Cats and fun go hand in hand, right? After all, they’re undisputed masters of swatting, digging, nibbling, and chasing anything that comes into their sight and paw’s reach. When the mood for play strikes them, they’ll chase after a piece of string with the same enthusiasm as they would for an elaborate toy. Use that to your advantage, fabCat! If you enjoy crafts, spend your weekends immersed in DIY projects, and want to spoil your cat a little, today’s article is tailored just for you. Grab your notebook and check out some of the best ideas for safe DIY toys that every cat will love.

DIY Cat Toys – Entertainment with a less waste spirit

FabCats, we can’t hide it – every one of us, fabCat Guardians, occasionally feels the need to get new gadgets for our furballs. And there’s nothing wrong with that; cats love being spoiled. However, the funniest situations arise when we come home with a new fancy toy, and the cat, being a cat, chooses to play with the packaging foil or the bottle cap that accidentally fell off the table. That’s just the feline nature. While unsupervised play with random items may not end well for the kitty, it’s worth applauding the cat’s ingenuity and turning it into something beneficial. Toys with a LESS WASTE spirit? We’ve got you covered!

What should you remember before diving into the idea? Safety comes first and foremost. Every toy (not just those made by yourself) should be durable and made from materials that the cat cannot choke on, poison themself with, or get injured by. During the frenzy of play, a cat won’t treat its prey gently, and while it’s hard to expect every toy to be indestructible, it shouldn’t fall apart after the first grab. Steer clear of materials and items with sharp edges, small parts, loose strings, small beads and stones, foil, and plastic that a cat could chew through, plant elements (unless safe for cats), and ribbons that a cat could swallow.

DIY Cat Toys are everywhere!

That’s the beauty of DIY: simple cat toys in the “do it yourself” style can be made from almost anything you find in your home, as long as you stick to the crucial safety rules mentioned before. Use bottle caps from drinks, strings, cardboard, paper, feathers, fabric scraps, old socks, and shoelaces wisely, and let your imagination run wild. Also, think about what excites your cat the most. What do they eagerly reach for when alone to kill boredom? Such items will naturally have greater value for the cat, which is already a huge step towards success.

A few DIY cat toy ideas

A simple cat toy with catnip. Found yourself with a lone sock after laundry, one that you’ll never wear again? Give it to your cat 🙂 Besides the sock, you’ll need some dried catnip or valerian plus some filler. You could use cotton or paper scraps. Fill the sock to create a small ball (if your cat prefers chasing balls) or a longer “snake” if classic kickers work better for your cat. Tie it securely (or sew it), and the toy is ready. Toss it to your cat and observe their reaction – you can adjust the amount of catnip to your cat’s preferences – perhaps they like more aromatic toys? Remember to regularly check the condition of the sock and hide it from the cat after playtime to preserve its magical properties longer.

A cardboard cat toy? Say no more! Cardboard is a true treasure trove of possibilities in DIY projects. You can make an indispensable hideout, conjure up a MIAUcedes like Lucifer did (known as @luciferthecat777 on Instagram), build a floor slide (cardboard inserts from our scratching posts work purrfectly here), or cut small holes in a flat box and hide treats in them. For such purposes, boxes left from cat food 6-packs work perfectly for us. No cardboard goes to waste in a cat’s home. Another indispensable cat toy you can always find in a cat’s home is… toilet paper rolls.

What about larger cardboard boxes? Those from myKotty scratchers and beds can be used as a giant, full-fledged playground. Just cut holes, tunnels, and passages in them, or connect several boxes, and cats will effectively utilize their full potential during playtime – whether in feline duets or while playing with you. Cats love to hunt by surprise, so a toy peeking out unexpectedly from a cardboard hole automatically becomes more attractive.

A feather cat toy – an idea for fans of classic wand toys. For this, you’ll need to purchase a few feathers from a reliable source – it’s best to opt for natural ones, but make sure they come from healthy birds (giving your cat those collected from the park, without prior disinfection, is not the best plan). All you need now is a string or cord from an old wand toy and a stick to attach it to, and you’re all set. Making such a simple fishing rod will take a few minutes, and the cat’s joy will be priceless.

Regarding wand toys, we have another cool trick that works especially well for our team’s cat Tosia. If you’ve sown cat grass or plants safe for cats in your home, single leaves or a few blades of grass tied together with a string make a wonderful toy. Equally successful were rods made from a piece of paper or cardboard tied to the end of a string or a stiffer wire, which also sets the rod in motion.

Crocheted cat toys. A great task for those who like to knit or crochet while watching TV shows in the evening. If mastering a few crochet patterns is not a problem for you, sew something extra for your cat. It could be a simple ball, a small mouse, or a more elaborate toy. And we know that cats love yarn. If you also stuff it with their favorite catnip, they’ll definitely have a fun time.

Home ideas for toys filled with treats. A reward is one of the key elements of play: to complete the natural hunting cycle, a cat who succeeds in a hunt deserves something delicious. This is where toys that require a little puzzling from the cat come into play, making the cat think and rewarding them for it. If your furs love sniffing in scent mats, rolling a ball from which treats fall out, and easily solving cat puzzles, this DIY type is just for you. And there’s no shortage of ideas in this category because you can hide treats:

• in a box filled with crumpled paper balls (so the cat can dig through them),
• in egg cartons (you can cover the holes with a paper ball for an additional challenge),
• in an empty, flat box (e.g., from pizza), where you cut holes just big enough for a cat’s paw,
• in fabric scraps (make sure they’re large enough so the cat can’t accidentally swallow them),
• in a blanket casually thrown on the floor – it creates fantastic sniffing hills and valleys for your cat to dig through.

What unusual toys do your cats usually grab? We’re waiting for your ideas and DIY recipes on our Facebook page → https://www.facebook.com/myKottypl/