Now that summer is winding down, it’s a great time to get your kids involved with helping care for your pets. This means more than just basic care such as providing food and water, but also includes taking care of your pets’ mental wellbeing. Cat toys are a great way to keep your cat mentally and physically active. Toys can provide enrichment for your cat while you are home and while you are away. Toys can also curb undesired behaviors. A bored cat may act out with destructive behaviors (think: Chloe from Secret Life of Pets). Making your own DIY cat craft projects can be an excellent activity for a rainy day. Here are a few toys your family can make at home in minutes.
DIY Toys for Your Cat
Supplies:
- Sock
- Catnip
- Paper
- Other Crunchy Materials – Get Creative!
Use an old pair of socks to make your cat their own, unique fish toy. First, fill a sock with catnip, crunchy paper, or another sock. Once your sock creation is filled, tie a knot at the end to keep everything inside. Give this to your cat for something for them to sniff, bite, or bat around. You can pick up some catnip spray to refresh your fish toy every once in a while with a little spritz.
Supplies:
- Unsharpened Pencil or Wooden Dowel
- String or Yarn
- Feathers
- Bells
Find a pencil that has not been sharpened or a wooden dowel, this will be your wand. Next, cut your string or yarn into two-foot pieces. Gather some items that your cat will like; bells, feathers, pipe cleaners, or other fun items. Tie one end of the string pieces to your bells and feathers and the other end to your pencil. Once everything is attached, your cat wand is complete!
Supplies:
- Cardboard Tube
- Base Board
- Glue
- Hemp or Twine
Find a cardboard tube from gift wrap, a packaging tube, or a paper towel roll. Attach your tube to a baseboard such as a scrap piece of wood with strong glue. Wrap hemp or twine around the tube and secure with glue. Completely wrap your tube from top to bottom. Voila! Now your cat can scratch their heart out on their own toy instead of your furniture.
Supplies:
- Boxes
- Scissors or Xacto Knife
- Duct Tape or Glue
- Markers
“If they fit, they sit!” We know cats love to crawl into boxes, and bags, and anything they can fit in. So why not make them their very own kitty castle! Gather some old boxes, big enough for your cat to comfortably crawl in and out of. Secure your boxes together with duct tape or strong glue. Time to get creative! Stack your boxes for a multi-story castle, cut out doors and windows, and decorate the outside. Your cat will feel like the King or Queen of their castle!
While You Are Away, Your Cats Will Play
Cat enrichment toys are a great idea to keep your cat entertained and deter undesired behaviors. Toys are a great thing to introduce to keep your cat entertained while you are away for short periods of time, but if you are planning on leaving your pet for an extended period of time, be sure to consider pet care options such as a pet sitter, a home visit, or a house sitter to ensure that your pets are well cared for while you are away. After our team completes feeding, litter box cleaning and all of our other home tasks, we will play with your cats and give them the much-needed attention they deserve. While we will never replace you as the pet parent, we make awesome fill-ins!
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