Home Crochet baby clothesMake cat toys yourself - quick ideas for crafting

Make cat toys yourself - quick ideas for crafting

  • 1. Make prey games yourself
    • Simple game variants
    • Longer durable toys
  • 2. Do string games yourself
  • 3. Simple ideas
  • 4. Build a cat tree yourself
  • Safety tips for cat toys

Cats love to discover and play new things. So that you can give your darlings exciting and exciting toys, without buying them expensive in the specialized trade, we have put together some ideas for you. Decide for yourself which cat games you want to surprise your four-legged friends first. Through the detailed craft instructions and the material lists, the ideas can be implemented quickly.

Cat games not only support the well-being of the animals, but also the intelligence. Many of the toys challenge and encourage the cats to make them think. At the same time, it gives a lot of pleasure to deal with the animals and to play, or to watch them while playing. In any case, it is important to pay attention to the selection of health-safe materials. When putting together the craft instructions, we have made sure that the cat games for the animals are safe and sound.

1. Make prey games yourself

Cats react to moving objects and the play instinct is activated. Easy prey objects can be tinkered easily and with little effort:

Simple game variants

  • Use a piece of paper to make a ball. Crumple a sheet of paper and tie a thread around the ball. Now let the paper ball dangle in front of your cat and animate the animal to play. The advantage of this ball is that the toy is made quickly and does not cost anything. The disadvantage is the fact that the paper ball has only a short shelf life.

  • Take a flashlight and simulate a prey on the wall through the cone of light. Move the light spot in front of the cat so that it follows it. Avoid lighting the cat directly in the eyes, as this can lead to consequential damage. Decisive here is also the strength of the flashlight.

Attention: As the cat gets very angry here, make sure that it does not run against objects and get injured. Therefore, perform this game only in a safe environment and do not overtax the cat. Even if the animals could follow the light beam for hours, it is sufficient to play for a few minutes.

  • Tie an old sock to a string and pull it over the floor. The cat will also watch the moving socks as prey and follow it.

Longer durable toys

Make a "fishing rod" yourself

Fishing toys are available from specialist retailers, but can be easily crafted yourself.

  • Floor (possibly from your own garden)
  • line
  • a cat toy or a paper ball

Step 1: Pick a long and stable stick.
Step 2: Tie the string at one end.
Step 3: Tie the toy to the other end.

By moving the fishing rod, the cat follows the toy and tries to catch it. She jumps up, runs and occasionally gets to catch the toy.

Attention: Keep in mind the dynamics of the game and choose a safe place outdoors. Make sure that the cord and the stick are long enough so that the cat can not accidentally scratch you.

Make a bird

  • Tennis ball and golf ball
  • non-toxic glue
  • material
  • Loops, springs, cords, etc.
  • non-toxic pen or small pommels for the eyes
  • floor
  • fishing line

Step 1: First put the golf ball on the tennis ball. The golf ball represents the head of the bird, the tennis ball is the body.
Step 2: Now glue the fabric to the bird.
Step 3: Glue the cords and loops to the side of the tennis ball.
Step 4: To visualize the eyes, you can either paint them upside down or you stick the pompons on the bird.
Step 5: Tie a fishing line to the stick and tie the bird to the other end of the string.

Make a mouse

  • two big pompoms
  • gray imitation fur (for example a piece of fabric)
  • non-toxic glue
  • non-toxic pen
  • String or bow

Step 1: Glue the two pompoms together.
Step 2: Fold the fabric together and cut out two teardrop-shaped shapes. By folding you get now two equal pieces that are still connected to each other on one side.
Step 3: Lay the pompoms on one side of the fabric and fold the second part of the fabric over the pompom package.
Step 4: Glue the still open side together.
Step 5: Use the pen to draw two eyes on the mouse.
Step 6: Take the cord or loop and stick it as a tail to the mouse.

That's how you make a snake

  • three to five empty toilet paper rolls or paper kitchen rolls
  • a string (it must be so long that it can be guided through the rolls)
  • non-toxic glue
  • green or brown fabric

Step 1: Pass the cord through the rollers and glue it to the inside. This will connect the rollers together. At the same time, there is enough flexibility to keep the snake mobile. This can meander and create a deceptively real resemblance.
Step 2: Now glue the snake to the fabric.

Tip: If you want, you can decorate the snake even further and create an exciting look. With a red piece of cloth you simulate the tongue of the snake.

Step 3: Leave one end of the snake open. Here they are now adding treats, which the cat with the paw can bring out during play.

2. Do string games yourself

String games are very popular with cats. The movement also stimulates the game or hunting drive. The cat games are carried out here by you and the animal together and therefore promote the bond between humans and animals. Since these are relatively simple cat games, you can easily do them yourself.

  • Take a string about a meter long and make a tight knot on the sides. Now pull the cord through the room in front of the cat. The top knot allows you to hold the thread firmly, while the other side is useful for moving the string.

Attention: The thicker the thread, the higher the safety for the cat. A string is suitable for a short game in which the cat is not too wild. If, on the other hand, it begins to rage properly, a woolen thread is better suited. This is more stable and can not wrap around the paws. Make sure the cat can not strangle with the string. Perform the game only in the interior. If the cord slips out of your hand and the cat gets caught in it, you must be able to grab and free yourself quickly.

  • Use the belt of a bathrobe to play. Pull the belt slowly and in surprising movements across the floor and thus animate the cat to play.

Attention: Cords may only be used under supervision. After playing, you must be safely cleared away so that the cats or other household animals or children can not get caught up in it.

3. Simple ideas

Many household items are suitable for crafting toys. They are quick to hand and give animals and humans a little pleasure. Through the use of treats, the play instinct can be further promoted and the cat receives a reward.

Create a treat role

  • empty kitchen paper roll
  • scissors
  • material
  • non-toxic glue
  • Treats

Step 1: Stick the kitchen roll to the fabric. Make sure that also the sides are pasted.
Step 2: Cut medium sized holes in the cardboard and the fabric. Through this, the treats should be able to fall out later.
Step 3: Fill the roll with treats. These should make a distinct noise when moving the cardboard roller.
Step 4: Lay the roll on the floor and give it a slight nudge. Now the treats should be heard. They will fall out of the loop over time, this should not be too short but not too long. The cat now plays with the role itself and nudges it again and again. Gradually the treats fall off the roll.

The treat bottle

  • Plastic bag (it should be a water bottle)
  • Treats

Fill the plastic bottle with treats or dry food. Leave bottle open and roll it on the floor. The cat must now try to get the food out of the bottle. It is helpful if the plastic bottle has the largest possible bottle neck.

Insert a ball

A simple cat toy is a ball. This can be a table tennis ball or a tennis ball. Throw the cat's ball to play with and chase him.

Make toy caches

Take cardboard box and cut openings. Now attach toys to the inside of the box. The cat sees the toy, but can not reach it directly. You can also use a larger box into which the cat can go. The toy is attached to the ceiling of the box and can swing freely. The cat goes into the box and can hide and play there.

4. Build a cat tree yourself

Cat trees are a popular toy in cat owners and can take various forms. You can either build a simple model or incorporate exciting elements, such as a hammock.

  • wooden boards
  • saw
  • non-toxic glue
  • stable substance or fibers

Step 1: Build a box out of 5 boards, which is open at the bottom. Saw a door opening into at least 2 of the sides. These should be large enough for the cat to go in and provide sufficient oxygen circulation at the same time.
Step 2: Place the box with the opening facing down on the floor. Stick the box to the fabric or parts of a scratching mat.
Step 3: Make more boxes of this kind and attach the boxes one above the other. The bottom box must be the largest and the size must continue to decrease towards the top. If you build two of these towers, then you can put a mat between the two towers as a kind of hammock.

Tip: You can also use a round wooden stick and wrap it with scratch-proof fabric or a scratching mat. This can be integrated into the tower. Saw a hole in the top of the boxes and pass the rod through. In any case, pay attention to the stability, as a long pole can swing and the cat will jump up or climb up. In addition, the tower should not tip over and must therefore be fixed if necessary.

Safety tips for cat toys

When building and using cat toys, you must follow some safety instructions:

  1. Use only non-toxic materials. Pay attention, among other things, to included adhesives. For DIY, you will find in the retailer a variety of non-toxic adhesives, which are also used for crafting with young children.
  2. Make sure that small components can not detach and are swallowed by the cat. If you provide tinkered mice or birds with eyes, then this should be soft. Small globules can get into the cat's neck and cause suffocation.
  3. Do not leave the cat alone with the toys. Most of the ideas listed here (with the exception of the cat tree) should only be given to the cat under your supervision.
  4. Colored pencils can also contain toxins. Make sure you choose the ingredients when choosing pens. Again, it is advisable to ask in the shop for non-toxic variants for toddlers.
  5. Make sure that the cat can not get caught in the strings.
  6. Make sure there is enough room to keep the cat from running against furniture.
  7. Protect yourself against accidental scratching of the cat. If the cat is in the game, then you should not surprise them surprisingly, because at this moment the attention of the cat is only on the game and you can be scratched.

Tips for quick readers:

  • Make a cat tree yourself
  • loot games
  • cord Games
  • Put household items to play
  • build a fishing rod yourself
  • insert a paper ball
  • pay attention to safety
  • for cat games only use non-toxic materials
  • think about creative ideas and build new toys
  • Make mice, birds or snakes yourself
Sewing a laptop pillow - Instructions for a lap tray
Descale dishwasher in 10 steps - instructions with 4 home remedies