DIY Cat Toys That Are Cheap and Easy to Make: Step-by-Step Guides
- Rachel
- Jun 25, 2024
- 8 min read
Updated: 16 hours ago
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.
These budget-friendly DIY cat toys are designed to be quick and easy to make at home for the busy cat mum or dad. These are hard times we're living in, and this how-to guide couldn't be simpler - which is cats all over. They may be complex creatures, but when it comes to play we have to appreciate their simplicity. What else do you see going crazy over a piece of string or a cardboard box?
The most common types of cat toys range from mice to wands and more expensive or battery-operated toys. With indoor cats becoming more common in this ever-changing world, the amount people are spending on their pets increases with it, and the market has to cater for this.
If your cats are anything like mine - that is, flushing 30 quid's worth of entertainment down the drain in favour of a scrunched up sweetie wrapper, then it's time to get creative with some DIY cat toy ideas.
Most of the materials needed for these homemade cat toys can be found around the house without spending a penny; and as proud cat parents, I'd be surprised if you didn't have at least a couple of cat balls readily available for modification. Using recycled or repurposed materials makes them eco-friendly, too.
4 Types of DIY Cat Toys:
Treat Dispenser
1. The Stuffed Sock
Materials
Sock or tights.
Cushion stuffing.
Paper - I like brown packing paper because it's soft but any type will do.
Cat balls - plastic, jingly, crinkly or whatever your cats prefer. If you want to spend a bit more, this 35-piece cat ball bundle from Amazon has a great variety.
Catnip (optional).
Soft cat toys can be simple to make with no sewing required, and they're great for adding catnip or silvervine. You can use a sock to stuff or cut the feet off old tights like I did.
Johnson's Catnip Spray contains oil from the dried leaves of catmint. It can be applied to bedding, toys, scratch posts or anywhere you want to encourage some kitty interaction.
Drax prefers tights because the material is thinner, it's fun to scratch and he has a fetish for - well, anything that smells of feet - but nylon is especially fusty. Kinda gross but some humans have been known to pay good money for the pleasure!
Steps
Tear off a couple of strips of paper and scrunch into balls. Whatever size you make them will depend on the sock and how big you want the toy to be. My cats would be scared of anything too imposing, hence why the example pictured is on the smaller side. Have fun and play around with whatever works best, you can always take out and restuff if necessary.
Start filling the sock with stuffing and add some of the scrunched paper, this gives it some texture and sound.
Sprinkle as much or as little catnip as desired, then add more stuffing and your chosen ball in the centre.
Repeat this process on the other side, alternating stuffing with paper, then tie off the sock and voila! If a knot is difficult then use scissors to make two 1-inch cuts down either side of the sock and tie the flaps together.
That's all there is to a DIY soft cat toy, and remember the golden rule: there are no rules! If you want to add a second ball, more/less paper, make it softer or firmer then go ahead. Cats will love to grip, bat and toss around this catnip kicker.
Looking for a quality, potent catnip? Check out these top recommended catnip blends and sprays.
2. Cardboard Box Huts
Cardboard boxes come in so many sizes that the possibilities are vast, and what cat parent doesn't have a constant supply of boxes cluttering up the hallway? Or maybe that's just me - thanks, Amazon and zooplus!
I've mentioned it a lot in previous posts but in case you missed it, cats love to stalk things - including each other. So, sharpen the scissors and let's turn that boring box into an exciting cat fort.
Materials
Cardboard box, preferably big enough for kitty to hide or sit in - see the pictured examples.
Pen or pencil.
Box cutter or scissors.
Design 1 (Large Hut)
Cut the base off your box by removing the flaps, leaving four walls and a "roof".
Mark a doorway and windows wherever you want, however big or small - you can also play with different shapes. I added a square window at the front, a circular one at the back and a lower one at the side to make it more fun with alternating heights. In the wild, prey would be scuttling around shrubbery and undergrowth so it's natural for a cat to hunt at ground level.
Once finished, turn the box upside down and you're ready to go.
Use anything from your homemade feather wand to bits of string to poke through the gaps and tantalise your kitty. If the box is strong enough then you can use a screwdriver to make some peepholes in the roof. Just bear in mind that if you have heavier cats then they risk going straight through it - amusing for humans, not so fun if there happens to be a playmate underneath!
Design 2
I call this the "truck", a shallow box that kitty can sit in with multiple holes to stick its paws or toys through. Remember to size it up first, I often underestimate my cats but Drax is all fur and will squeeze into anything.
These designs can cost anything up to £20 online and come with replaceable scratching boards to put in the bottom. I bought the Conlun Scratcher Box which is what gave me this idea, but you can save a lot of money by adapting a cardboard box and picking up a cheap scratcher from sites like AliExpress.
Cat scratchers made from high-density corrugated cardboard which is durable and wear-resistant. Cats can satisfy their scratching instincts without causing damage to furniture. Scratchers come in various shapes and are comfy to lie on.
Following the same steps as design 1, remove the top flaps instead of bottom ones so kitty can climb inside (I left the sides because my cats love to stalk around the outside of boxes, too).
Simply cut out a few pokey holes and let playtime begin - simple!
3. Homemade Teaser Wand
Teaser wands are a kitty classic and can be made at home with a variety of materials, from feathers to string or any type of fabric you have available. You can even refurbish old tatty wands where cats have destroyed the teasers or keep the handles to reuse - more paws up for the environment.
Materials
Fabric, ribbon, string, wool or feathers. Any of these can be picked up at a pound shop or local craft store, but this pack of 100 guineafowl feathers from Amazon are natural, colourful and non-toxic for cats.
Wooden dowel (approx 30cm x 1cm) or recycled wand.
Glue - a hot glue gun works best as glue is non-toxic, but be sure to check the manufacturer's guide.
Elastic band.
Twine.
Kitty bell (optional).
String/Wool/Ribbon Teaser
Cut your chosen material into 15cm-30cm lengths and loop over about 2cm of an elastic band. You can add as much or as little as you want, depending on how thick you want the teaser to be.
Tie the remainder of the band around the end of the wand/dowel to secure - no glue required.
I finished it off with an extra piece of ribbon to cover the band (optional). Mainly because my boys take offence to the smell of rubber, but it's also aesthetically pleasing.
This may be the most time-consuming option but it's simple, effective and didn't cost me a penny - ka-ching!
*Only use toys with small pieces under supervision, and check teasers regularly for loose parts that could become a choking hazard if swallowed.
Feather Wand
Gather 10-15 feathers of varying colours and/or sizes into a bunch and hot glue the tips together.
Use a small blob of glue to attach feathers to the end of the wand and finish by wrapping them together with twine to ensure they're secure, adding a bit of glue along the way to keep it from unravelling. You could use duct tape if preferred, but my kitties are more likely to chew that than the feathers.
For an extra jingle, thread on a small bell before tying off the twine (optional).
Fabric Teaser
This is so easy to make because you can use any kind of material you have lying around: dishcloths, flannels, old T-shirts or even another sock.
As a general guide, cut out a 20cm x 15cm section of fabric and make 1cm-wide strips, leaving about an inch at the top all the way along.
Dab your glue of choice along the top (if you don't own a glue gun then a strong fabric glue should work) then wrap it around the end of the dowel.
Leave to dry and let playtime commence - you can even whack off a few cobwebs in the process!
4. Treat Dispenser
Materials
Toilet/kitchen roll or plastic water bottle.
Paper.
Elastic bands.
Scissors.
Treats or kibble.
Steps
Using a pair of scissors or a craft knife, poke some randomly spaced holes in your cardboard tube or bottle. Holes should be big enough for the treats to fall through, but not so wide that they pour out as this defeats the purpose! The more holes, the easier the puzzle will be. If using a plastic bottle, ensure there are no sharp edges by cutting off any points.
Cut 2 squares of paper large enough to wrap over the ends of the cardboard tube and secure one side with an elastic band (I used hair bobbles). You can skip this step if using a bottle.
Fill the tube with treats or kibble, then cover the other end with paper and secure. For bottles, simply screw on the lid.
Place on the floor and watch kitty bat it around to knock out the tasty snacks!
While puzzles are great for enrichment and mental stimulation, some cats might not react to them in the first instance. It's perfectly safe to sprinkle a small amount of catnip inside the dispenser. If you don't have catnip, try scattering some treats around the toy to encourage interaction or leave it near their regular food station.
There you have it: 4 types of DIY cat toys that are cheap and easy to make - in less than 10 minutes each. It can also double up as crafting time with the kids in a fun and rewarding family experience. We think that's rather pawsome!
Mentioned Products
Have you tried these cheap and easy DIY cat toys? Do you have any questions or need more advice? Let us know in the comments if you think anything might be missing and I'll do my best to help.
What kind of DIY toys would you like to see?
0%Soft/stuffed toys.
0%Wands or teasers.
0%Treat puzzles.
0%Scratchers.
You can vote for more than one answer.
Commenti