How to Create Cat Toys from Everyday Household Items

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Ngày cập nhật gần nhất: 15/4/2026

Content

Steps

Pendulum

Jingling Ball

Cat Puppet

The Bonding Sock

Fishing Toy

Feather Wand

Moving Light

Chase Toy

Toy Mouse

Yarn Bird Toy

Reviving Old Stuffed Animals

Tips

Warnings

What You’ll Need

Cats require toys for both exercise and entertainment. The ideal toys for cats should mimic the skills they would use in the wild. Not every cat enjoys toys, and some may prefer only one type. Finding the perfect toy for your cat can be expensive. The flashy and shiny toys at pet stores are not necessary and may not even appeal to your cat. You can bond with your pet and save money by making cat toys at home.

Steps

Pendulum

Cut cardboard into a rectangle shape. Another option is to use the core of a toilet paper roll.

Fold the cardboard in half and thread a string through the center. Ensure the string is secured so the cardboard can dangle freely when the other end is fixed. The toy should resemble a pendulum when swung in front of your cat.

Slide the cardboard slightly up the string and fold it down at the bottom. This keeps the cardboard in place on the string, preventing it from slipping off when you swing the toy.

Hold the other end of the string and swing it in front of your cat. The toy should be flexible and controllable, appearing as lively as possible to simulate prey for your cat.

Jingling Ball

Find an empty pill bottle. Remove or wash off any labels still attached to the bottle.

Open the pill bottle and place one or two small bells inside. Alternatively, you can replace the bells with beads, dried beans, or raw corn kernels to create a rattling sound. This toy mimics the quick movements of small prey. The rattling or jingling noise inside will grab your cat's attention when you toss the toy, triggering its hunting instincts to chase after it.

Ensure the toy is tightly sealed. If you're concerned your cat might open the bottle despite the secure lid, you can use tape to reinforce it.

Cat Puppet

Find a small stuffed animal. Ideally, choose one shaped like prey, such as a mouse, to stimulate your cat's chasing instincts. Stuffed toys made from materials like wool, faux fur, or sheepskin are particularly appealing to cats. You'll also need glue and a small stick.

Cut a small hole at the bottom of the stuffed animal. Make sure the hole is just large enough to thread the stick through.

If stuffing is sticking out, remove some to prevent your cat from pulling it out or eating it. Ensure the toy is safe for your cat to play with and minimize the risk of choking.

Apply a drop of glue to the end of the stick. Attach the stick inside the stuffed animal and secure it in place.

Avoid using tape as it is not reliable, and tape or internal stuffing could pose a choking hazard. For the same reason, remove any plastic bead eyes if they are attached to the fabric. Your cat won’t mind if the toy lacks bead eyes, and removing them prevents the risk of chewing or swallowing.

Hold the stick and wave the toy in front of your cat. Let your cat pounce or nibble on the toy. However, never leave your cat unsupervised with the toy to avoid potential injuries.

The Bonding Sock

Wear an old sock for a few hours. Make sure to wear it long enough for your scent to transfer onto the sock.

Hold a pinch of catnip in your hand. Slide the sock over your hand while keeping the catnip inside the sock with your fingers.

Drop the pinch of catnip into the toe of the sock. Then twist the sock to secure it. You don’t need to twist it tightly; just enough to create multiple layers.

Grip the toe of the sock containing the catnip and pull the sock off. Now you’ll have a new layer to add to the toy.

Repeat the process, adding a bit more catnip with each layer. Don’t overdo it. Not all cats are fond of catnip, but those who are tend to be highly sensitive to it.

One theory suggests that catnip excites cats because it affects the hypothalamus in their brains, triggering their hunting instincts. Some studies propose that molecules in catnip act like an opioid for cats, stimulating their brain’s pleasure centers. However, not all cats are affected by catnip, with only about 30-70% showing a reaction.

Tie a knot at the end of the sock. Make it slightly loose so your cat can access the catnip. The effort of “hunting” for the treat engages your cat’s natural predatory instincts.

Let your cat play with the toy. While some cats are unaffected by catnip, others will find this toy irresistible. Even if your cat isn’t a fan of catnip, it will still enjoy playing with the toy.

Your cat will detect your scent on the sock, associating it with the fun and excitement of playing with catnip. This makes it an excellent toy for a newly adopted cat.

Fishing Toy

Poke a hole in the ball and thread a string through it. Ensure the string is securely attached.

Tie the other end of the string to a stick. Make sure the string is long enough for interactive play.

Hold the stick and wiggle the toy around the room. Like the jingling ball, this toy is designed to mimic prey, giving your cat the thrill of hunting. The string allows for flexible movement, simulating the quick, jerky motions of a mouse.

Insert the stick into a board so your cat can play alone. This allows your cat to enjoy the fishing game even when you’re not around.

Feather Wand

Find a long stick. The longer the better, as it lets your cat swat and pounce on the toy without reaching your hands or arms.

Avoid using the stick to poke your cat. This could cause serious injury. Instead, attach something soft to the end, like cotton or a cut-up ping pong ball.

Attach a small bunch of feathers to the stick. You can secure the feathers directly to the stick or to a cotton ball or ping pong ball at the end. Cats are naturally drawn to feather toys because they resemble birds, a common prey.

While glue is the strongest adhesive, excess glue can be harmful if ingested. Consider using tape to attach the feathers securely.

Hold the toy and wiggle it around. Drag the feather wand across the floor, dangle it in the air, or let your cat freely interact with the toy.

Moving Light

Darken the room. Turn off the lights and close the curtains if there’s outside light. Don’t worry; cats can see perfectly well in the dark!

Use a flashlight or laser pointer. You don’t need anything fancy; any light source in a dark room will captivate your cat.

Turn on the flashlight and move the beam around the room. Cats have excellent night vision, and the moving light will trigger their hunting instincts.

Be cautious when directing the light around the room. Cats may focus solely on the light and ignore surrounding objects.

Chase Toy

Find a relatively long and elastic belt or a thick string, about 1 meter or longer. Also, locate an old stuffed animal. It’s best to use a toy you’re not emotionally attached to, as your cat might tear it apart.

Tie the stuffed animal to the string or belt. Thread the string through a hole or simply tie it around the toy.

You can also use a ribbon.

Play with the toy. This toy serves a similar purpose to puppets and fishing toys; you can hold the string or ribbon to control the toy, mimicking the movements of real prey. This type of play is exciting and varied for cats. Here are some options:

Drag or wave it in front of your cat (most effective for kittens). Let your cat guess what it is, then pull it away.
Use this toy to teach kittens how to climb stairs leading to beds, shelves, or cat-designed spaces. Providing a dedicated space for your cat to “escape” is as beneficial as playtime.
Drag the toy around the house. This is helpful if your cat wants to go outside but you prefer it to stay indoors. It’s also a great way to tire your cat out.
Tie the toy to a doorknob when you leave the house.

Toy Mouse

Find a sock, yarn, catnip, scissors, and a needle. If you don’t have yarn, you can use sewing thread instead.

Cut off the heel of the sock. Now the foot part of the sock resembles a small pouch. This will serve as the mouse’s body.

Fill the sock with catnip. This step is optional, as cats will likely enjoy chasing a rodent-shaped toy regardless of whether it contains catnip.

Use yarn or thread to sew the open end of the sock. Sew it shut tightly or loosely, depending on your preference. Some cats may want to open the toy to access the catnip directly, while others will be content playing with it as is.

Create the mouse’s ears. Cut two small circles from the leftover sock material.

Sew the ears near the front of the toy. Now it’s time to shape the toy into its final form.

Twist the top part of the sock to form the mouse’s tail. The tail can be sewn onto the body, but if you’re using catnip, you may need to open it occasionally to refresh the filling. Alternatively, use a stretchy fabric band or ribbon to secure the tail.

Let your cat play with the toy. Like other hunting toys, this one will stimulate your cat’s natural predatory instincts.

Yarn Bird Toy

Gather your materials. You’ll need soft yarn, a sock, scissors, catnip, a needle, thread, and a few feathers.

Cut off the toe part of the sock. You can discard the toe section as it won’t be needed for this toy.

Fill the sock with catnip and sew it shut. As before, this step is optional, as cats will play with anything resembling their natural prey.

Wrap yarn around the sock. Tie one end of the sock with yarn and wrap it completely until the sock is no longer visible. Secure the other end with yarn as well.

Sew a few feathers onto the body. Choose several spots to attach feathers. Slide the feathers under the yarn loops and use a needle and thread to secure them. This also helps prevent the yarn from unraveling.

Wave the toy in front of your cat. Your cat will adore this toy, as it combines feathers with a stuffed animal.

Reviving Old Stuffed Animals

Find an old and unloved stuffed animal. Again, choose one you’re not attached to, as your cat will likely tear it apart.

Cut a small hole. If your cat enjoys catnip, add some inside the stuffed animal. Sew it up neatly.

Use a string or ribbon to tie around the toy if you want to drag it for your cat to chase. This step is optional. Your cat might prefer playing alone or interacting with the toy as you move it around the room. Discovering your cat’s favorite toy may take time and patience.

Let your cat play with the new toy. If you’ve added a string, swing it back and forth to encourage your cat to “hunt.”

Tips

The bonding sock can also work without catnip. Simply roll up the sock and toss it for your cat to play with.
Twisted shoelaces can be an exciting toy for cats.
Kittens tend to play more than adult cats. It’s normal for adult cats to be less playful, but always give them opportunities to engage and don’t ignore them.
Jingling balls are great for blind cats or those with poor vision. The sound of the toy helps them interact even if their sight is limited.
Some cats are content with simple stuffed animals. Try various toys to find out which one your cat prefers.
Use balls. Tennis balls, ping pong balls, bouncing balls, stress balls, etc. Most small balls will attract cats just like other chase toys.
Beaded necklaces or old collars can also entertain cats. However, be cautious as these items can pose a choking hazard.
Scents are important to cats. When making toys, incorporate smells, visuals, sounds, and textures. The more senses engaged, the better.
Leave a ping pong ball in the bathtub when not in use. Your cat will explore it and get excited! (Do not add water).
Crumple up some wrapping paper for your cat to pounce on and chase. Always supervise play with paper or plastic to ensure your cat doesn’t ingest it.
A shiny, crinkly object wrapped in tape can also fascinate cats, especially when illuminated with a flashlight in a dark room. Always supervise play with such toys.

Warnings

Never feed cats grapes or chocolate.
Some cats may not enjoy toys or prefer playing alone without human interaction. Only engage if your cat responds positively.
Your cat could choke on toys. It’s crucial to be extremely careful and always supervise playtime. Even strings, yarn, and ribbons pose choking risks, and homemade toys should only be used under supervision.