Dec
19
2009

How to make toys for cats?

My sister is making me cat-sit her kitty when she goes to Vegas. I have nothing for her kitty to play with. does anyone know how to make cat toys with stuff that the normal person has around the house??
Everyone’s answers are great! I also need some ways to make her fall asleep, because my sister said at night she gets on your bed (Im ok with that part), and runs up and down your body and runs in circles.Shes like a hyperactive cat or something
also, shes a kitten, so everything needs to be kitten-friendly.

Here’s some ideas to get you started:-

Puzzle Feeders
Cut holes in cardboard boxes and lay the bottom of the box with some treats that your cat must paw out.

Empty toilet tissue and paper towels rolling fun
Punch holes in the toll, fill with treat and tape the ends. As the cats push and roll, treat will drop out

Plastic bottles/jug
Alter plastic bottle and jugs by cutting tiny holes in them. Fill with treats and replace cap.

Yogurt cups
Punch holes in the sides and lids and fill with treats.

Egg Carton/Plastic easter eggs
Punch holes in a clear egg carton and fill with treats

(adapted from Cat Fancy magazine)

Other toys:-

Milk Jug Ring – just throw them on the floor and watch your cats go insane!

Shoelace – drag along the floor to keep the cat chasing

Twisty drinking straws – They love to chew on them and makes great hunting toys

Pillow Tunnels – line a few pillows on the floor to make a tunnel and watch you cat dash into them!

Crumpled paper – instant ball with sound effects!

Card box Tower – This requires some assembling but it’s a hit with all cats!

Materials needed:

1. One cardboard box
2. Ugly fabric any print or solid
3. Glue sticks
4. Sandpaper any grade
5. Catnip toy (optional)
6. Old sock (fill plastic bag with sand and insert in sock)
7. Extra cardboard
8. Pencil or marker

Tools needed:

1. Duct tape (personal favorite tool of mine)
2. Scissors
3. Glue gun
4. Serrated knife (steak knife works- so I hear)

Instructions:
1. Open cardboard box on one side by separating at seam. This will allow placement of a sandpaper shelf.

2. Cut a flat piece of cardboard to fit box, allowing enough for a 2 inch flap on 2 sides. These flaps will be used to glue shelf inside box. This will be a shelf or middle landing area. Glue sandpaper, rough side up, onto cardboard shelf.

3. Center the shelf inside cardboard box, this doesn’t need to be exact, just eyeball it, sand paper side up. Using glue gun attach shelf. Use duct tape and apply multiple layers to shelf and wall area to securely hold it in place.

4. Use duct tape to secure cardboard box back together at seam to hold its original shape.

4. Mark on the box, with pencil, where entry holes should be located. Carefully cut out holes.

5. Cut fabric to cover entire cardboard box.

6. Cover entire box with ugly fabric, even holes, these will be cut out later. Use glue gun to secure fabric to box, it works well.

7. Now find "holes area". Here you will snip the fabric in the center of each hole, then cut in a + sign pattern stopping ¼ inch away from cardboard. Pull these fabric flaps to the inside and secure with glue gun.

8. You’ve wondered now about the sand filled sock? The Cat box needs weight or kitty will surely knock it over, multiple times. So take the sock and duct tape it to the back of the box near the bottom. Sock can also be used in the bottom inside the box; cover completely with tape or kitty will find the sand.

Optional: Catnip toy can be attached to inside top of box.

You can also try making a cat hammock out of old pillow cases.

Visit the link for a pictorial guide and on how to set it up nicely..

http://irene-sheehy.com/cat-hammocks.htm

Edit : The key to making little kitten fall asleep easier is to tire her out and play with her an hour before bedtime. After a good playing session, feed her the last meal of the day, make sure it’s a good amount. You can be sure that she’ll be very contended and will sleep soundly in the night!

8 Responses to “How to make toys for cats?”

  1. InsidetheFire Says:

    Yes. If you have any string like a shoe lace that would work great. Also if you have some old clean socks ball them up and tie the top in a knot. Cats love anything round or stringy. Shiney things work too. Hope this helps =]
    References :

  2. september_sky64 Says:

    My cat loved to play with this rawhide string that we had… We just cut it and tied a knot at one end. Instant toy. I’m not sure where you’d go to find rawhide, but I’m sure if you googled it something will turn up. Just make sure you don’t use ribbon or regular string, cats can choke on things like that. You can also take a piece of tin foil and roll it into a golf-ball sized ball, then roll it around the floor for a game of chase. Be careful to smooth out all the sharp edges, though, so there are no unfortunate incidents. A laser pointer can also provide endless entertainment, if you have one.
    References :

  3. Heidi S Says:

    Cats love lazar lights. You invest about 5 bucks and the cat will play forever and then sleep like a baby. Or even get a sturdy stick and tie a shoe string at the end and they will try to catch it as long as you keep moving it.
    References :
    personal experience

  4. coolcat Says:

    Cats love string…any string. They also like feathery things.
    References :

  5. JelloFat Says:

    Instant Jingle Ball

    1. Assemble the materials.
    2. If there is still a label on the medicine container, wash/peel it off.
    3. Open the medicine container, and place the jingle bells inside. Alternatively, you can use beads,beans or unpopped popping corn which will rattle instead of jingle.
    4. Close it back up. If you think the cat may be able to open the bottle, despite the safety cap, tape it shut with the tape.

    Cat Puppet

    1. Assemble the materials.
    2. Cut a small hole (just big enough for the end of the pencil to fit through) in the bottom of the stuffed animal.
    3. If stuffing is leaking out, remove just a bit of it.
    4. Break off the tip of the pencil, making it as blunt as possible. Stick and secure the non-eraser end of the pencil in the stuffed animal. You can do this by squirting a dab of hot glue on the pencil before inserting it, or you can just use school or tacky glue. You can also insert the pencil and use tape on the outside, but this is not as secure and can be a choking hazard for your cat.
    5. To play with the toy, hold the other end of the pencil and wave it around in front of your cat. Allow your cat to pounce on it, or nibble on it. However, do not leave your cat unattended with this toy because the cat could hurt itself.

    Jumping Pencil

    1. Sharpen both sides of a pencil.
    2. Break or wear down both points.
    3. Put the pencil on the floor near your cat and push down one of the tips to make the other side go up. If you cat shows an interest, he or she will learn to do this without your intervention.

    Bonding Sock

    1. Wear an old sock for a few hours. Wear it just long enough for your odor to rub off.
    2. Take a large pinch of catnip in your right hand and put the sock over your hand.
    3. Drop the catnip in the toe and twist it.
    4. Hold the catnip though in you right hand (the one in the sock) and pull the sock off.
    5. Repeat this, adding a bit more catnip for every layer.
    6. Tie a knot in the end of the sock.
    7. Give this to your cat. Your cat will be able to smell you on the sock. This is a good way to introduce yourself to a new cat.

    "Smells Like Chocolate"

    1. Turn a chocolate wrapper inside out. Make sure there’s no chocolate left in it anymore but don’t wash it. (WARNING: chocolate can be TOXIC to animals, esp. dogs)
    2. Crunch it up into a small ball.
    3. Put the ball on the floor and flick it. The cat will probably be interested in the smell and will also find it easy to pick up in her mouth.

    Fishin’ Cats

    1. Assemble the items.
    2. Poke a hole though the ball then put the string through. Make sure the string is tight.
    3. Attach the end of the string(the end without the ball)to a stick.
    4. Make sure your cat can reach the ball when sitting down.
    5. This toy will work well in the backyard.Or you can make a board so it can stand in the living room or anywhere you may want to put it.

    Q-Tip Fun

    1. Purchase a box of Q-Tips
    2. Drop a single Q-Tip on a smooth surface, such as a tile floor, or linoleum floor, from a tall height. Your cat will love to punch on it after it falls or bat it around with his/her paws.

    Or you could always ask your sister to bring some of her cats toys with her.
    References :
    http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Cat-Toys-out-of-Common-Household-Items

  6. Kim S Says:

    Roll up a ball of aluminium foil.. really tight.. it really flies!! my cats go nuts over it!
    References :
    Dustymoma, Prowler, Rebel

  7. tåkë cárê õf mÿ cât Says:

    Here’s some ideas to get you started:-

    Puzzle Feeders
    Cut holes in cardboard boxes and lay the bottom of the box with some treats that your cat must paw out.

    Empty toilet tissue and paper towels rolling fun
    Punch holes in the toll, fill with treat and tape the ends. As the cats push and roll, treat will drop out

    Plastic bottles/jug
    Alter plastic bottle and jugs by cutting tiny holes in them. Fill with treats and replace cap.

    Yogurt cups
    Punch holes in the sides and lids and fill with treats.

    Egg Carton/Plastic easter eggs
    Punch holes in a clear egg carton and fill with treats

    (adapted from Cat Fancy magazine)

    Other toys:-

    Milk Jug Ring – just throw them on the floor and watch your cats go insane!

    Shoelace – drag along the floor to keep the cat chasing

    Twisty drinking straws – They love to chew on them and makes great hunting toys

    Pillow Tunnels – line a few pillows on the floor to make a tunnel and watch you cat dash into them!

    Crumpled paper – instant ball with sound effects!

    Card box Tower – This requires some assembling but it’s a hit with all cats!

    Materials needed:

    1. One cardboard box
    2. Ugly fabric any print or solid
    3. Glue sticks
    4. Sandpaper any grade
    5. Catnip toy (optional)
    6. Old sock (fill plastic bag with sand and insert in sock)
    7. Extra cardboard
    8. Pencil or marker

    Tools needed:

    1. Duct tape (personal favorite tool of mine)
    2. Scissors
    3. Glue gun
    4. Serrated knife (steak knife works- so I hear)

    Instructions:
    1. Open cardboard box on one side by separating at seam. This will allow placement of a sandpaper shelf.

    2. Cut a flat piece of cardboard to fit box, allowing enough for a 2 inch flap on 2 sides. These flaps will be used to glue shelf inside box. This will be a shelf or middle landing area. Glue sandpaper, rough side up, onto cardboard shelf.

    3. Center the shelf inside cardboard box, this doesn’t need to be exact, just eyeball it, sand paper side up. Using glue gun attach shelf. Use duct tape and apply multiple layers to shelf and wall area to securely hold it in place.

    4. Use duct tape to secure cardboard box back together at seam to hold its original shape.

    4. Mark on the box, with pencil, where entry holes should be located. Carefully cut out holes.

    5. Cut fabric to cover entire cardboard box.

    6. Cover entire box with ugly fabric, even holes, these will be cut out later. Use glue gun to secure fabric to box, it works well.

    7. Now find "holes area". Here you will snip the fabric in the center of each hole, then cut in a + sign pattern stopping ¼ inch away from cardboard. Pull these fabric flaps to the inside and secure with glue gun.

    8. You’ve wondered now about the sand filled sock? The Cat box needs weight or kitty will surely knock it over, multiple times. So take the sock and duct tape it to the back of the box near the bottom. Sock can also be used in the bottom inside the box; cover completely with tape or kitty will find the sand.

    Optional: Catnip toy can be attached to inside top of box.

    You can also try making a cat hammock out of old pillow cases.

    Visit the link for a pictorial guide and on how to set it up nicely..

    http://irene-sheehy.com/cat-hammocks.htm

    Edit : The key to making little kitten fall asleep easier is to tire her out and play with her an hour before bedtime. After a good playing session, feed her the last meal of the day, make sure it’s a good amount. You can be sure that she’ll be very contended and will sleep soundly in the night!
    References :

  8. Theresa Says:

    i made a box with a door window and like a front counter on the window for treats , my cat could not open the door even though i showed him over and hes pretty smart . !!!! i put another box ontop for a bed.!!!
    References :

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