Make your own cat toys

July 27th, 2009 0 Comments

Buddy waiting to play

I recently did a post on making your own toys for dogs.  I haven’t forgotten our furry feline friends.  Believe me, my two kitties won’t let me.  Here are some cheap and easy toys you can make that will provide your cat with hours of enjoyment.

One of the easiest toys you can make is a foil ball. Crumple up some foil, toss it, and watch your cat chase it and bat it around. You can use paper too, but foil keeps its shape better.

You can easily make your own stuffed catnip toys using an old sock. Just take an old sock, place a pinch of catnip in the toe, and tie off the top.  Or, if you sew, make small pillows from fabric scraps and place catnip inside.  If your cats don’t like catnip, you can stuff these toys with cotton balls or stuffing.

Make a rattle toy by placing a few small pebbles or bells inside an old pill bottle or film container. Make sure the lid is secure so that the container stays closed.  You don’t want kitty choking on his toy.  Rice or dried beans will work too.

A felt ball or ping pong ball attached to a piece of yarn or string and tied to a doorknob makes a great swatting toy for your cat.  Another great swatting toy can be made by sewing pieces of felt or yarn to the fingers of a glove.  When you’re ready to play with your cat, just put the glove on and dangle the felt in front of their face. Move your hand around, and your cat will jump and swat at the felt.

If you can knit or crochet, you can make some balls or mice for your cats.  Fill these with catnip or cotton stuffing.

Another cheap and easy form of entertainment for your cat is to shine a light on the floor or wall.  Use a penlight and direct the light beam on the floor in front of your cat.  Move the light around, and the cat will chase it.  Mine do anyway. They both love this silly game.

With a little creativity, you can come up with toys that your cats will enjoy for very little money.

Photo credit: Beth VanHoose

July 27th, 2009 by Beth VanHoose | Posted in Toys and Supplies | Comments (0)