16
amazing cat toys you can make for free
I
am aware that many of these are silly ideas…but believe me, cats
love these toys. And if yours doesn't, well, it was free. Think of all
the expensive toys your cat has hated.
disclaimer:
although the toys below are safe for most cats, there are always a few
that seem to find a way to get injured by the most harmless of toys.
Please keep an eye on your cat as he plays with these toys, especially
if he is a chewer.
1:scratching
wall of happiness
Nail
a piece of approximately 18" x 30" remnant carpet (preferably
low-pile, nubby carpet) to the wall lengthwise so that the top of it
is a foot higher than your cat can reach. Rub catnip on carpet. Call
kitty. Kitty may climb up wall in excitement.
2:
a strip of bent-up paper
cut a piece of paper to be 1/8 inch
wide, 6 inches long. Bend the paper in a few places so it does not lay
flat on the ground. Put it next to the cat.
3:a
bunch of bent-up papers
Repeat the steps
to make the toy above 15 or so times. (Or use a paper shredding machine,
if you have one.) Use one of the strips to tie the rest in a bunch.
Fluff the bunch out a bit. Give to cat.
4:a
crumpled-up ball of paper
Crumble half a sheet
of paper into a ball that can be easily carried in your kitty's mouth.
Roll towards kitty. (My cat Dinky loves this toy.)
5:amazing
milk ring
Obtain milk ring
(it should be a complete loop, not a broken one). Toss on floor. (This
is one of Agatha's favorites.)
6:feather
Obtain decent-sized,
clean feather. Wash in hot water with antibacterial soap, to be extra
safe. Stand by your kitty and wiggle feather in air like it is an entire
bird.
7:magical
flying straw
Unwrap a soda straw. Get cat's attention.
Lay straw on palm of one hand and between the index and middle fingers.
Use your other hand to flick the end of the straw so that it travels
a fair distance in the air. (This is Mr. Shat's favorite toy.)
8:sock
of bliss
Take an old sock
(preferably a children's sock or something quite small). Put a tablespoon
of dry catnip inside it. Tie sock. Put next to cat.
9:square
of bliss
Cut two pieces of fabric 3"
by 3." Sew them together, but leave a third side open. Put a tablespoon
of dry catnip inside it. Sew remaining side up. Put next to cat. (Molly
loves this toy.)
10:treat
bottle
A 1-liter or 20 oz. soda bottle with small, treat-sized
holes pierced through it makes a good treat toy. You place the
kitty treat in the bottle and let your cat get it out. When she
does, she has the reward of the treat.
11:treat
roll
Obtain empty paper towel roll. Roll
up one of the tube. Place a small handful of cat treats or dry cat food
into roll. Roll other end of tube closed. Use scissors to create a few
starter holes in the roll. Your kitty will probably be able to expand
these and get at the treats. If he seems frustrated, you may need to
enlarge the holes.
12:wonder
bag
Cut handles off of
paper bag so your cat doesn't hang himself. Open bag and lay on floor,
table, or wherever else you like. Soon cat will show up and jump into
bag.
13:wonder
box
Place open box on
floor, table, or wherever else you like. Soon cat will show up and climb
into box.
For the more ambitious:
close up the box, but add a small hole for the cat to enter. Also
you can add smaller, paw-sized holes and put toys or treats in the
box. Cats love to stick their paws in mysterious places to explore
(it's that "curiosity killed the cat" concept).
For the super-ambitious:
Connect several boxes together with various holes throughout (somewhat
like a cat-sized hamster trail). Warning: Make the holes either big
enough for the cat to get through or very small (paw-sized), or else
the cat may get stuck in one of the holes. This is funny but inconvenient.
For inspiration, please check out
the most wondrous of Wonder Boxes here!
14:magic
carpet ride
Hold one end
of old towel or small old carpet. Let the other end drag on the ground,
enough material that your cat will sit on. Drag this around the house
a bit. Soon, your cat will jump on and take a ride.
15:enimatic
jug
Take a clean 1 gallon milk (or water) jug. Cut
several holes in it large enough for a paw to fit, but not a head. Insert
a ping pong ball (or small practice golf ball). Give to the cats.
If you make the holes slightly smaller than the ball, you can push the
ball into the jug and won't have to keep placing it back in the jug.
You can do the same thing with a clean 2-liter soda bottle.
16:film
container cap
Remove cap off of film container and fling or roll it
across the room.
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