DIY cat toys are a purrfect way to express your creativity while also enriching your cat’s day. They’re cost effective too, especially if your kitty has a habit of destroying or losing store-bought toys.
So, if you’re craving some creative time and looking to spoil your cat, here are some fun and simple homemade toy ideas to help get you started.
1. Toilet paper roll rattle
Cats love to chase moving objects, and they love to gobble up treats! This easy toilet paper roll rattle lets them do both.
Supplies:
- Toilet paper roll
- Scissors
- Your kitty’s favourite bite-sized treats
Directions:
- Cut two or three holes along the length of the toilet paper roll, making them just a little bit bigger than the treats.
- Fold down one end of the roll to close it. Drop a few cat treats into it and fold the other end shut.
- Toss the rattle across the floor. The noise and movement should attract your cat to bat it around — and the fact that food falls out is a bonus!
2. Fleece wand
There’s just something about waving a wand toy through the air that drives cats wild! It’s a great boredom buster, allowing some interactive playtime between the two of you while also creating a safe distance between your skin and your cat’s claws.
Supplies:
- Wooden dowel rod or chopstick
- Fleece fabric
- Glue (hot glue might work best)
- Scissors
Directions:
- Cut a strip of fleece two to three centimetres wide and about four times as long as the wooden dowel rod or chopstick.
- Wrap the strip of fleece around the wooden dowel rod or chopstick, gluing it down as you go. Leave a long piece dangling from the end.
- Make a pompom by tying smaller strips of fleece to the dangly end.
- Once the glue is dry, you’re ready to play!
3. Tube treat tower
Puzzle feeders like this tube treat tower can be a great way to engage your cat’s mind and body, particularly if they happen to be highly food-motivated.
Supplies:
- Toilet paper rolls
- Glue (hot glue might work best)
- Cardboard box
- Large rocks
- Cat treats
Directions:
- Practise making a pyramid from toilet paper rolls. Each row should have one less roll than the row below it. Use as many as you want — the larger the pyramid, the more places to hide food for your cat.
- Once you have the arrangement you want, glue the rolls together.
- Fill an empty cardboard box with one or two large rocks to weigh it down. The box should be at least as long as the bottom row of your pyramid.
- Glue the pyramid to the cardboard box. The box will help keep your puzzle feeder from sliding across the floor or tipping over when your cat tries to get at the treats.
- Once the glue is dry, hide a few treats in the toilet paper rolls. Then sit back and watch as your cat tries to figure out where the treats are and how to get at them.
Ultimately, DIY cat toys are a great way to bond with your cat. Playtime becomes a more personal experience when you know that you’re partly responsible for the fun they’re having with their new toy.
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