DIY

I tend to find some cat toys a bit on the $$$ side. 

When I am not sure if they will play with them at all, it is hard to fork out the money..just for it to become another misfit toy. 

So,  what about making my own?

That involves planning ahead.. which I am not all that good at. 

How about I just look stuff up and post pretty pictures?

Then the pictures will have links on How To

Then other people can make them... and maybe I will be inspired to make one or two myself.

Cats like cardboard.
It's a fact.
They like to gnaw on it.
Play in it.
Bat it around.
Scratch it.
Cardboard is super cheap.
Well ...until someone decides to make it into something then adds a pretty label.
WE DON'T NEED NO STINKING LABEL.

Cardboard Ball

After you make that ball, I suggest tossing a bit of catnip on it.


Box O Fun





The 'how to' for this one is lacking...basically ..get a box and cut holes in it.
Then staple some toys to strings inside.
The picture seems like a lie.
That looks oddly like wood or MDF
If you can cut a circle that good in cardboard with scissors - you are lying!
MDF isn't that expensive.
Glue gun or maybe nails... depending on the thickness.
Before putting it all together.. find someone with one of those tool thingies - I have been informed it is called a Hole Saw

So I guess you could make a throw away one.. or one that should last.

Kitty on-a-roll

Not only is this really cute..
Lowes gives you all the item numbers and names of everything you need to make it!
I personally would add a bit more to it.
Maybe because I have a bit more meows to amuse.
Very cute idea.
Nice job Lowes!

T-shirt tent

The dollar store sells these tents... they are made of cheap material that tend to rip at the seams.
Not a big deal.. since they are under $2...but ...there are only 2 different colours to choose from.
And they are both tacky .
A tend made from a t shirt?
That could be any colour!
Maybe you have a shirt from an ex.. maybe that ex hated cats...
Naw, save that one for cleaning the litter boxes.
Use a random shirt with a nice colour or print on it that you like.
Simple to make.
Cheap.
I think kitty would love it.


Perch-n-scratch

This may not be all that apartment friendly.
Kitties love to look down on us.
They are hunters by nature and having a higher vantage point keeps them happy.
It also utilizes vertical space, which in turn saves space!
No more clunky cat climber needed... just make a bunch of shelves at various levels.
The scratch pad is also a good idea. They can use it to stretch, scratch, and climb from perch to perch.
If you have a cat that seems to like corners of walls for stretching... maybe this can be a corner scratch pad.
Once kitty has its own scratching area- it tends to use random ones less. 


Super simple ideas for lazy humans

Crumpled Goodness
1. take random piece of paper
2. crumple it up
3. find container, put catnip in container
4. put crumpled ball in container with catnip
5. Shake container
6. repeat crumpled paper with smaller sheets
7. add them to container with other crumpled paper and cat nip
8. shake again
9. take out one of the crumples and toss it in kitties direction
10. kitty like? good - now put the container in the freezer - it will keep it away from kitty and help keep catnip fresh.

Lids-o-plenty
1.Open any drink or liquid that is safe ( seriously if you are dumb enough to give the lid off a bleach bottle then stop reading this now.. you are an idiot..go crawl in a hole)
2. Pretend you don't want kitty to have it, and place it on the coffee table or side table.
3. Wait.
4. Or toss it onto the floor when kitty is watching.

Jackass-lids-o-plenty
1. poke a hole in lid
2. insert string and tie knot to keep string secure
3. toss lid while holding string
4. pull lid away just before kitty gets it
5.repeat.

Misfit Socks
1. Locate your socks with no mates..lonely socks :(
Give them a new purpose !
2. grab a handful of catnip - I really like Cosmic Catnip and you can buy it in a rather large container
3. put catnip in sock
4. tie the top like you would a balloon
5. throw
6. pre washing sock is not needed. Kitties like unwashed socks. Unless you have super smelly feet.. then just throw those socks away.. its not nice to make kitty deal with that.
7. Kitty may slobber all over this - no worries - place up on something to let it dry then throw it down again.. all good

TP roll
There are so many things you can do with an empty toilet paper roll ...
Like throwing it down the stairs.
Seriously, that's good enough for a kitten.
Let them use their imagination...
Now go watch tv.