesn't tire of them as fast and it provides more stimulus.  It also recommends playing "hide-and-seek" with your cat's toys-stashing them around the house so they're a surprise when the cat finds them.  This also works as another layer of mental stimulations, since it means the environment is changing constantly and they have to stay alert.  So play with your cats, if you already do, pat yourself on the back and enjoy the bond between you and your pet.