What is it about Q-tips and cats?

In my old place, I had a drawer in which Q-tips lived.

In my new place, the Q-tips were relegated to a small glass container that sat on a shelf just above the toilet.

That is, until I knocked over the glass container and had to spend some quality time vacuuming the little shards off of the tiled floor.

And now the Q-tips are roaming free, and if I don't put them away, I come home to Q-tips strewn around the apartment, cotton-batteny goodness stretched out as far as possible.

I've heard that other kitties like Q-tips too. They seem to be great toys.

But, why?