You do funny games with your kitten here (and in the other).
I don't find this overly blurry, and what blur you got here is motion blur, I think.
Since you deliberately put up a white sheet for a background, do you happen to also have the cropped version of this photo which only shows the "bait" and kitten and shadow?
I think a cropped version would be great too. BTW..I can see someone's hand there
Could you possible bounce the flash to the ceiling too? A white paper in front of the flash to angle the flash up might do the trick if it is a fized lens. It may help with the picture by getting rid of the strong shadows.
Jus my 2 cents...which is actually only worth .75 cents with most conversion charts...
I DID PICTURES JUST LIKE THIS ABOUT A YEAR AGO! I even used the same kind of toy, and I had a sheet as the background (only it wasn't white, it was kinda of peachy colored)
And as LaFoto said, I don't find it overly blurry, either. Maybe bump the shutter speed a tad.
Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately I don't have an off camera flash yet. I switched from Nikon film camera to Canon digital and havent yet completed my wish (OK necessary) list. I need a Canon flash!