How to Make Free or Cheap Cat Toys

It's fun and easy to make homemade toys. These toys will keep your kitty playing for hours. And if your cat is a real tiger that tears up her playthings, it's cheap and simple to make more cat toys. Whether you make a noise maker or a soft toy, you can help kitty entertain herself for almost nothing.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Empty 35-millimeter film canister Paper clips Sock (clean and without holes) Pillow stuffing or polyester filling Sewing needle Thread Cat nip Pencil Twine or yarn

1. For the noise maker toy, open up a clean 35-millimeter film container.

2. Place 4 or 5 small paper clips inside the container.

3. Close the lid securely. Give the toy to your cat and watch him chase and bat the noise maker around the floor.

4. Recycle an old sock to make a softer and quieter toy. Open the top of the stock and begin stuffing with pillow filling. You can get pillow stuffing material at a crafts store, a sewing goods store or in the crafts section of a big box store. Or for an even cheaper toy, open up an old pillow and use some of its stuffing.

5. Use the eraser end of a pencil to get the filling in those hard to reach spots.

6. Sprinkle in some cat nip with the filler while you are stuffing the sock.

7. Whip stitch the top of the sock closed. Knot securely so that your cat can't get the contents out.

8. Give the sock toy to your cat and watch her play. Or for variety, tie a piece of twine or yarn around the sock and trail it around behind you. Your cat will get plenty of exercise.