Though we often consider our precious feline companions aloof and independent, it’s crucial they have physical and mental stimuli between napping in the glow of a sunbeam, or knocking things off tables.
你不需要在宠物店花一大笔钱来为你的猫咪提供无尽的娱乐。Using materials you may already have lying around the house, you can make your beloved pet adorable DIY cat toys to keep them busy for hours.
Important Details to Consider When Making Cat Toys
Before diving into a DIY cat toys project, here are a few things to remember to ensure the final result offers a safe and engaging experience.
Type and Size of Cat Toy
As any cat owner knows, your furry tyrants can be hard to please. They’re not afraid to turn their whiskers up at anything objectionable, regardless of the time and effort you put into making it.
Cat toys come in different shapes and sizes, offering outlets for your pet to flex their natural prey drive, solve challenging puzzles, and provide a little cardio — all of which are necessary for acat’s health and happiness.
Your best bet is to offer various materials, shapes, and functionalities.
- Climbing trees
- Fishing poles and danglers
- Balls
- Catnip-filled soft toys
- Scratching posts
- Puzzle boxes
- Treat dispensers
在玩耍的时候，观察他们最喜欢玩哪种玩具，哪些玩具被忽略了。
You should also keep an eye on small elements like bells, strings, and buttons that cats can choke on. Only allow your cat to access these toys during shared play sessions and consider removing any toys that present a hazard.
Materials to Use
Felines are notorious for their love of paper bags and cardboard boxes, but there are plenty of other common household materials that you can transform into easy DIY cat toys.
For example, wood and rope make excellent scratchers that keep kitty’s claws out of your furniture, whileold clothesare perfect for sewing catnip-scented softies to bat around the floor.
DIY yarn cat toys are also an excellent option, as you can use skein remnants for pompoms and fishing poles.
还有一些材料你应该避免使用。例如，塑料袋是绝对不可以的，因为你的猫咪会被塑料袋缠在一起窒息。
You should also avoid reusing the hard, plastic “beans” from stuffed animals, but feel free to repurpose the cotton batting.
Other Considerations
一旦你弄清楚了你想做什么，用什么材料，在你开始一步一步DIY猫玩具之前，还有一些事情要考虑。
- Is it machine-washable or easy to wipe down with a cloth?
- 你需要很多玩具来避免猫之间的争吵吗?
- Are there any particular designs or colors you’d like to use?
- Do you havepet-safe glue?
15 DIY Cat Toys Plans to Consider
Ready to get started on your cat toys DIY project?
We’ve rounded up 15 free plans that even the most disapproving catnip connoisseur will give an appreciative sniff.
Cardboard Cat Play Box
Turn your cat’s obsession with cardboard boxes into a tunnel of wonders using leftover pompoms, pipe cleaners, and string. If you don’t have any premade puff balls, feel free to mix things up by adding small, stuffed toys for the kitty to paw.
Jellyfish Catnip Toy
If you’re like most crafting enthusiasts, you have a pile of precut felt sheets tucked into your fabric bin. Give them new life with this felt, jellyfish DIY cat toy that uses pet-safe sesame seeds as a filler instead of plastic beans or cotton.
Ribbon Wand
This 2-for-1 project offers something for you and your cat: You get to clean out your yarn bin, and the kitty gets a little cardio during their next play session. These DIY cat toys with yarn are straightforward to make and require very few materials.
Cat Tree
Cat trees can be expensive, but they’re perfect for appealing to a cat’s instinct to climb, scratch, and lounge in luxury. If you havescrap woodfrom an old project, you can make a DIY version that’s better than store-bought.
我们喜欢这些计划建议使用节约的沙发垫，而不是昂贵的室内装饰泡沫。
Menswear Mice
These dapper little darlings are a stylish option for repurposing menswear fabrics. They’re cute enough to gift to a fellow cat person, so consider whipping up a few different sets for an easy just-because present.
Crinkle Pompom
Kitties will pounce and batter any interestingly textured ball from old receipts to dust bunnies. Channel that boundless energy toward a cute, crinkly tulle puff ball, instead. They look like tiny versions of bathing poufs. Just be sure to tie the center tightly with string to ensure pieces of the material don’t fall out.
Toilet Paper Tube Cat Toy
When it comes to DIY cat toys, toilet paper rolls are one of the easiest and least expensive materials. All you need is a pair of scissors to make an entire army of engaging cardboard buddies for your kitties to wallop and hunt.
Cat Play Gym
Despite looking more like a piece of modern art than a handmade toy, this cat play gym is a ribbon wonderland that will stimulate your cat’s senses. The best part is that it folds up, so you can easily tuck it under a couch or in a closet.
Cat Tent
把一件旧t恤和几个铁丝衣架改造成一个可爱的快闪帐篷。因为衬衫有安全别针固定，你可以很容易地取下它，扔进洗衣机清洗。
No Sew Braided Cat Toy
Get the little ones in on DIY-ing fun by creating no sew braided cat toys made from soft, nuzzle-worthy fleece. If you’ve ever made friendship bracelets, you’ll be familiar with the process. Line up three strands of fabric, knot one end together, and then braid.
Cat Puzzle Box
猫咪拼图盒一定会让你聪明的猫咪大受欢迎，尤其是当你发现它们对玩具感到厌倦的时候。这个盒子的神奇之处在于，你可以把家里所有的旧玩具都装进去。
你还可以通过添加狗粮作为“解决”盒子的美味奖励，让它变得更加刺激。
Scratcher Lounge
不要在你当地的宠物店买价格过高的刮花器，而是升级回收。很难相信这个豪华的挠痒痒休息室是一个DIY的纸板猫玩具——有开口的管子，可以把小玩具、干点心和其他好吃的东西收起来。
If you don’t have jute or sisal, consider checking at thrift stores or online swap-and-shops for used cat trees or scratching posts to harvest the pieces you need.
Entertainment Center Cat Hotel
Ready to level up from easy DIY cat toys with a more challenging project that your whole family can work on? Give your cats a multitiered dream hotel crafted from an old bookshelf, entertainment center, or other sturdy wood storage piece.
There are virtually limitless options for adding hammocks, scratchers, hideaways, and dangling toys you can make at home. Plus, you can add fun designs or coordinate to match your existing decor.
Egg Carton Food Puzzle
Bring the outdoors in for your tiny house predator with an egg cartoon food puzzle that turns mealtime into an engaging, stimulating challenge.
The hardest part of creating this DIY project is being patient while the cat grass takes root, but it’ll be worth watching your tom or tabby grapple with obstacles to find their kibble.
如果你有一只吃东西快的猫，或者一只渴望在爪子垫之间感受草的室内猫，这个谜题是必须要做的。
Step Stool Sensory Playground
Don’t scrap an old step stool. Turn it into an exciting playground that provides spots to scratch, play, and nap in luxury. Adding bristle brushes might be enough distraction to keep kitty busy while you work on your latest DIY project.
Conclusion
The best part about DIY cat toys is finding a new purpose for unused items you have lying around the house. Suddenly, cardboard and felt squares can be a delightful treat for your beloved feline instead of another dust collector in your craft room.
Next time you decide to clean out your junk drawers, storage bins, and closets, keep these projects in mind. With creativity, you can transform “trash” into treasures.
FAQs
Are you wondering how to jump into a cat toy DIY project? These frequently asked questions can help you get started.
How Do You Make a Cat Toy From Scratch?
When making a cat toy from scratch, start by thinking about the household objects your kitty is most interested in.
For example, if they love pushing small objects around tables and shelves, they’ll likely enjoy playing with toys that are light enough to bat around with their paws. Danglers or fishing poles are the best options if they prefer swiping at strings.
一旦你有了制作玩具类型的想法，在你的家里寻找宠物安全的材料，你可以用于这个项目。棉絮、纱线、纸板和丝带都是很好的起点。
You can combine these simple materials into all sorts of shapes and sizes, as long as they don’t present a safety hazard for your cat.
How Do I Easily Make Cat Toys at Home?
最直接的DIY猫玩具是那些用空纸巾或厕纸管做成的。它们很容易切割，并提供一个空白的画布来重新配置成戒指，处理谜题，或轻量级的猫薄荷香囊。
What Are Some Fun Toys for Cats That You Can Craft Yourself?
You can make almost any toy you see in pet shops at home with the benefit of using a sustainable method to entertain your cats. Try sewing together soft plushes, making pompoms, or simply tying a ribbon to a dowel rod.
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