Afreen: How to Make Cat Toys at Home -- Homemade Pet Toy Ideas ...

বুধবার, ২৮ সেপ্টেম্বর, ২০১১

How to Make Cat Toys at Home -- Homemade Pet Toy Ideas ...

: Learn How to Make Cat Toys at Home With Items Found Around the House - (Menno Groenmen Photo)

Learn how to make cat toys with items found around the house. Homemade cat toys are inexpensive to create and you can recycle unwanted items.

Wondering how to make cat toys out of household objects? You can make lots of homemade pet toys from items found around the house and it's an easy way to recycle items that would otherwise be thrown away.

Many pet owners will find that their homemade cat toys are more popular than store-bought items. And for many, the old adage rings true: you can buy the newest, trendiest pet toy, but many cats will find more enjoyment playing with the box that it came in.

How to Make Cat Wands

Cat wands come in many shapes and sizes and they can be constructed of many different materials. To make a cat wand or teaser, drill a hole through the end of a wooden dowel and tie a length of cord, ribbon or a shoelace through the hole. Leave the cord as-is or attach something to the end, like a few feathers or a pom-pom.

You can also use craft wire in place of cord. Attach a few feathers to the end for a cat teaser that jiggles around.

A number of items can be used in place of a dowel, including an old Swiffer handle, an old pool cue or a stick. Just be sure to store the kitty teaser wand in a safe location once you're done playing to prevent strangulation or injury.

Homemade Cat Toy Ideas -- Cap Hockey Pucks and Bottle Toys

Many cats enjoy batting things around, so a homemade hockey puck can provide hours of entertainment. This homemade cat toy is simple: put a kitty litter canister lid, a jar lid or similar on the floor and slide it across the floor while the cat is watching. Most cats will run after it and they'll start batting it around with gusto.

You can also use this as an interactive cat toy, as some pets will enjoy batting it back and forth with their human.

Avoid small caps, like soft drink bottle caps and milk jug caps, as the pet may chew on these and they're small enough to cause choking if the cat attempts to eat it.

Soda bottles make for an entertaining cat toy. Remove the label and place a few pieces of kibble inside the bottle and put the cap on. Your pet will enjoy batting it around. For extra allure, put a bit of catnip inside the bottle and use a pin to poke holes in the side of the bottle to release the smell.

Paper Bags and Boxes as Homemade Cat Toys

Boxes of all shapes and sizes are sure to be a popular cat toy, particularly if you have a multiple cat household. Cats will enjoy sitting atop the box, hiding inside the box and many enjoy stalking and jumping out as other cats and humans walk past.

In a multiple cat household, a box will serve as a great object for playing hide and seek. Leave the flaps on the box and position it upright, or put the opening side down and use a box cutter to cut a door into the side of the box. You can also cut holes in the side of the box, perfect for batting at fellow pets and humans who venture past.

Many cats also enjoy clawing and biting at the cardboard.

Paper bags are another easy-to-make cat toy. Simply open the bag and place it on the floor and your cat will enjoy hiding inside. Many pets also enjoy the crinkling sound. Turn the bag into an interactive toy by tapping or drumming your fingers on the bag while the cat is inside.

Never use a plastic bag as a pet toy. Your pet may suffocate or experience intestinal problems if they attempt to eat it.

Paper and Cardboard as Homemade Cat Toys

Ball up a piece of scrap paper and toss it across the room for your cat. Many cats enjoy batting light, crinkly objects. Aluminum foil also makes for a fun homemade cat ball, but you must supervise the pet while he plays, as the foil cannot be chewed or ingested.

Recycle old toilet paper rolls by cutting them in half to make two shorter tubes. Leave a bit of toilet paper on the roll for added enjoyment. You can use old paper towel rolls too.

Homemade Cat Toys with Catnip

Make homemade catnip toys out of old shirt sleeves and socks. Cut a 6-inch section of shirt sleeve or cut the toe off a sock to form a fabric tube. Place a bit of catnip inside the fabric tube at the center. Knot the two ends to create a Tootsie Roll-like appearance.

Another simple homemade cat toy: bubbles. Blow bubbles for your cat. Depending on the cat, he may try to catch them, eat them or chase them. Kittens will often try to "find" the popped bubbles.

Other cats may enjoy a "blanket monster." Put your hand under a blanket and hold the edge of the blanket up slightly so you can move your hand without moving the blanket. Then, make sudden, abrupt hand movements and poke the blanket to get your cat's attention. Once he's in "stalking" mode, grab for kitty's paw or tail. Once the cat is "attacked" by the blanket monster, he's apt to get very playful as he tries to guess where the blanket monster will pop up next.

The sky is the limit when it comes to ideas for homemade cat toys. When making a pet toy at home, use common sense and always keep the pet's safety in mind.