5 Simple and Easy Cat Toys to Make at Home : Make Your Cat Chase String for Hours!

It seems that cats know what things are bought for them, and the things that are bought for us. They tend to prefer our things over their own. If we bring them home a cat bed... they sleep in our bed. And if we bring them a post to scratch on... they choose the arm of the couch...

A similar story goes for cat toys and your kitty’s interest in those toys. We go to the store and pick up a packet of rattling toy mice to entertain the kitty, yet he bats at them for a few minutes then walks away disinterested. Though some cats are truly fascinated by store bought toys, many seem to prefer the simpler things (like drinking out of our water glass). So instead of buying something for your kitty, here are some simple toys that you can make or find around your house that your cat is guaranteed to love.

As basic as they come... a stick or twig from the tree outside. Find a nice switch that is long enough for you to drag around without you having to bend awkwardly. It should also be slender and bendable so that the kitty can claw, bite and bat at it without it splintering. This delightful toy is best used outdoors, so you can run around with your cat playfully chasing you.

The joy of this toy is that it is hard to lose, you can always find another stick to use for kitty entertainment. Cats love this toy because when it drags across any surface it makes an irresistible scratching sound that can get any cats attention. Also, they can kick, bite and scratch the item to their hearts content ... without leaving any unwanted “kitty love marks” on yourself.

The medium size rubber hair band is a personal favorite of my cat. He commonly steals them when I leave them on the sink edge while I am doing my hair in the morning. He likes to carry it around in is mouth and hoard them under the couch. He pulls them out randomly and bats them around the floor.

For the extra mile, tie on some ribbon or yarn to the hair band and swing it about. That way your can get the kitty moving and chasing and (if your lucky) some fantastic arial acrobatics.

Find a sheet of newspaper or a sheet of aluminum foil and crumple it into a tight ball. Then toss it across the room and watch the kitty chase the delightful item. The crumpled paper or foil makes a noise that many cats cannot resist. This toy is best received upon tiled, laminated or wood floors because it give optimum rustling noise (and it is fun to watch the cat slip and skitter on the floor after the paper/ aluminum ball). Just be careful of losing a few of these under the fridge or stove ...

After opening a bottle, whether of beer or wine, toss the cap on the floor near your kitty. The noise can get their attention and cause them to investigate. Then push it around the floor so that it makes noise and moves, further peaking the cat’s interest. The cat will then chase it around (much like the crumpled paper or aluminum foil). This toy is also best on uncarpeted surfaces since it allows easier movement of the cap or cork as your kitty bats it about. 

The classic cat toy, yet it works so well. Find a piece of yarn or ribbon and get the kitty chasing it by pulling an end of the string within their range. This toy is best when you can drag the string around for the cat’s enjoyment, though some cats can be entertained even if it is just tied to a doorknob or chair (whatever tickles the kitty’s fancy).

The only issue with the string is that some cats like to eat strings, so make sure that a kitty is supervised when playing with a string, you don’t want your pet to swallow a length of string and have to go to the veterinarian to get it removed. So just monitor them when they are chewing on string.

There are lots of things that cats can get into at the house. Try to find things that they like and have them available so that they don’t go looking for trouble (aka flowers in a vase to chew on or your socks). The best enrichment and play time for a kitty is through you playing with them. The interaction between you and your pet is likely to increase a cats playfulness and interest in activity, leading to a healthier and happier pet. So instead of buying toys, just drag around a stick or string and have fun with your pet.