It's true: the best things in life are free. Cats don’t need expensive toys with a lot of bells and whistles to have a good time. A simple, safe, fun homemade toy will do just fine. The best cat toys will engage your cat’s natural instincts, give her exercise, and - best of all - give you an excuse to play.
Here are some homemade cat toys that will keep your furry friends fit and frisky. Let them decide which one is best!
Paper ball
It takes about five seconds to make this all-time favorite cat toy, and you can vary it to suit your cat. Try crumpling up various sizes, types and textures of paper to see what your cat likes best. Use a whole sheet of crunchy paper to occupy your twenty pound bruiser, or a pretty bit of origami paper for a dainty princess.
Paper balls are great because your cat can entertain himself even when you aren’t around. Toss a few balls on the floor before you head out for the day. To ratchet up the excitement, store the balls in a tub of catnip between uses or spritz lightly with a catnip spray.
String
String is another classic cat toy. Dangle a length of string or a shoelace in front of your kitty so he can practice his jumps, or get a joint cardio work-out by dragging the string through the house while your cat chases you. To spice things up and give your cat a bigger target, tie a scrap of paper, a feather, or a carpet scrap to one end of the string. Tie the other end to a dowel or sturdy stick and go fishing for felines.
Although string toys are inexpensive and entertaining, they definitely require supervision. It only takes a few seconds for a cat to swallow a piece of string and the results could be fatal.
Bags and boxes
Cats love empty bags and boxes and may vigorously defend their little homemade caves from you or other pets. Large paper bags are great (try grocery bags or those meant for composting leaves), but you can even use an old duffel bag or a cloth grocery bag. Avoid plastic bags since some cats will actually eat them. If the bag has handles, snip them off or knot them so they don’t get wrapped around your cat’s neck.
Try gently scratching the outside of the bag or box while the cat is inside. If a box is big enough, you can cut a few holes (from peep-hole sized to body sized) in the sides. Dangle a string in front of the holes, or poke in with a long feather. This is especially fun in multi-cat
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