DIY Toys for Cats: Crafting Fun at Home
Cat toys don't have to cost a fortune. With a little creativity, you can make engaging toys to spark your cat's curiosity right at home. Not only is creating DIY toys wallet-friendly, but you can tailor them to your own cat's unique interests and preferences. Read on for ideas and step-by-step directions to get started crafting!
Benefits of Cat Toys
Before diving into specific projects, let's review why cat toys are so important:
- Provide mental stimulation and sensory enrichment
- Channel natural hunting instincts in a positive way
- Help exercise and prevent obesity
- Relieve stress and boredom
- Strengthen the bond between you and your cat through play
- Allow independent solo play when you are busy
Rotating a variety of interactive toys keeps curious cats engaged and energized.
DIY Cat Toy Ideas
The possibilities for homemade cat toys are endless! Consider making:
Simple Sewn Toys
- Felt mice with catnip - fun to bat around and bunny kick
- Jingle balls with bells inside - cats love movement and sound!
- Braided fabric tug toys - durable for interactive play
Recycled Household Items
- Aluminum foil balls - swat and chase
- Bottle caps or toilet paper tubes - bat around floor or hide treats inside
- Paper grocery bags - poke holes and stuff with catnip
- Corks on a string - wiggle and chase
Food Puzzles
- Egg cartons or muffin tins - hide treats in holes
- Empty tissue boxes - put kibble inside, shred to get out
- Food dispensing balls - load with dry food for meals
Outdoors Toys
- Hanging branches or leaves on strings - swat and pounce
- Peat pots filled with cat grass - nibble and dig in soil
Use whatever materials you have available. Cats often love boxes and packing materials too!
Tips for DIY Cat Toys
Follow these tips when crafting homemade toys:
- Use cat-safe, durable materials - avoid string, ribbon, rubberbands, or small decorations that could be ingested
- Add fun textures with fur scraps, carpets, feather boas, crinkly paper - varietyengages their senses
- Incorporate catnip - dried or fresh to spark energetic play
- Monitor the toy's condition for wear and tear, especially with fabrics
- Replace or re-stuff toys once catnip aroma fades or stuffing gets packed down
- Rotate frequently to prevent boredom - store part of the collection out of reach
- Wash toys occasionally that get drooled on or dirty
- Supervise play time with any toy that could be chewed and swallowed
With safety and cleanliness in mind, let your imagination run wild to create toys that match your cat's unique play style!
Step-by-Step DIY Toy Instructions
Ready to get crafting? Here are step-by-steps for a few of our favorite homemade cat toy projects:
Catnip Felt Mouse
Supplies:
- Felt or fleece fabric
- Poly-fil stuffing
- Dried catnip
- Needle and thread or fabric glue
- Scissors
- Cut two mouse-shaped pieces out of felt, about 4-6 inches long.
- Leaving the tail and nose area open, sew or glue fabric edges together.
- Turn the fabric mouse right side out through the opening.
- Stuff firmly with poly-fil and add 1-2 teaspoons of catnip.
- Stitch the opening closed or add more glue.
- Decorate with embroidery thread whiskers if desired. Wave for kitty to pounce!
Tin Can Tracker Toy
Supplies:
- Clean empty tin can
- Hammer and nails
- Cat treat or kibble
- Remove paper label and wash tin can clean and dry.
- Use the hammer and nails to punch holes randomly all over the can.
- Drop treats or pieces of kibble into the can through the holes.
- Give to your cat and watch them bat it around to get the food out!
Ping Pong Ball Maze
Supplies:
- Cardboard box
- Scissors or box cutter
- Ping pong balls
- Treats
- Cut holes, ramps, ledges and tunnels in the box to create a 3D maze.
- Drop ping pong balls and treats inside.
- Let your cat reach in with paws and nose to move balls and get food. Rotate balls to keep it challenging!
With a dash of creativity and a cat-friendly focus, you can make toys tailored exactly to your own cat's interests. Get crafting for hours of fun you made yourself!