How to Make Felt Mice for Your Cat

Make felt mice for your cat in any color you like.

Cats love to play with felt mice, and they're so easy to make you can give them a whole roomful of the toys. Whether you prefer the traditional gray with pink ears or your tastes run to bright purple with a yellow tail, your handmade mice will give your cats many hours of pleasure. Add catnip to give your cats an extra treat, and sew a little bell to the end of the tail just for the fun of it.

Things You'll Need

• 6-inch felt squares in colors of your choice
• Heart-shaped or mouse pattern (optional)
• Scissors
• Ribbon
• Sewing needle
• Thread
• Cotton or polyester stuffing
• Catnip (optional)

Instructions

1. Fold a felt square in half and use the scissors to cut a shape resembling half of a heart. If you prefer, place a heart-shaped or mouse pattern on the unfolded felt and cut around it.

2. Cut a piece of ribbon that's twice as long as the length of the felt heart.

3. Open the folded felt and lay the ribbon in the center, with one end extending slightly beyond the top of the heart, or the back end of the mouse, and the other end of the ribbon extending beyond the tip of the heart, or the mouse's nose.

4. Fold the felt in half again, enclosing the ribbon.

5. Thread a sewing needle and knot the end of the thread.

6. Hold the edges of the mouse together and sew them with short, tight stitches, beginning at the back end of the mouse and ending at the center on the top. Knot the thread and cut it.

7. Turn the mouse and sew from the tip of the nose to the center on the top, leaving an opening about the width of two fingers. Knot the thread and cut it.

8. Turn the mouse right-side out. The long end of the ribbon will be at the back of the mouse.

9. Tie a knot in the end of the ribbon tail to prevent it from fraying.

10. Stuff the mouse loosely with cotton or polyester stuffing.

11. Add a pinch or two of catnip on top of the stuffing, if you wish.

12. Continue stuffing the mouse until it's firm.

13. Sew the opening closed, knot the thread and cut it close to the knot.

14. Cut two circles of felt about 2 inches in diameter to make ears.

15. Sew the ears to the mouse on each side of the head.

Tips & Warnings

• Substitute black elastic cord for the ribbon, making it long enough for you to play games with your cat.

References

• The Practical Herbalist: Sewing a Catnip Mouse