Of course, she shunned them in favor of paper balls, large rubber bands, paper bags and cardboard boxes.
Instead of purchasing cat toys your feline will ignore, try these homemade cat toys, repurposed from items you likely already have around the house. They’ve helped us trim expenses, funds we now use for vet visits, behavior help and top-quality food.
Here are nine of Queenie’s go-to DIY cat toys.
1. No-Sew Catnip Bird
Even if you don’t sew, knit or craft much, you can assemble Frugal Fanny’s no-sew catnip bird in under five minutes.
You’ll need:
- an 8-by-8-inch square of flannel or soft fabric
- 2 tablespoons of catnip or silver vine
- a small ball of polyester stuffing (or crumpled paper, if you prefer)
- a 6-inch-by-½-inch strip of fabric
Place the 8-inch square on a flat surface and sprinkle it with 2 tablespoons of catnip or silver vine. Set the polyester stuffing ball on top of the catnip, gather the corners up and tie the fabric strip beneath the fill. That’s all there is to it!
2. Party Shaker
This is my kitten’s top pick. She loves to wrestle with it, dash under it and proudly tear off bits of paper or ribbon to stash in a pile behind the front door.
You’ll need:
- scissors
- duct tape (decorative is fun, plain works fine)
- a cardboard tube from a dry-cleaner hanger, a homemade newspaper tube, or another repurposed stick (like the bottom of a broken plastic hanger or a blind wand)
- newspaper, colored paper or ribbon
Cut the paper or ribbon into thin strips. Pull a 10-inch piece of tape and place it sticky-side up on the table. Lay the strip ends on the tape’s edge and wrap it around the base of the tube. If you use ribbon, curl it with scissors for extra fun.
3. Felt Feathers
My cat goes crazy for feathers. As Martha Stewart demonstrates, even basic feather toys become irresistible when hung from a string.
You’ll need:
- felt or scrap fabric
- scissors
- an iron
- satin or elastic cord, or plain yarn or string
- a small jingle bell
- a split ring (mini key ring)
- Martha Stewart’s feather template
Print the feather template and cut one large and one small feather from contrasting felt pieces. Press a center crease into each feather with a hot iron.
Thread the jingle bell and about a yard of cord (elastic works well for extra stretch) onto a split ring. Tie the feather stems to the split ring with a square knot.
4. Catnip Pillow
Queenie adores sleeping with her catnip pillow, decorated with tiny ducks. To craft one, sew three sides of a felt rectangle, fill with catnip or silver vine plus polyester fiberfill, then sew the last side closed.
If you can’t sew a straight seam or lack a machine, simply stuff catnip and fill into an old sock and knot the top.
5. Lemon-Shaped Mouse
My cat can’t resist toys that resemble mice. She loves ones made from thrifted silk scraps and wool. Try different fabrics to discover your cat’s preference.
Because Queenie is a kitten, I made a small, light-weight mouse.
You’ll need:
- polyester fill
- needle and thread
- fabric scraps
- yarn
- googly eyes (optional)
- hot glue gun (optional)
- catnip (optional)
Cut two lemon-shaped side pieces and two tiny ears from fabric scraps. Attach a piece of yarn to one end for a tail. Sew the sides together partway, stuff with polyester fill and catnip if desired, then fold and stitch each ear near the front. Finish sewing the body. You can leave it eyeless or glue on googly eyes.
6. Sunshine Wheel
Turn plain toilet paper rolls into playful toys with scissors. Make ½-inch cuts around both ends of the roll to form tabs, then fold each tab back to create a “wheel” effect that livens up playtime.
7. Ring Ball
Queenie is obsessed with balls, and this ring ball from a toilet paper roll is a hit. You’ll need scissors, a ruler and cat treats for this quick toy.
1. Mark every ¼ inch along the side of the cardboard tube
2. Cut out each ring
3. Insert the first ring into the second ring
4. Insert the third ring into the fourth, and continue like that
5. To add extra motivation, slip dry kibble or treats into the ball through the gaps between the rings
6. Though your cat likely won’t notice, you can jazz it up with a Sharpie or small stickers
8. Knotty Spiders
My cat adores Friskies Knotty Spiders. She’ll tote them around in her mouth or scoot them across the floor for independent play sessions.
You’ll need:
- the plastic ring from around a milk jug top, or a key ring
- a 5-by-5-inch square of felt
- scissors
Slice the felt into 12 or 14 strips. You can mix colors, like in the Friskies clip, or use team colors if you prefer. Your cat probably won’t care about the palette.
Tie the strips to the milk jug ring with double knots. For a rambunctious kitten, use a metal key ring to make the toy more durable.
9. Treat Rattle
This toy pairs Queenie’s two favorites: sound and snacks. You’ll need an empty toilet paper roll and a marker.
Draw a cute face on the roll. Pinch one end together and fold it down to form a pair of ear-like points.
Drop several treats inside and fold the other end into a triangle or V shape. The ends won’t be perfectly sealed, so your cat will have a blast batting treats out.
Your Turn: Do you craft DIY cat toys for your kitty? Share your best ideas in the comments!
For more budget-friendly pet projects, check out diy cat toys and treats and household hacks like homemade baby wipes.
