homemade toys?

Question

okay im not being cheap or n e thing im gunna go and buy my cat toys but i also want to know some homemade toys cat like....boxes, etc.

Answer 1

Hi there...cats always prefer free toys more than bought toys because there are plenty to offer such as cardboard boxes, paper bags, paper balls, bottlecaps from plastic beverage bottles, rings off of plastic beverage bottles, corks, etc. Be sure to avoid anything with string as cats can accidentally ingest these which string twists and slices inside their internal organs.

More on string dangers to cats: http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/pet_pourri/85248
More on homemade cat toys: http://www.shmat.com/cattoys/

Answer 2

My goober of a cat, Sheba, can't resist batting around balled up post it notes and hard candy wrappers.

Plastic grocery bags are a hoot, too. Sit one out on the floor and let the cat investigate. Sheba often thinks she sees something under it and attacks nothing. Just be careful not to let the bag handles get around the cat's neck. Sometimes while Sheba's investigating, I'll nonchalantly rustle a pen underneath the bag. She lunges for it every time.

Find some kind of stick, whether it be a thin wood dowel from a hardware store, on old radio antena, super long pencil, whatever! Tie at the end a long bit of ribbon or string. Most cats LOVE stringy stuff. Or, if they're odd like my parents' cat, they'll enjoy the stick--they got her one of those fancy feathers-at-the-end-of-a-stick things and she goes for the stick more than the feathers!

Some cats don't need toys at all, just something to hunt. When Sheba's on my bed, I'll slip my hand under the covers and wiggle my fingers, waiting for her to attack. She does with great agusto, and it's always entertianing to watch! May work a little better with declawed cats, of course...

If you happen to have one laying around from work, or just for fun, pick up a laser pointer and have at it. They'll go nuts.

Cats are very often easily entertained!

=)

Answer 3

My cats play with the following; boxes; cloth bags; paper wads; lint; bugs; beads; rocks and even kitty litter that has "escaped" the pan. If you go buy the most expensive and "fun" toy for your cat - they probably won't play with it. That's part of the cat owner frustration. My kitties do enjoy those furry mice that you can get for a dollar! Good Luck and Have some cheap fun!

Answer 4

I picked up a toy at the 99 cent store that was a hit with my cat. It's just a plastic rod with elastic string and a foil type of fuzzy little ball on the end. He loves it., and it encourages me to play with him also.
He likes bottle caps, twist ties, and any kind of paper. I don't know why, but he loves to shred paper. My house was a mess at Christmas with all the shredded gift wrap left all over by the cat.

Answer 5

Hey listen, no one is going to fault you for trying to find an inexpensive way to entertain your cat. I think the prices for cat toys is out of this world. Unfortunately I can never make as good a toy mouse with the rattles inside as I can get at the store. One thing you might try is to take a flat box (maybe 3" high) and cut out different shapes, stars, circles, triangle. Close up the ends of the box and put a ping pong ball inside. Mine spend hours trying to get at it. Ping pong balls are the greatest toys for any cats. You can make your own cloth mouse by taking the end of a sock or panty hose and stuffing it with any kind of material (batting is best if you have it) Sew it up, rub it in a little cat nip if you want and throw it for your kitty. Mine bring theirs back to me over and over just like a puppy. Also, take a look inside bubble gum machines. Sometimes they have little toys in there is plastic containers which you can get for 25 cents. Cats love to chase them on a bare floor especially. Good luck.
The aluminum foil ball is a good idea too but you have to be a little careful. I had one cat who would chew and injest it. That was not good. Be careful with strings, ribbons, etc. Sometimes cats will injest them. If that happens they can't eliminate it and sometimes end up having abdomenal surgery. Its great to play with them when you are with your cats but I wouldn't leave them around the house. I also find that after mine have played with their toy for a couple of weeks, I put them away and bring out another bunch, then rotate. When you bring the old ones out once again its like new toys for them.

Answer 6

goodness! you know cats (and all pets) will fall in love with something you do not expect and it becomes their toys. For example, my cats love bottle caps, they bat it around the kitchen floor for hours. One of them loves the wire twistie that closes the bread bag. And pens and pencils. I have spent 6 bucks on toys they totally ignored, so just be intuned to what your cat enjoys. Is your cat an indoor cat? Mine is and I bring in leaves and feathers and rocks and stuff for my cats to inspect and explore. Some of the best things are free sweetie!

Answer 7

My cats' favorite toy is called the mutant. I took two pieces of fabric and sewed them together with some thick ribbons every few inches for dangling legs. I stuffed it with raffia and cat nip. I have spent hundreds of dollars on toys, and that hideous nightmare gets more use than any other, "highly recommended" piece of garbage I have spent money on.

Answer 8

The biggest hit around our house is milk rings-you know, the ring around the neck of the milk bottle? Or juice bottles, whatever. Also the inside tube from toilet paper or paper towels, crinkled up balls of paper, tie a string around a crinkled up ball of paper, paper grocery bags...and they'll discover their own, each kitty has a weird toy fixation, I've found. I had one that had a thing for plastic spoons. See, we got a lot of Chinese take-out...never mind. Oh-an empty thread spool.

Answer 9

homemade hamster toys guinea pig homemade toys

Answer 10

Mine likes to play with an old rolled up sock.

Another favourite is a piece of colourful jewellery on an elastic string hanging from a door knob