Animal games and fun

DIY Cat Toys

 
Josie F. Turner
By Josie F. Turner, Journalist specialized in Animal Welfare. Updated: August 29, 2024
DIY Cat Toys
Cats

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Cats love playing and it is understandable. It is an essential activity for their well-being, as it prevents acute and chronic stress. Cats begin to play around the two weeks of life, first by hunting shadows, learning to coordinate.

Playing behaviors are very important for a feline, especially if they live alone (without the presence of other cats). The owner must stimulate this essential behavior, always through toys, and avoiding their own hands.

In this AnimalWised article we have compiled several crafts from our YouTube channel: 5 DIY cat toys - Easy, cheap and made with household materials. If you are looking for cheap DIY options you have come to the right place!

You may also be interested in: DIY Cat Toys with Cardboard
Contents
  1. DIY Cat toy and food dispenser
  2. DIY cat wand
  3. DIY cat scratching post
  4. Cat cardboard playhouse
  5. DIY toy ball for cats

1. DIY Cat toy and food dispenser

The first toy we'd like to present is a food dispenser, commercially known as Kong. It is a toy that stimulates their intelligence and physical activity and is especially positive for cats with anxiety or stress. Find out how to make it on our Youtube video on 3 homemade cat toys or follow the instructions:

Material

  • Bottle
  • Pen
  • Cutter
  • File or sandpaper
  • Treats or cat food

As an extra we can add newspaper or colors to decorate, feathers, toys or a rattle, all great options to add!

Steps to follow

  1. Draw small circles or squares around all the plastic bottle.
  2. Cut out the previously made marks with the cutter.
  3. Sand the edges that have been trimmed to prevent the cat from getting hurt with a file or sandpaper.
  4. Decorate to your liking.
  5. Fill with food and invite your cat to play.
DIY Cat Toys - 1. DIY Cat toy and food dispenser

2. DIY cat wand

Cats are animals with a very developed hunting instinct, which is why they are usually delighted to play with a cat wand or fishing rod, as it mimics live prey. Check out how to make this incredibly easy DIY cat toy:

Material

  • Scissors
  • Drinking straws or plastic rods
  • Scotch tape
  • White glue or liquid silicone
  • Rope or laces
  • Fabric or plastic bag

To give the final touches to your toy, you can add small stuffed toys, shapes with chenille (also known as pipe cleaners), wool balls, etc. You can also improve the cat wand with decorative adhesive tape.

Steps to follow

  1. Prepare several strips of the same size with the fabric or plastic bag and fold them over themselves. Cut them vertically without reaching the end that joins them.
  2. Fold the top part and fix it with the adhesive tape, in this way you will get a small "jellyfish".
  3. Tie the jellyfish with string or lace, make sure it is secure!
  4. Finally, you must join the rope with the straw or the plastic rod.
  5. Then you can add everything you want to complete your unique fishing rod.
DIY Cat Toys - 2. DIY cat wand

3. DIY cat scratching post

There are many types of scratching posts for cats, but the one that we will mention next is especially easy to make, besides requiring very few materials. You can watch our video on YouTube on how to make a DIY scratching post for cats if you want a more elaborate tutorial.

Material

  • White glue or liquid silicone
  • Cardboard
  • Scotch tape
  • Cork (optional)

Steps to follow

  1. Cut up several pieces of cardboard, making sure that they always have the same width, for example, 10 centimeters. You must respect this measurement so that it is at the same level.
  2. Start rolling the cardboard strips around themselves and use the glue to stick them together.
  3. When you finish using one strip, before putting the next one, use the adhesive tape chosen so that it does not dismantle.
  4. Keep making the scratching post bigger until you get the desired size.
  5. Fix the final section well with glue to prevent it from opening.
  6. Finally, you can decorate it with paint or like us, with cork. You choose!
DIY Cat Toys - 3. DIY cat scratching post

4. Cat cardboard playhouse

The cardboard box is, without a doubt, one of the best crafts to customize that you can make at home. You can watch our video on YouTube on how to make a DIY cardboard house cardboard for cats for a visual guide.

Material

  • White glue or liquid silicone
  • Pen
  • Ruler
  • Cardboard box
  • Paint (optional)

Steps to follow

  1. Cut out the flaps from the base of the cardboard box so that they are not uncomfortable for your cat. Then, stick it with glue to keep it together.
  2. Cut 5 centimeters from each top flap of the box, with the intention of making all the upper flaps longer.
  3. Use a piece of cardboard folded in a "V" to shape the "roof" and proceed to stick the two side flaps. Then, with the help of the ballpoint pen, mark the shape of the house on the front and back flaps, cut and paste.
  4. Afterwards, you can add windows, paint, decorate and even add a cushion inside the box. The options are unlimited!

You can check out more great ideas to make DIY cat toys with cardboard in this other AnimalWised article too!

DIY Cat Toys - 4. Cat cardboard playhouse

5. DIY toy ball for cats

Last but not least, we will show you how to make a cat ball with very few materials and that will also help your cat file their nails naturally, as they would do with a scratching post. Find out how to do it in our Youtube video about 3 homemade cat toys too.

Material

  • Newspaper
  • White glue or liquid silicone
  • Scotch tape
  • Esparto rope
  • Rattlesnake (optional)
  • Feathers (optional)

Steps to follow

  1. Wrinkle a ball of newspaper to create a ball shape.
  2. Before lining the ball, add the colored feathers (optional).
  3. Wrap the ball with adhesive tape, in this way it will be well fixed.
  4. Finally, surround the ball with the esparto rope while gluing it with white glue.

Ready!

DIY Cat Toys - 5. DIY toy ball for cats

If you want to read similar articles to DIY Cat Toys, we recommend you visit our Animal games and fun category.

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DIY Cat Toys