Cheap, Homemade Cat Toys

The great thing about most felines is that when it comes to playtime, they don’t inspect price tags.  A homemade cat toy will create just as much wonder as an expensive toy from a pet store.  And how many times have you brought home an expensive toy that your feline plays with for five minutes and never looks at again?   We’ve all been there!  So try these crafty playtime objects with your frisky feline that are easy on your wallet!

Remember:  If cats CAN get into trouble, they often will.  Always supervise your cat when playing with small objects or string. Use common sense and have fun!

Boxes, boxes, boxes: Cats love them!  You can build forts out of cardboard boxes, play pouncing games around them, hide behind them, make them into cozy dens – the options are endless.  Our resident cat turns into a professional box-inspector when we receive a parcel in the mail.  When we leave town and our pet sitters take over, we leave out lots of boxes for extra-fun playtime antics!  If you’re feeling ultra creative, go at the box with a pair of sharp scissors and make peek-holes or trap doors for added excitement. Glue on metallic paper or beads for extra sensory stimulation.

Everyday Objects Turned into Toys: Try these on for size -  Beer bottle caps, wine corks, crinkled up pieces of tin foil (large enough so they are not able to choke on them!), plastic lids to jars, toilet paper rolls (without the toilet paper, of course), old pen caps, etc.  Grab any of these objects, and throw ‘em across a floor – and watch.  (And if you cat isn’t interested?  Great – at least you didn’t spend money on it!)  You can even attach any of these objects to string to make a super fun dangle toy.

String to be Used With CAUTION: There is no denying it, cats love to pounce on string and yarn.  However, never leave string, yarn or ribbons out for cats while you are not monitoring the fun. If cats swallow the string, it can cause life threatening medical complications due to bunching and knotting in the cat’s intestines and/or stomach.  Remember – use common sense when it comes to string, yarn and ribbon.  When you are not directly playing with your feline, keep this treasured toy away.  (It will make your cat more excited to see it the next time anyway!)

Cat Nip: I admit it – we are advocates for cat nip.  Our cat simply adores it and we always have it on hand!  Grow your own in a sunny window sill for a never ending supply of the good-stuff.  Note: Kittens under the age of six months will not react to cat nip. This is something for the adults to indulge in!

Tissue Paper and Paper Bags: There is just something about tissue paper that cats adore.  Maybe it’s the soft feel of it, perhaps it’s the distinct crinkle sound it makes when they pounce on it.  Take an Everyday Object Toy and throw it into a pile of paper, or dangle a homemade dangle toy over it and just wait for the fun.  Paper bags also provide enjoyment for felines, so after your next shopping excursion (& before you recycle those paper bags), reuse them as a cat toy.  Try scratching your fingernails against a the side of a bag and watch you cat inspect, and sometimes dart into, the bag!  (And next time, opt for reusable shopping bags.)  Never allow any pet or child to play with plastic bags.

Party Beads: Felines love the sound of these against a wood floor, so grab a string of party beads and watch the fun erupt.

Get Crafty: Grab a ping-pong ball (or any small ball), metallic paper and a glue gun.  Simply glue the paper to the ball.  Don’t worry how it looks, the more crinkly it is, the better!  Don’t have metallic paper?  Use tissue paper instead.  You can also attach it too a piece of string for a homemade pull-toy.  Go through your craft cabinet and see what you can come up with.  Do not offer your kitty any small beads or bells, and remember – use caution with any type of string or ribbon.  (We can’t emphasize that enough!)

Sew Your Own: For those of you who want to try sewing your own cat toys, it’s easier than you think!  Get some funky fabric and cut out a pattern of your choice.  This is when you can be creative – there are no rules, just make sure it’s big enough that it’s not a choking hazard.  Make a holiday tree, a fish outline, a donuts, or even a cat tracing!   Cut two sides, flip them inside out, sew the edges, leave an opening, stuff the toy with a mixture of cat-nip and fiber-fill and stitch up the hole.  Easy!   You’re very own, cat-nip infused plush toy.  Take it a step further and sew on some of that metallic paper for added crinkle-factor.

So before you spend a fortune on cat toys, try making some at home.  It’s always fun to make things for those we that love, even for those furry friends we love!  Playing with your cat is an amazing bonding experience and keeps them healthy, both mentally and physically.   But thankfully, it doesn’t have to be expensive.

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