Let me start by saying that my cat Luna is judging me right now as I write this. She’s giving me that look—you know the one—where she’s basically saying, “Another article about cat toys? How about you just open that Amazon package instead?”
But here’s the thing: DIY cat toys have saved my sanity (and my wallet) countless times over the years. Plus, there’s something deeply satisfying about watching your cat go bonkers over something you made from stuff that was destined for the recycling bin.
Why DIY Cat Toys Are Worth Your Time
Store-bought cat toys often go ignored while packaging becomes the main attraction. My cat once snubbed a $30 electronic butterfly toy that she completely ignored in favor of the tissue paper it came in—that’s when I committed to diy cat toys.
DIY toys save money and let you customize to your cat’s preferences. Some cats love crinkly things but hate bells. Through trial and error (mostly error, if I’m being honest), I’ve built up quite the arsenal of homemade toys that actually work.
The Cardboard Kingdom: DIY Cat Toys from Boxes
Let’s start with the holy grail of diy cat toys cardboard—because if there’s one thing cats universally love, it’s cardboard boxes. I still remember the time Luna ignored me for three days straight because I had the audacity to throw away her favorite Amazon box. Lesson learned.
The Basic Box Fort
This is cat toys diy easy simple at its finest. Just take a box, cut a few entrance and exit holes, and voilà—instant cat entertainment. For extra credit, cut some peek-a-boo windows that allow your cat to swat at toys (or your unsuspecting fingers) as they pass by.
Last month, I created what I thought was an architectural masterpiece—a three-story cardboard mansion complete with windows, doors, and even a little drawbridge. Five minutes of exploration later, and the shipping label became the most interesting part. Pet parenthood is humbling.
Cardboard Roll Puzzles
Speaking of simple pleasures, diy cat toys toilet paper roll projects are some of the easiest toys to make. I’ve been collecting toilet paper rolls like they’re going out of style (much to my husband’s confusion). Here’s what you can do with them:
- Treat Dispenser: Cut small holes in a toilet paper roll, fold the ends in, and fill with treats. As your cat bats it around, treats fall out randomly.
- Crinkly Toy: Fold a toilet paper roll flat, then fold the ends toward the middle to create a bowtie shape. Stuff with catnip for extra appeal.
Many cats have a special technique where they’ll bat the treat dispenser under the couch, then look at you expectantly until you fish it out. Luna has this down to an art form—rinse and repeat about 47 times a day.
String and Wand Toys: The Classic DIY Cat Toys
If there’s one type of toy that gets cats zooming around the house at 2 AM (always at 2 AM, never during reasonable daylight hours), it’s anything dangling from a string. Cat wand toys diy projects are super simple but endlessly entertaining.
The Basic Wand Toy
For a quick feather cat toys diy project, attach feathers, fabric scraps, or even paper to a string, then tie that string to a stick (a chopstick works great). Instantly, you’ve got hours of interactive play potential.
I once made a wand toy with some leftover yarn. Three years later, that ratty piece of yarn hanging from a chopstick is still a favorite in our house, while the expensive feathered contraption from the pet store gathers dust. There’s no accounting for taste when it comes to cats.
Upgraded Wand Toys
Ready to level up your hanging cat toys diy game? Try these variations:
- Crinkle Paper Wand: Attach strips of crinkly paper (like from shopping bags) to a string
- Pom-Pom Parade: String several colorful pom-poms onto heavy thread
- T-shirt Teasers: Cut old t-shirts into strips, braid them together, and attach to a stick
The day I made a wand toy with a little bell hidden inside a felt mouse, Luna practically did backflips trying to catch it. At that moment, I felt like the most successful pet parent in history. The feeling lasted approximately until bedtime when said bell toy was dropped on my face at 3 AM.
No-Sew Solutions for the Craft-Challenged
Not all of us are crafting wizards, and that’s okay! There are plenty of diy cat toys no sew options that require zero crafting skills.
The Sock Monster
Take an old sock, drop in some catnip and a crinkly plastic wrapper, tie a knot at the end, and boom—instant toy. These sock monsters get dragged all over the house, left in strange places. Nothing quite like stepping barefoot onto a damp catnip sock at midnight!
Paper Bag Playhouse
A paper grocery bag on its side is a top-tier easy diy cat toys project. Cut windows if you’re feeling fancy, but the bag alone qualifies as a top-tier easy diy cat toys project. It delights most cats who love ambushing passing ankles from their hiding spot.
Interactive Puzzle DIY Cat Toys
For those times when you need to get work done and can’t be the entertainment committee, diy cat puzzle toys are absolute lifesavers.
Treat-Finding Box
Take a shoebox and cut small holes in the lid. Place treats or dry food inside, and let your cat figure out how to fish them out. This diy cat enrichment toys project has saved my sanity during many work-from-home conference calls.
Last week during an important Zoom meeting, Luna decided her puzzle box wasn’t challenging enough. She proceeded to flip it over, spilling kibble everywhere, and then looked at me like I was supposed to be impressed with her problem-solving skills. My colleagues got a good laugh, at least.
Muffin Tin Puzzle
Place treats in a muffin tin and cover each compartment with a ball or toy. Your cat will have to figure out how to remove the obstacles to get the treats. This diy cat toys interactive gem can keep a cat busy for at least 15 minutes—which in cat time is practically forever.
Baby-Safe Options for Kittens
When Luna was a kitten, she was a tiny tornado of energy. Finding safe diy cat toys kittens would play with (rather than eat) was a challenge. Here are some kitten-safe options:
Bottle Cap Hockey
Clean plastic bottle caps make perfect lightweight toys for kittens to bat around. Watching them chase these across hardwood floors at top speed, drifting around corners like they’re in “The Fast and the Curious” is pure entertainment.
Cardboard Box Ball Pit
Fill a shallow cardboard box with ping pong balls for an instant kitten playground. It’s a cat stimulation toys diy project that’s as entertaining for you as it is for them. Kittens will dive into ball pits with such enthusiasm that you will see balls flying everywhere.
Seasonal and Holiday-Themed Toys
One of my favorite traditions is making holiday-themed toys. For Christmas, I make felt cat toys diy in the shape of trees and stars. For Halloween, little felt pumpkins stuffed with catnip are a hit.
Halloween Felt Mice
Cut mouse shapes from orange or black felt, stuff with catnip and a little poly-fill, then secure with hot glue for a no-sew solution. These handmade cat toys diy projects make great gifts for other cat lovers too!
Once during Halloween, Luna carried her orange felt mouse toy to the front door every time the doorbell rang, as if she wanted to show it off to the costume-wearing visitors. My heart nearly exploded from the cuteness.
Yarn Crafts (That Won’t Become Dangerous)
A quick safety note: While diy cat toys yarn projects can be great, never leave your cat unsupervised with loose yarn as they can swallow it, which can lead to dangerous intestinal problems.
Yarn Pom-Poms
Make secure yarn pom-poms that are tightly bound in the center so no strands can come loose. These make great kickable toys that satisfy your cat’s bunny-kicking instincts. Many cats like to “hunt” their pom-poms at night, announcing their successful “kills” with triumphant meows.
Crocheted Balls
If you’re crafty, small crocheted balls filled with catnip make excellent homemade cat toys diy options. Just make sure your stitches are tight so nothing can come unraveled.
Upcycled Material Toys That Actually Last
Some of the most durable diy cat toys easy come from upcycled materials you’d never expect.
Denim Mice
Old jeans make incredibly durable cat toys. Cut small mouse shapes, stuff with catnip and cotton, and secure with hot glue. The thick fabric stands up to even the most aggressive play sessions.
Last summer, Luna managed to carry one of her denim mice outside and “lost” it in the garden. Three rainstorms later, I found it while weeding, and not only was it still intact, but she was just as excited about it as day one. That’s durability!
T-shirt Rope Toys
Cut old t-shirts into strips, braid them, and knot the ends. These diy cat toys are perfect for cats who carry toys around. I often find t-shirt ropes strategically placed around the house—usually in locations designed to trip me in the middle of the night.
Food Puzzles That Keep Them Busy
For the food-motivated feline (like my Luna, who would probably sell me out for a treat), food puzzle toys provide both entertainment and slowed-down eating.
Egg Carton Puzzle
Transform an egg carton into a puzzle toy by hiding treats in compartments. Your cat will have to work to get the treats out, making mealtime more engaging. As your cat masters this game, increase difficulty with small balls covering the treat sections.
Sensory Toys for Picky Cats
Some cats are all about texture and sensory experiences. These easy diy cat toys cater to the sensory-seeking feline.
Crinkle Envelope
Take a small paper envelope, place crinkly cellophane inside (like from a flower bouquet), seal it, and reinforce the edges with tape. The mysterious crinkle sound will drive your cat wild.
I have yet to meet a cat that isn’t somewhat obsessed with crinkly sounds. They can hear a candy wrapper being opened from three rooms away. Luna’s crinkle envelope is perpetually soggy from being carried everywhere like a prized possession.
The Ultimate DIY Toy Box
Once you’ve created an arsenal of homemade cat toys diy, you’ll need somewhere to store them. A cardboard box with entrance holes allows your cat to “fish” for toys themselves when they’re in the mood to play.
I labeled Luna’s toy box with her name despite my husband’s eye-rolling. She seems to know exactly which box is hers and sits beside it meowing when she wants a specific toy. Cats may not be literate, but they’re certainly not subtle about their demands!
When DIY CatToys Get Too Loved
Handmade cat toys diy projects eventually surrender to sharp teeth and claws. I’ve learned to not get too attached to my creations. When Luna destroyed her felt mouse (my two-hour project), I realized destruction is the highest feline compliment.
Now I have a regular “toy hospital” session where I repair the well-loved items and replace those that are beyond saving. It’s become a monthly ritual that gets closely supervised, with materials being batted around as if offering expert consultation.
The Bottom Line: It’s About the Bonding
At the end of the day, making diy cat toys isn’t just about saving money or being crafty—it’s about the special bond you create with your pet. When Luna goes crazy for something I made especially for her, that happiness is worth more than any store-bought toy could provide.
Last night, while making a new wand toy, Luna sat purring in my lap, occasionally batting the string as if saying, “Hurry up, I want to play” Those moments make the effort worthwhile—even if she does wake me up at 3 AM by dropping said toy on my face.
So grab that empty toilet paper roll, rescue that cardboard box from the recycling bin, and upcycle those old t-shirts. Your cat will thank you with purrs, play, and probably a few love bites too.
If you’re looking for more ways to make your cat feel loved, don’t miss these two posts:
- Cat Enrichment: Why It’s Essential for a Happy, Healthy Cat
- DIY Cat Stuff on a Budget: Creative Hacks for Cat Owners
