Cats love to play, and they need toys. Play keeps cats physically fit and mentally sharp. Keeping your cat entertained doesn’t take a lot of money: cats are just as happy with homemade toys. In this article, we’ll show you how to make DIY cat toys from things you already have at home, and which materials are safe to use.
Safety first: string, yarn, ribbon, thread, rubber bands and hair ties are among the most dangerous things a cat can swallow. They can cause a life-threatening “linear foreign body” in the intestines that needs emergency surgery. Use toys with strings only while you’re playing together, and put them away afterward. Check homemade toys regularly and throw them out when they start to fall apart.
The Simplest Toys from Household Items
The simplest everyday objects make great toys for kittens. Kittens love playing with balls of crumpled paper, empty cardboard boxes, paper bags (with the handles cut off), wine corks, ping-pong balls, toilet paper tubes and scraps of fabric. These things are already toys to a curious kitten, and with a little work and decoration, they become real cat toys.
Avoid giving your cat plastic bags (a suffocation risk), rubber bands, hair ties, small objects it could swallow and anything with small parts that could come off.
If you have a cat, don’t rush to throw out cardboard boxes, paper tubes and corks. Save them for crafts!
Catnip Ball
Cats have chased balls around the house for centuries. To keep your cat away from your knitting yarn, make it a special ball of its own. You’ll need:
- a ping-pong ball, a small plastic ball with holes (sold as cat toy balls) or a ball of scrunched-up paper;
- dried catnip;
- a scrap of cotton fabric or felt;
- strong thread.
How to make it:
- Put a pinch of dried catnip inside the plastic ball, or wrap it in the paper.
- Wrap the ball tightly in the fabric.
- Sew the fabric closed securely, with no loose ends.
Your cat is sure to love this fragrant ball. Avoid wrapping balls in yarn or using glue on toys, since your cat may chew off and swallow the pieces.
The Odd Sock
Every home has a few socks that have lost their partners. Don’t throw them away! Turn a lonely sock into a soft toy shaped like a fish or a “kicker.” Even if you’re not great at crafts, you can do this. Stuff the sock with another old sock, cotton fabric scraps or polyester fiberfill, add a spoonful of dried catnip, and sew the open end securely closed. Don’t worry if your fish doesn’t look much like a real one. Cats will appreciate the gift and happily wrestle and “bunny kick” it.
Top 10 Homemade Cat Toys
We’ve picked the best cat toys you can easily make at home, all from materials you already have.
DIY Toy Mouse
Every cat should have its own toy mouse, and preferably several. You can buy them at the pet store, but it’s much more fun to use your imagination, brush up on your sewing skills and make one yourself.
How to make a toy mouse for your cat:
- Cut an oval or teardrop-shaped pattern out of paper or cardboard.
- Place the pattern on a scrap of fabric or felt, and trace around it with chalk or a marker.
- Cut out two pieces.
- Place them on top of each other, right sides together.
- Sew around the edges by machine or by hand, using small, tight stitches.
- Leave a small opening for stuffing, and turn the mouse right side out.
- Stuff the mouse with fiberfill or fabric scraps.
- Add a little dried catnip for scent.
- Sew the opening closed securely.
- Make a short tail from a strip of felt, sewn on firmly, and stitch on the eyes with thread. Don’t use buttons, beads or plastic eyes: your cat could chew them off and swallow them.
Paper Toys
A crumpled sheet of paper is the simplest cat toy there is. Kittens never get tired of chasing these lightweight paper balls, which are easy to toss. Another classic is a paper bow or “butterfly” tied to a string or wand.
How to make a paper bow toy:
- Take a sheet of printer paper. Fold it in half and cut along the fold.
- Take one half and fold it like an accordion. Fold the accordion in half to find the middle.
- Tie a sturdy string or cord tightly around the middle, and attach the other end to a stick. Your wand toy is ready! Play with it together with your cat, and put it away when you’re done.
Cardboard Toys
Cardboard is easy to work with, and every home has it. Handy owners use this inexpensive material to make mazes, cat houses, play areas and puzzle toys.
A simple corrugated cardboard toy:
- Cut several circles of the same size out of corrugated cardboard. Just trace around the bottom of a glass with a pencil.
- Stack the circles together and glue them with a non-toxic glue, or slot them together.
- Roll it across the floor and watch your cat pounce. You can also make a larger stack into a simple scratching pad.
Toilet paper tubes are another great option. Fold the ends in, poke a few holes in the sides and drop a few treats or pieces of kibble inside for an instant puzzle toy.
Box Toys
Cats love boxes. They climb into them, hide in them and use them to ambush you and their toys. It’s one of their favorite games. To make a box even more fun, all you need is basic craft skills.
How to turn a box into a toy:
- A tunnel or maze. You’ll need several boxes, ideally the same size, such as shoe boxes or shipping boxes. Join them together with packing tape on the outside, then cut windows and doorways in the walls for your cat to go through.
- A box with holes. Make a quick brain-training game from a flat, shallow box. Cut holes of different sizes in the lid and sides, and put things your cat finds interesting inside: a toy mouse, a ball, a cork or a few pieces of kibble. Your cat will have to “fish” them out with its paws.
Remove staples, tape and plastic before giving boxes to your cat.
A Cardboard Cat Play Center
To build a play corner, you’ll need several large cardboard boxes: the more, the better. Store-bought cat trees and play centers aren’t cheap, so why not make one yourself? Cats are active animals, and they’ll appreciate your hard work and play in their new corner for hours. You can find plans online or design your own. Make sure it’s stable, so it won’t tip over when your cat jumps on it.
Wand Toys and Teasers
Wand toys are the best way to play with your cat together, and they’re easy to make:
- A paper bow or feather tied to a string.
- A fishing-rod toy: a stick or dowel with a sturdy cord and a fabric strip, pom-pom or toy mouse at the end.
- A teaser made from strips of fleece or felt tied to a stick.
Move the toy like prey: let it hide around corners, scurry along the floor and “fly” through the air, and let your cat catch it at the end of the game. Always put wand toys away after playtime.
Rattles
Kittens and playful cats love toys that make noise. They’ll happily knock a jar of vitamins off the table and chase it around the house, whether you like it or not! Instead, make your cat its own rattle. It couldn’t be easier:
- Find a small, sturdy plastic container with a secure lid, such as a clean, empty plastic egg from a craft store or a small plastic jar. Make sure it’s too big for your cat to swallow and has never held medicines.
- Put a few large dried beans, a bell (too big to swallow) or some uncooked rice inside.
- Close the lid tightly and seal it with strong tape, so it can’t open during play.
- If you like, cover it with a sock or fabric to make it easier to grip.
Check it regularly for cracks, and throw it away if it breaks.
Soft Toys
Soft toys are a paradise for anyone who loves crafts. Like children, cats love soft toys. Sometimes they “borrow” their owners’ things for this: socks, gloves, hats with pom-poms, or kids’ teddy bears and bunnies. Give them toys of their own! You can use any technique and material, as long as it’s non-toxic and sturdy. Felt, fleece, cotton fabric and wool felt all work well.
One popular type of soft toy is filled with catnip or silver vine, scents that attract many cats. Use the dried herbs, adding them to the stuffing. The easiest way is to put some catnip in an odd sock or mitten and sew the open end securely closed.
A Maze for Your Cat
A maze is one of the best gifts a loving owner can give a cat. Few cats can resist one! You can make a feline obstacle course from cardboard, cardboard boxes, plastic storage bins or large cardboard tubes. Find plans online to make the job easier.
Puzzle and Interactive Toys
Puzzle toys are very popular with cats and their owners. They exercise your cat’s brain and keep it busy when you’re not home. Curious cats can spend a long time working out how to get a treat out of a puzzle. Easy DIY versions include:
- an egg carton with treats hidden under the cups;
- a muffin tin with a ball in each cup and treats underneath;
- a plastic bottle (with the cap and ring removed) with holes cut in the sides, slightly bigger than a piece of kibble, so food falls out when your cat rolls it;
- a “treat box”: a tissue box filled with crumpled paper and a few treats.
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